Younis shows the way

Younis Khan leads Pakistan's successful run-chase with an untroubled 79 © Getty Images

Pakistan cruised to a seven-wicket victory over South Africa in their World Cup warm-up match at the Sir Frank Worrell Ground in St Augustine.

After South Africa were dismissed for 199 with nine balls of their innings remaining, Pakistan reached their target inside 45 overs.

The 1992 World Cup winners lost opener Imran Nazir for a duck in the third over, caught by Loots Bosman at third man off Shaun Pollock.

But Younis Khan (79), Mohammad Hafeez (49) and Mohammad Yousuf (48 not out) never looked troubled against some distinctly ordinary South Africa bowling.

Younis and Hafeez put on 66 for the second wicket before the latter edged Charl Langeveldt to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher with the score on 75. He had hit seven fours.

Younis made a mockery of earlier claims that the wicket was unsafe for batting in adding 82 with Yousuf for the third wicket.

Younis was closing in on a century when he was adjudged lbw playing back to Graeme Smith, ending a 155-minute innings containing nine fours and a six.

Yousuf was restrained in his 69-ball knock, hitting just three boundaries as he took Pakistan to victory alongside Shoaib Malik (16 not out).

Bosman’s 53 was the biggest contribution from a South Africa batsman; most of his colleagues seemed concerned about the state of the pitch, which forced play to be delayed for around 20 minutes after 16 overs had been completed.

Mohammad Sami traps AB de Villiers leg before as Pakistan strike early © Getty Images

Openers AB de Villiers and Smith both fell with the score on five, de Villiers lbw to Mohammed Sami and Smith bowled by Umar Gul in the following over.

Sami also removed Herschelle Gibbs with a delivery which climbed off a length and brushed his gloves en route to wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.

Ashwell Prince (35) and Jacques Kallis (29) shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 66 after coming together with their team in deep trouble at 27 for three.

However, they complained to umpires Peter Parker and Ian Gould about the wicket, which continued to show vagaries in bounce.

Officials, including the coaches of both teams, Bob Woolmer and Mickey Arthur, met in the middle but, after discussion, the umpires ruled that conditions were good enough to continue.

Prince and Kallis played cautiously to take the score to 93, only to fall within quick succession.

Prince was lbw playing across the line to Hafeez and Kallis followed in similar fashion to leg-spinner Danish Kaneria in the next over. He had faced 74 balls and struck three fours.

Bosman and Mark Boucher (22) put on 43 for the sixth wicket before Hafeez bowled Boucher, Shoaib had Shaun Pollock caught at long off by Yasir Arafat, and Bosman fell to the same combination shortly after.

Andrew Hall, who hit an unbeaten 67 against Ireland on Monday, was run out for five, while Gul returned for a second spell to end the innings by bowling Robin Peterson.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-haq used eight bowlers, with Gul, Sami, Hafeez and Malik taking two wickets apiece.