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Pakistan hammered by South Africa

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CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- Emphatic batting by AB de Villiers and Graeme Smith handed South Africa a comprehensive victory in the fourth one-day international against Pakistan on Sunday.

South Africa won by 10 wickets to take an unbeatable 2-1 lead in the series with one match to play.

Pakistan were dismissed for 107 in 45.4 overs, to which South Africa replied with 113 without loss in 14 overs.

De Villiers scored an unbeaten 50, while Smith was 56 not out.

Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher took six catches, a record for dismissals in a one-day match for South Africa.

Boucher's feat made him the fourth player overall after Australia's Adam Gilchrist, Alec Stewart of England and West Indian Ridley Jacobs, to make six dismissals in a one-day international.

"It's one of the best bowling performaces I've seen from this team," said captain Smith. "The bowling unit took a bit of flak after Durban (where Pakistan scored 351 for four to win by 141 runs), but they've been superb for the past few year .

"Every bowler hit fantastic lengths. I don't think the wicket did that much after eight overs, but the pressure we built on them and the way we fielded was an incredible effort," added Smith.

The last match of the series will be played in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Shoaib doubtful for World Cup

Meanwhile, top Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar could miss out on next month's World Cup after breaking down with another knee problem, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said on Sunday.

"Shoaib apparently has a knee problem but we still have to know the extent of its seriousness," said Saleem Altaf, PCB director of cricket operations.

"He will have scans to confirm how serious the injury is but he has been advised to rest it for some three weeks."

The World Cup starts on March 13 in the West Indies with Pakistan playing the opening game against the hosts.

Akhtar, 31, Pakistan's leading bowler with 169 Test and 208 one-day wickets, returned home from South Africa last month with a hamstring problem.

He had made a return to the test side after 11 months but could bowl in the first innings only of the second test at Port Elizabeth before he broke down.

"I am deeply disappointed with this new injury. I am so keen to play in the World Cup because this is the peak of my career," Akhtar said.

"I am still hoping the injury can clear up with a few weeks rest which would allow me to recover in time for the World Cup but everything depends on the scan results."

Akhtar also underwent knee surgery last year in Australia in February and since then has played in only a couple of one-day games in England and one test.

He was banned for two years last year after testing positive for the steroid nandrolone but cleared by a PCB tribunal.

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