Rhodes fell just short of a third one-day century

Waqar Younis took his 400th one-day international wicket, but Pakistan suffered a 132-run hammering by South Africa in the first match of the series.

Chasing 273 for victory after Jonty Rhodes' 98, the tourists lost wickets at regular intervals in the face of some tight pace bowling.

Home captain Shaun Pollock finished with figures of three for 12 from 9.5 overs.

Opener Saleem Elahi top-scored for the tourists with 31, before he was caught by a diving Jacques Kallis in the 26th over.

Ironically it was Rhodes who provided Waqar with his milestone wicket, gaining a leading edge behind after hitting 12 fours and two sixes in a 92-ball knock.

Waqar joined team-mate Wasim Akram in the 400-club, with 100 wickets more than any other international bowler.

The tourists had looked in command early on, with opener Herschelle Gibbs caught behind off a thin edge to Wasim in the third over.

Top ODI wicket-takers

Wasim Akram (Pak) 488 at 23.65 (348 matches) Waqar Younis (Pak) 400 at 23.81 (252) A Kumble (Ind) 300 at 29.84 (235) M Muralitharan (SL) 297 at 23.28 (200) SK Warne (Aus) 285 25.77 (189)

Mohammad Sami picked up the wickets of Neil McKenzie and and Nicky Boje and caught Jacques Kallis for six to leave South Africa 86 for four.

Wasim followed up with two wickets in the 33rd over, and finished with figures of three for 19.

But the home side had already hit back with a partnership of 65 between Rhodes opener Graeme Smith.

Smith took 90 deliveries over his 56 but had no answer for a perfect inswinging yorker, and Mark Boucher played on to the second ball he faced.

But Pollock replied with a brutal 57 not out, the South Africa skipper reaching his half-century with successive sixes off Abdur Razzaq in the final over.

South Africa: Shaun Pollock (captain), Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Neil McKenzie, Jacques Kallis, Jonty Rhodes, Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Nicky Boje, Allan Donald, Makhaya Ntini.

Pakistan: Waqar Younis (captain), Taufeeq Umar, Salim Elahi, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Abdur Razzaq, Rashid Latif, Wasim Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mohammad Sami.

Umpires: Ian Howell (Rsa), Neil Mallender (Eng). TV umpire: Shahid Wadvalla (Rsa). Match referee: Clive Lloyd (WI).