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Birmingham: Prolific batsman Hashim Amla (81) hit a splendid half-century before Ryan McLaren took four wickets as South Africa mauled Pakistan by 67 runs to keep themselves in the race for the Champions Trophy semifinals.
Pakistan bowlers did a fantastic job by restricting South Africa to 234 for nine, which was built around Hamla's knock and small contributions from Faf du Plessis (28), skipper AB de Villiers (31) and JP Duminy (24).
Pakistani batsmen though could not compliment the good job done by their bowlers as they failed to apply themselves under challenging conditions.
Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (55) and opener Nasir Jamshed (42) were the only ones, who showed intent to resist the Proteas as Pakistan were all out for 167 in 45 overs.
It was second successive batting failure for Pakistan and this defeat has dented their chances to progress in the tournament as they next face arch-rivals India on Saturday.
Stroke-making was difficult since the Edgbaston wicket assisted pacers as well as spinners.
MacLaren emerged as the highest wicket-taker for South Africa with figures of 8-3-19-4 but it was young debutant paceman Chris Morris (2/25) together with Lonwabo Tsotsobe (2/23) who build pressure and strangulated the Pakistan innings early on.
Such was the domination of bowlers that Pakistan scored just 36 runs in first 15 overs and lost Imran Farhat (2) and Mohammed Hafeez (7). Morris accounted for both as he bowled Farhat and foxed Hafeez with extra bounce to have him caught at square leg.
McLaren and part-timer JP Duminy (1/26) too bowled venomous spells to pile on the misery of the rivals. Immediately after the first drinks break, Duminy bowled Shoaib Malik, who played a defensive shot but the ball rolled back, hit the stumps and knocked over the bails.
Earlier, Plessis, de Villiers and Duminy (24) all got good starts but they could not bat for long.
Amla too gifted his wicket on an extravagant shot, a reverse sweep, as he was batting confidently and hardly looked like troubled by any bowler. His 81 came off 97 balls with nine shots to the fence.
Earlier, South Africa have won the toss and they are batting first.
One change for Pakistan - Asad Shafiq goes out, Umar Amin comes in. Two changes for South Africa - Chris Morris debuts replacing Morne Morkel (which we anyway knew), Aaron Phangiso replaces Rory Kleinveldt.
Teams
Pakistan Imran Farhat, Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Amin, Misbah-ul-Haq (Capt.), Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wk), Saeed Ajmal, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan
South Africa Hashim Amla, Colin Ingram, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (Capt. & wk), JP Duminy, David Miller, Ryan McLaren, Robin Peterson, Chris Morris, Aaron Phangiso, Lonwabo Tsotsobe
Brief scores
South Africa 234 for 9 (Amla 81)
Pakistan 167 (Misbah 55, McLaren 4-19)
Result South Africa won by 67 runs
Points South Africa 2, Pakistan 0
MOM Hashim Amla (South Africa)
