Nazir, Afridi set the pace as Pakistan make 263 for 6

Nazir, Afridi set the pace as Pakistan make 263 for 6

SHARJAH, MARCH 31: Openers Imran Nazir and Shahid Afridi set a blistering pace with a century partnership as Pakistan raised a solid 263 for six wickets against South Africa in the final of the One-day cricket triseries on Friday.

The 18-year-old Nazir (90b, 7x4, 2x6) mixed elegant stroke-play with sheer power as he and Afridi (52 -- 48b, 5x4, 1x6) left the usually brilliant South African bowling and fielding ragged as Pakistan looked set to touch the 300-run mark.

But South Africa fought back by removing both the openers in quick succession to stem the flow of runs before Haq (82b, 3x4) and Yousuf Youhana build up the innings with a 65-run fourth wicket stand to set South Africa a demanding asking rate of 5.28 to win the tournament.

Lance Klusener applied brakes on the racing innings by striking with his very first delivery when Jacques Kallis took a breathtaking running catch at deep mid-off to dismiss Afridi before off-spinner Derek Crookes had Nazir stumped by Mark Boucher with clever bowling 11 runs later to make it 134 to two after 24 overs.