Close South Africa 283 for 8 (50 overs: Gibbs 118, Boje 52, Waqar Younis 5-38) beat Pakistan 229 by 54 runs Scorecard

A superbly-judged 114 from Herschelle Gibbs and some tight bowling guided South Africa to an easy 54-run win in the opening match of the Morocco Cup at Tangier.

After losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, Pakistan started the brighter with Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram exploiting a stiff breeze to limit South Africa to 41 for 1 off the first ten overs. But from then on little went right for Pakistan as their bowlers, with the exception of Waqar, completely lost their way.

Firstly Nicky Boje injected much-needed urgency to the innings with 52 off 45 balls, including two sixes, and then Gibbs cut loose after a scratchy start. Content to play the anchor role while Boje was in, Gibbs eventually reached his own fifty off 80 balls; his next 64 runs came off just 51 balls and included three sixes. With Boje he added 85 runs for the third wicket and then another 121 for the fourth with Jonty Rhodes (43).

The asking rate of 5.6 runs an over was far from taxing, but South Africa's bowlers maintained a tight line and length and Pakistan perished as the pressure told. Lance Klusener picked up three late wickets after Jacques Kallis, Nicky Boje and Allan Donald had wrecked the top order with two wickets each.

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