Hameed is assembling a fine international record

Shoaib Akhtar and Shoaib Malik were Pakistan's heroes as a stirring night of cricket at the Gadhaffi Stadium ended in a nail-biting win for the hosts.

Malik smashed five sixes off the last 10 balls of Pakistan's innings to finish on 82 not out from just 41 balls.

And the other Shoaib was on the top of his game with the ball, finishing with figures of 4-49 to take the wind out of South Africa's sails whenever they seemed to be on top.

Boeta Dippenaar battled heat exhaustion to finish unbeaten on a brilliant 110, but 13 runs were needed off the last over of the innings, bowled by Mohammad Sami, and only four came South Africa's way.

Malik's batting completed a Pakistan innings which had featured a patient stand of 82 between Yasir Hameed and Yousuf Youhana, who both hit half-centuries.

South Africa, who were without the injured Herschelle Gibbs, saw all their bowlers treated with disdain.

Pollock's first six overs, in which he dismissed opener Mohammad Hafeez for five, cost just seven runs. His final four, however, cost 39.

Makhaya Ntini conceded 26 runs from his first three overs and was not seen again in the innings.

The Hameed-Youhana stand, which ended when Hameed was run out for 56, set the platform for the innings.

Security was predictably tight at the ground on Friday

Younis Khan contributed just 19 before he was also run out, but Youhana went on to accumulate 68 before being dismissed by Andrew Hall.

By then, captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was into his stride and managed 37 off just 35 balls before playing on to Jacques Kallis.

The South African reply got off to a steady start. Then Smith and Dippenaar picked up the pace well as Mushtaq Ahmed and Abdul Razzaq came under pressure.

The first wicket finally fell in the 27th over when Shoaib had Smith caught by his captain for 71. Kallis then fell for just a single in Shoaib's following over.

Neil McKenzie began his innings slowly before launching a late assault against Mushtaq to hit 62 at precisely a run a ball.

But just when he looked as though he would help South Africa past the winning post, Shoaib dismissed him with the first ball of his third spell.

Five balls later, Mark Boucher failed to keep out a yorker and was bowled.

Pakistan: Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Rashid Latif, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Mushtaq Ahmed.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Jacques Rudolph, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Robin Peterson, Alan Dawson, Makhaya Ntini.

Umpires: Darrell Hair (Aus), Aleem Dar (Pak)

Match referee: Clive Lloyd, West Indies