Pollock guides Protes to victory

Shaun Pollock bludgeoned 90 runs to steer South Africa to a series-levelling seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the fourth one-day international in Multan.

The Proteas passed the victory target of 231 with more than 12 overs to spare with Pollock adding his runs, which came off 84 balls, to economic bowling figures of one for 37 in his 10 overs.

He had come to the crease on the fall of the first wicket with South Africa already progressing well.

Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs had put on 65 for the first wicket before Gibbs was trapped lbw playing back by Shahid Afridi, having made 39.

But Smith and Pollock then set about the bowling in a second-wicket stand that would yield 159 runs and ended with victory almost secured.

Pollock, who had struck nine fours and a six, departed for 90 when he went for one more big hit, holing out to Shoaib Malik at long-off off the bowling of Iftikhar Anjum.

Only four more runs were added when Smith also fell. The skipper had made 81 before Abdur Rehman took the catch at midwicket, again off the bowling of Iftikhar.

Jacques Kallis (six not out) and AB De Villiers (one not out) completed the job.

Younus Khan had earlier hit a quick-fire 82 as Pakistan reached 230 for nine at the close of their innings.

The 29-year-old hit six fours and two sixes before knocking an Andre Nel delivery to Gibbs with his side at 158 for five.

During his 110-ball stint, he forged partnerships with opener Yasir Hameed, who reached 10 before hitting Pollock to Gibbs, and Mohammad Yousuf (five), but it was not until Malik came to the crease that Pakistan seemed on track.

The pair took Pakistan to 129 for four, but Malik was caught by Smith off a Kallis delivery on 24, and Khan followed soon after.

Kamran Akmal and Rehman added some respectability to the score, hitting 28 and 31 respectively, but Misbah-ul-Haq (seven), Iftikhar (two not out) and Umar Gul (one) could only manage 10 between them.

Nel was the pick of the South Africa attack, taking the wickets of Younus and Misbah in his nine-over stint, which saw him claim two for 44. Johan Botha took two for 41.