De Villiers wrecks Pakistan for 4-1 win

AB de Villiers stormed to an unbeaten century to help South Africa beat Pakistan convincingly by 117 runs in the fifth and final one-day in Sharjah on Monday, winning the five-match series 4-1.

AB de Villiers scored 115 from 102 balls with ten boundaries and three sixes – his 15th one-day century – to lift South Africa to an imperious 268-7 before bowling Pakistan out for 151 in 35.3 overs.

Sohaib Maqsood top-scored with a solid 53, but otherwise Pakistan failed to capitalise on a weakened South African bowling attack with spearheads Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, and spinner Imran Tahir rested for the meaningless match.

Pakistan were 8-2 with Ahmed Shehzad (two) and Mohammad Hafeez (six) by the fifth over, once again highlighting the top-order failure in the series.

It was Maqsood who gave some consolation to another lacklustre batting effort with a 63-ball half-century before he became one of two victims for Jean-Paul Duminy, who finished with 2-14.

Umar Akmal made 30 while skipper Misbah-ul Haq managed 18. Shahid Afridi (nine) and Umar Amin (five) failed once more as South Africa took the last six wickets for a mere 41 runs.

Earlier, De Villiers completed 6000 one-day runs at 105, becoming the fifth South African batsmen to reach the milestone.

De Villiers had built the innings with an invaluable 62 runs stand for the fourth wicket with Faf du Plessis, who made an 89-balls 46 with the help of two boundaries.

Quinton de Kock (34) added 50 with Du Plessis after Hashim Amla fell in the first over of the innings for three.

Ajmal finished with 3-45 while Khan took 2-57.

South Africa won the first match by one run in Sharjah before Pakistan levelled the series with 66-run win in Dubai.

South Africa then won both the matches in Abu Dhabi by 68 and 28 runs respectively.

The two teams now play Twenty20 internationals in Dubai on Wednesday and Friday.

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