Pakistan scramble to one-wicket tour win over South African Invitation XI

Kimberly: Pakistan scrambled to a one-wicket win with two balls to spare against a makeshift South African Invitation XI at the Diamond Oval on Wednesday.

Last wicket pair Abdur Rehman (35 not out) and Junaid Khan (nine not out) put on an unbeaten 28 to take their team to victory in their only warm-up match before a five-game one-day international series against South Africa, starting in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

The Invitation team, including only players not involved in two domestic franchise Twenty20 matches on Wednesday, made 266 for eight in their 50 overs, with the major contribution coming from 20-year-old left-hander Quinton de Kock.

Pakistan scrambled to a one-wicket win with two balls to spare against a makeshift South African Invitation XI at the Diamond Oval.

De Kock, who played in a recent one-day international series against New Zealand but was not picked for the series against Pakistan, hit 65 off 73 balls with six fours and a six.

He and captain Stephen Cook (34) got the Invitation side off to a good start with a first wicket stand of 55, which was followed by partnerships of 54 with Jonathan Vandiar (24) and 45 with Vaughn van Jaarsveld (36).

Pakistan spinners Shoaib Malik, Abdur Rehman and Shahid Afridi were the most effective bowlers for the tourists. No Pakistan batsman reached fifty, with Imran Farhat (40) and Kamran Akmal (47) the most successful batsmen, while fast bowler Hardus Viljoen and leg-spinner Imran Tahir took three wickets apiece.

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