August 19  
Wasim and Waqar strike for Pakistan

TANGIERS: Pakistan's ageing fast bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis rolled back the years to restrict South Africa to 196-8 from 50 overs in a must-win match of the Morocco Cup here on Sunday. 

The pair produced devastating opening spells to reduce the South Africans to 49-5 by the 15th over before battling half-centuries from Boeta Dippenaar and Mark Boucher boosted the total. 

Dippenaar hit 55 and Boucher made 57 in a 78-run stand for the sixth wicket. 

Lance Klusener chipped in with an unbeaten 28. Akram finished with three for 31 while Waqar claimed 2-48. Azhar Mahmood was the other successful bowler with 2-33 from nine overs. 

A victory for South Africa will oust Pakistan from the race for the final in the 250,000-dollar event also featuring Sri Lanka. Pakistan, needing to win by a huge margin to keep their hopes alive, began on a dream note after Waqar lost his fourth successive toss. 

The 37-year-old Akram dismissed Herschelle Gibbs with the first delivery of the match, forcing the batsman to edge a catch to wicket-keeper Rashid Latif. 

Waqar, 32, himself struck in the second over by bowling Jacques Kallis, and South Africa slid to 10-3 when Akram trapped Graeme Smith leg-before. 

The batting misery continued as Justin Ontong gave Waqar a tame return catch and Jonty Rhodes was caught behind off Mahmood. South Africa would have become 64-6 in the 20th over had Abdul Razzaq taken a simple return catch off Dippenaar as the batsman mistimed a drive. 

Dippenaar survived the lucky break to bat till the 34th over before he was run out going for a second run.

South Africa lost two quick wickets when Boucher was bowled by Mahmood in the 44th and Nicky Boje went in similar fashion off Akram soon after. 

The late recovery helped South Africa set Pakistan a victory target of four runs an over.