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Proteas on top in the rain

South Africa's pace attack made the most of helpful conditions as they restricted Pakistan to a suspiciously-thin 129 for eight in the only Twenty20 international at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

Debutant Alfonso Thomas took 3-25, including a wicket with his first ball, as Pakistan struggled to break free against a swinging and seaming ball.

They only hit three sixes - two of which Rana Naved-ul-Hasan smashed in the final over - and eight fours, with Mohammad Hafeez's 25 the top score.

All the South Africa seamers impressed, while their fielding was razor sharp.

The Proteas had more experience of the short format - one win from four games compared with Pakistan's solitary match against England last year, which they won.

Newcomer Thomas had immediate joy in the second over when he found the edge of Imran Nazir's bat and keeper AB de Villiers moved quicky to his right to pouch the ball.

Hafeez tried to up the pace but perished after mis-timing Shaun Pollock to cover before de Villiers took another superb catch to remove Kamran Akmal off Johan van der Wath's first ball.

A direct hit from Robin Peterson, who swooped to hurl the ball in from gully, ended Younis Khan's stay at the crease in the 10th over and big-hitter Shahid Afridi was forced to retire hurt after being hit in the nether region by a delivery that Roger Telemachus jagged back sharply.

Rain forced the players off briefly during the 12th over with the score 76-4 and it was more of the same when they returned.

Abdul Razzaq reached at a wide delivery from Telemachus and guided the ball into de Villiers' gloves before Shoaib Malik edged an Albie Morkel outswinger to Justin Kemp at slip.

The big-hitting Afridi returned but could not help the run rate over six and he and Zulqarnain Haider were caught slogging at Thomas.

Two mighty swings of his blade from Naved off van der Wath provided a final gloss to the innings but, despite knowing their bowlers would also thrive in the conditions, Pakistan went off knowing they were up against it.

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