Pakistan went in to the Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Cricket Sixes 2001 as the hot favourites and they lived up to the top billing by winning the final against South Africa by 11 runs. Pakistan took the Butani Cup and this is the third time, they have emerged as the winners of Hong Kong Sixes.

In the final clash on Sunday at the Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Skipper Rashid Latif opted himself out and the champion allrounder Wasim Akram led the side. South Africa too were without their skipper Jonty Rhodes, even though he is completely fit to play.

Pakistan got things right at the toss, winning it and then electing to bat first. They piled on the runs in the five overs and they finished with a total of 98/3. Imran Nazir (30) and Wasim Akram (23) gave Pakistan an electrifying start. Nazir struck three sixes and Akram hit two, to take their tally for the tournament to 11 sixes.

Nazir was caught by Crookes off the bowling of Thomas. Akram was brilliantly run out by Andrew Hall, with some deft footwork. Afridi threatened to take apart the South African bowling; he made 16 runs off just four balls and was bowled by Elworthy. Azhar Mahmood hit two massive sixes, one of which cleared the ground. Mahmood remained unbeaten on 13 and Razzaq on five.

South Africa got off to a fantastic start scoring 26 runs off the first over bowled by Mahmood; Elworthy smacking a six into the swimming pool. Afridi was also punished and his over cost 22 runs and South Africa were in the hunt. wasim Akram came in to bowl and changed things with yet another spectacular over (1-0-10-0), to take his analysis for the tournament to 5-0-27-3.

Loots Bosman had to retire not out (31), hitting three sixes and three boundaries. The young player showed enough talent and he should be a force to reckon with in international cricket in time to come. Elworthy was winding up to play some more lusty shots, but his knock came to an end on 24, caught by wasim Akram in the deep off the bowling of Malik.

South Africa could not keep up the pace and finished on 87/1 in five overs. Crookes remained not out on 16 (10 balls) and Hall on one. Wasim Akram was named the Man of the Tournament for his all-round brilliance.

© CricInfo