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SHOAIB Akhtar, the fastest bowler in the world, breathing fire, operating at top speed in dreadful light. Wasim Akram, the world's all-time leading wicket-taker in one-day cricket, sending down wicked swingers at lively pace. Overs and wickets running out. So what is the solution for Lance Klusener, hero of the World Cup? Hit them for six, that's all. Klusener claimed his fourth man-of-the-match award after powering South Africa to an improbable victory against favourites Pakistan yesterday in a crucial victory.

Yesterday it looked as though their hopes of a place in the semifinals might depend on winning their last two matches. This morning the semifinals beckon.

There is an awful problem with the top-order batting, however. Only once, against England, have South Africa made a credible start against respectable opposition. Yesterday they were 58 for five chasing 221, and it seemed the World Cup campaign was wobbling out of control. It was the third time in six matches that half the wickets had been lost for fewer than 70 runs. Time after time Klusener comes to the rescue. Soon he will be entitled to demand double money, if not danger pay.

His 46 not out yesterday took his World Cup total to 220, still undefeated, off only 188 balls. The force indeed was with him as he clubbed Shoaib and Wasim over midwicket for sixes in the desperate closing overs. The tension was almost unbearable but Klusener actually seemed to be enjoying himself.

After breaking his bat against Zimbabwe, he took out a new extra-heavy weapon. It seemed to propel the ball at least as far as his old one.

It wasn't all Klusener, of course. Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock made victory possible with a patient, sensible sixth wicket stand of 77 in which both men showed outstanding temperament. Kallis was heart-stoppingly close to being hit on the head when Shoaib came back into the attack and bowled a bouncer that went for four no-balls.

Kallis played the pure cricket shot of the day in Shoaib's next over when he drove the fast bowler thrillingly through the covers for four.

Mark Boucher, too, played his part when he came out at almost half past six in light that would have long consigned a Test match to the dressing rooms. Boucher's audacious swept six against Saqlain in the 49th over took South Africa to within three runs of victory.

Still, though, the drama was not finished. With two needed, Klusener swung wildly at Saqlain and the ball spiralled over mid-off. Saeed Anwar ran back but dropped the chance while the batsmen raced through for the last two runs.

Klusener has scored a world record 396 runs in nine unbeaten innings since he was last out to New Zealand's Geoff Allott in Christchurch earlier this month. The Kiwis may or may not be licking their lips at the thought of meeting him again in South Africa's next match at Edgbaston on Thursday.

Understandable elation at a stunning victory must not be allowed, however, to obscure the glaring weakness in the South African batting. Relaxation and rest have been the buzzwords of the campaign but the batsmen should be doing extra time ahead of Thursday. Even Klusener can't succeed every time.

Hansie Cronjé stepped up to number three in an effort put the captain's steel into the top order. He was on the receiving end, though, of some extraordinarily fast deliveries by Shoaib, world cricket's new hot property.

With a sponsor finally having been found for a speed-gun, Allan Donald was timed at 90 mph (144 kmh). Shoaib's first two balls registered 90, the third, at 93, accounted for Herschelle Gibbs. Later he got up to 95.

Shoaib, who runs in fast and straight, is a thrilling sight for spectators and a daunting one for batsmen. Like many of his countrymen he gets passionately involved in his game and he leaped high in delight as Ijaz Ahmed held the catch some 30m from the bat.

In his third over he watched a Hansie Cronjé cut arc towards the third man boundary off a top edge. Saqlain Mushtaq held the ball just inside the rope.

As the wickets fell, it seemed all South Africa's disciplined bowling earlier had gone to waste. From being in control, when Pakistan were 170 for six with seven overs left, South Africa had seen Moin Khan play an exceptional innings in which he flogged Donald and Pollock in the closing overs.

Before yesterday, Moin was the only man with 80 runs or more who had scored at a faster rate in the tournament than Klusener. He is an inventive and spirited cricketer.

South Africa again failed to dislodge the opening batsmen as Pollock's lack of fortune with the ball continued. Kallis sent down a succession of wides, although he should have had Anwar for ten when the left-hander cut a straightforward chance to Jonty Rhodes who, to the amazement of all, dropped it at backward point.

It was only when Steve Elworthy was brought on in the 14th over that a wicket fell. Elworthy, who started the World Cup as a reserve, has grasped his chance and has become an integral member of an all-pace attack. Pollock's first eight overs cost only 15 runs and Donald's 28. They both suffered against Moin in the closing overs, with the wicketkeeper picking up good length balls off his stumps against Donald and hitting them over fine leg. Moin charged down the wicket and hit Pollock for six over long-off.

In the end, though, Moin had to bow to world cricket's current biggest gun.

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