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Proteas stun Pakistan

A destructive display of batting from Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman guided South Africa to an emphatic 10-wicket victory over a shellshocked Pakistan in a Twenty20 match in Johannesburg.

Pakistan were only able to amass a modest 129 for three in their innings - a total which was reached by South Africa's opening batsman in just 11.3 overs.

Captain Smith reached 71 off just 40 balls, while Bosman hit a quick-fire 53 from 32 balls to record a world-record partnership in this form of the game.

Pakistan's sluggish innings got off to a torrid start with Imran Nazir edging Alfonso Thomas' delivery into the hands of AB de Villiers with just five runs on the board.

It was a great start in international cricket for rookie Thomas, who took three wickets for just 25 runs on his debut.

His most important wicket was that of dangerman Shahid Afridi, who could only manage 7 runs from 17 balls in a disjointed spell at the crease from one of Twenty20's most potent batsman.

Kamran Akmal and Mohammed Hafeez offered some resistance for the visitors, scoring 21 and 25 respectively at the beginning of the innings, but with the rest of the batsman in such woeful touch it mattered little.

With such a small target to aim at the Proteas' opening partnership wasted little time in attacking a limp Pakistan bowling attack.

Smith was in particularly explosive form, smashing four sixes and nine fours as he gave Abdul Razzaq and Abdur Rehman the run around.

Razzaq conceded 28 runs from just two overs, while Rehman was hit for 36 runs from three overs.

Bosman received a stroke of luck on 45 when he was dropped at long on, and he took full advantage to score his first Twenty20 half-century.

Smith eased South Africa over the line with 8.3 overs remaining and such a comprehensive victory will surely worry Pakistan ahead of the start of the one-day international series on Sunday.

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