Displaying brilliant all-round performance, Pakistan scored a five-wicket win over defending champions South Africa in the final of the Petro World Cup Cricket for the Blind in Chennai today.
After restricting South Africa to 255 for eight in the allotted 40 overs, Pakistan romped home, scoring 256 for five in 37.2 overs.
The highlight of the Pakistani innings was a gritty unbeaten 87 (96 b, 5x4) by Ashraf Bhatti. Bhatti held the innings together after Pakistan lost their dependable openers Tariq Samuel (14) and Sulman Elahi (10) with the score at 33.
Bhatti put on 72-runs for the fourth wicket with Muhammad Shahbaz (28) in only 9.2 overs and then put on 54 runs for the fifth wicket with skipper Abdul Razzaq (30).
Bhatti and Muhammad Fayaz (25 not out, 3x4) then saw Pakistan home with an unbroken 56-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
Pakistan's task was made easier, as the South Africans gave away as many as 47 extras.
Earlier, put into bat, South Africa were in trouble after losing their consistent scorer and skipper R C Field when he was run out for seven with the score at 26.
With the Pakistan bowlers bowling a good line and length and well supported by the fielders, South Africa found the going tough.
They were struggling at 86 for 5 before Meyer and Liebenberg put on 96 runs for the sixth wicket in 14.1 overs. Liebenberg was dismissed for 51 when we was caught by Bhatti off Elahi. Meyer topscored with 59 (67) before he was bowled by skipper Abdul Razzaq (7/206).
Le Roux and Prinse (16) added 46 runs for the eight wicket before the latter was bowled by Amir Ishfaq. Le Roux and Johanneskotze remained not out with 34 and one respectively when the overs ran out.
Pakistan thus avenged their defeat at the hands of the the same rivals in the final of the 1998 inaugural World Cup at New Delhi.
For his match winning knock, Ashraf Bhatti was declared man of the match.
Australia's Nathan Foy was adjudged player of the tournament.
Brief scores:
South Africa 255 for 8 in 40 overs (N A Meyer 59, R W Libenberg 51, P A Le Roux 34 not out, A Razzaq 2/50, Muhammad Waqas 2/53, Elahi 2/30).
Pakistan 256 for 5 in 37.2 overs (Ashraff Bhatti 87 not out, Razzaq 30, Johanneskotze 2/36).
