Dippenaar, looking a lot more at ease, took over from where Gibbs had left off. Not afraid to take Shoaib on, he twice dispatched the speedster to the square leg boundary, hooking well and firmly.

As the game passed the halfway mark South Africa had moved to 130/1 requiring only 84 runs in the final 25 overs. The opening partnership and foundation had tilted the scales completely in the South African favour. One wonders what the leg before decision (Kirsten had not scored) and the dropped catch (Kirsten was on 30) would have had on the outcome of the match.

With 30 overs bowled Kirsten was on 76and Dippenaar on 18.

When Kirsten was on 30, and South Africa 71, he was offered another chance when Shoaib, fielding at cover, dropped a simple catch going to his left, off Abdur Razzaq.

The 100 partnership came up in 92 minutes off 110 balls (17.3 overs) including 10 fours and one six.

The two at the crease matched each other run for run with Gibbs going to his 50 first off 55 balls and then getting bowled for 52 by a beautiful off cutter from Razzaq going through the gap and into the stumps. The partnership had been worth 111 and Nelson had once again struck.

Kirsten scored his 43rd one-day fifty off 58 balls and a welcome return to form as far as the South Africans are concerned. With the World Cup just on 50 days away it could not have been better timed.

After 20 overs South Africa had moved to 112/1 with Kirsten on 50 and Dippenaar yet to score.

Ohhs and Ahhs from the crowd as the Rawalpindi Express, Shoaib Akhtar, fired his first ball past the nose of Kirsten bowling in the lower 150 kph and visibly faster than anything seen all day.

Kirsten was extremely lucky not to have been given out leg before by umpire Jerling when replays showed that Waqar had his man right in front in a pad bat appeal. Jerling indicated that he thought it was bat pad.

With Waqar not happy with the shape of the ball the umpires tried hard to find one that was only seven overs old. After about five minutes of discussions between Waqar and the umpires it was decided to use the original ball.

After 10 overs South Africa had weathered the opening overs to score 41 without loss with Kirsten on 19 and Gibbs on 18.

Saqlain Mushtaq was at the crease when he defended one to Rhodes at backward point. For no real reason Yousuf found himself halfway down the pitch for the direct hit to have him well run out for 61. With six overs still to be bowled it was a major blow to Pakistan sitting at 196/8, and a sad moment for Yousuf to lose his wicket in that way after batting so well for nearly two hours.

Waqar Younis (13*) and Saqlain took Pakistan past the 200 that came up after 190 minutes and 45 overs. With the first priority being to face out the 50 overs not many chances were taken and runs came predominately in ones and twos.

Saqlain was bowled by a slower Pollock delivery for six, and Pakistan 213/9 with Shoaib Akhatar last man in caught and bowled Pollock first ball up.

Yousuf went to his 50 in 100 minutes off 63 balls including just the two fours.

Faisal Iqbal stayed at the crease for a few minutes but in trying to take two, to Dippenaar on the mid wicket boundary, he misjudged the great return and was run out for nine and Pakistan 183/6.

Having gone to his fifty Yousuf decided it was time to up his run rate lofting Kallis over the extra cover boundary for maximum.

Shahid Afridi having faced just three balls was clean bowled by Kallis having an absolute hoik at a ball on line and length. If he had connected it might well have ended up in Cape Town, but it turned out to be a very irresponsible shot and left Pakistan at 190/7 with eight overs to be bowled to the lower order.

Both batsmen were content in working the ball around and taking the singles on offer getting the innings back on track. Together they worked to a 50 partnership with Inzamam scoring 31 and Yousuf 19 of them in 74 balls and 47 minutes.

Robin Peterson came into the attack and extracted both turn and bounce out of the pitch. He nearly had Yousuf caught behind but the ball hit Boucher high on the shoulder. He did however get the wicket of Inzamam when a quicker ball beat the bat stricking the back pad right in front for 34 and Pakistan 129/4 in the 31st over.

Yousuf was still at the crease on 27 having been joined by Younis Khan.

Kamran Akmal decided to be his usual aggressive self and after a very uncertain start did hit 31 off 49 balls to be finally bowled by Ntini who produced a full ball and Akmal played over it and Pakistan were 54 after 11.3 overs.

Abdur Razzaq walked in but Donald got him leg before with a ball that moved in and hit his pad as he moved across and Pakistan looked fragile again with 65 for 2 in 15 overs.

Saleem Elahi was still there having struggled to 26.

Today thay have another batsman in the form of Faisal Iqbal and with the ball doing things one would think his services will be requirted if they are to put up a challenging total.

Gary Kirsten is back in the South Africa squad for Graeme Smth today as the selectors want a good look at him and Peterson has come in for Hall.

Pakistan have Kamran Akmal in for Rashid Latif who has a sore knee and have rested Wasim Akram to bring in another batsman, Faisal Iqbal.

The pitch has some grass on it with some bare patches. Experts predict it will be good for batting but also be a bit bowler friendly.

Pakistan team: +Kamran Akmal, Saleem Elahi, Abdur Razzaq, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Faisal Iqbal, Saqlain Mushtaq, *Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar.

South Africa team: G Kirsten, HH Gibbs, HH Dippenaar, JH Kallis, JN Rhodes, +MV Boucher, *SM Pollock, L Klusener, RJ Peterson, AA Donald, M Ntini.