Younis hits 82 as South Africa restrict Pakistan to 230

MULTAN, Oct 26 (Reuters) A valiant 82 from Younis Khan could not stop South Africa restricting Pakistan to 230 for nine in the fourth one-day international at Multan stadium today.

South Africa, trailing 1-2 in the five-match series, produced sharp fielding and disciplined bowling to give themselves a good chance of levelling the series on a pitch which was sluggish but good for runs.

The Pakistan innings was built around a substantial fourth-wicket stand of 91 from 114 balls between Younis and captain Shoaib Malik (45).

Kamran Akmal (28) and Abdur Rehman (31) played some feisty cricket in a seventh-wicket stand of 60 to push the total to a respectable figure as 50 runs came from the final five overs.

Off-spinner Johan Botha, wicketless in three games, took two wickets in the final over after pacer Andre Nel conceded 18 in the 48th over.

Younis, who made his 27th half century, and Malik lifted Pakistan from three for 38 after winning the toss.

Makhaya Ntini removed the dangerous Shahid Afridi in the second over when he had him caught at wide mid-off by Nel for a duck while Yasir Hameed fell in the ninth over after struggling to make 10 runs from 30 balls.

The biggest blow for Pakistan came with the score at 38 when the in-form Mohammad Yousuf was run out for five after a quick return from Botha from deep square leg.

Yousuf has been Pakistan's best batsmen in the series with scores of 53, 117 and 58.

Younis smashed Pollock and Botha for sixes and also hit six fours in his 110-ball knock.

Botha had Akmal and Umar Gul caught in the deep attempting big hits after Albie Morkel bowled Rehman in the penultimate over.

Malik was in fine nick, hitting four boundaries from 54 balls before he miscued a drive off Kallis to Graeme Smith at mid-on.

Younis fell after the ball change in the 38th over when he mistimed a pull shot to be caught by Herschelle Gibbs off Nel who struck again four balls later when he produced a good leg cutter to have Misbah-ul-Haq caught behind for seven.

REUTERS BJR KP1825