Daijiworld Media Network

Super Sportspark, South Africa, Nov 30 (AP) : After losing first  two matches of three ODI series, host South Africa sent five Pakistani top order batsmen to the pavilion for 94 runs when 27  overs completed. Ahmed Shezad did not score, Umar Amin went for 25. Ashad Shafiq managed to get only one run. Maqsood shown his promise to settle down, but out for 25. Umar Akmal fell for five. Captain Misbah is batting on 30 and new batsman Bhatti on 1Pakistan can become the first country to leave South Africa with a clean sweep in an ODI series after taking a 2-0 lead in the three-game contest.

Pakistan made four changes at SuperSport Park for its final game on tour, resting batsmen Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez, allrounder Shahid Afridi and bowler Junaid Khan. Umar Amin, Asad Shafiq, Abdur Rehman and Sohail Tanvir come in.

South Africa was missing three of its most experienced performers as it plays for pride and a record that has stood since the country's return to international cricket in 1991. Fast bowler Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis have minor injuries while opening batsman Graeme Smith was given compassionate leave after his grandmother died. They were replaced by Henry Davids for his ODI debut, Wayne Parnell and Vernon Philander.

Lineups:

Pakistan: Misbahul Haq (captain), Umar Amin, Ahmed Shehzad, Sohaib Maqsood, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Bilawal Bhatti, Anwar Ali, Sohail Tanvir, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal.

South Africa: AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Henry Davids, JP Duminy, David Miller, Ryan McLaren, Wayne Parnell, Vernon Philander, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Imran Tahir.

Sunday: A first one-day international win at Cape Town's historic Newlands ground. Wednesday: A first ODI series win anywhere over South Africa, also spoiling the home team's 500th ODI.

And now Saturday: A chance to become the first country to whitewash South Africa in a series at home.

The Pakistan squad barely had time to pack their bags, or any diaries, before trooping out to South Africa for a short-notice return series that was hastily arranged off the back of five straight limited-overs losses to the South Africans in United Arab Emirates.

But while filling in for India, Pakistan has turned it around emphatically in South Africa and captain Misbah-ul-Haq unsurprisingly called the most recent, series-clinching win over the Proteas in Port Elizabeth ''a really, really big achievement for us.''

''It really means a lot to us to beat South Africa in a bilateral series for the first time, especially doing it in South Africa,'' Misbah said.

Having lost convincingly in both the ODI and Twenty20 series in the UAE earlier this month, Pakistan was invited for an immediate return series so South Africa could warm-up for what it felt were its main challenges this season; an ODI and Test series in December against the Indians, the closest challengers to South Africa's No. 1 test ranking.

India had shortened its trip and turned down some of the planned November games, leaving South Africa with a gap in its summer calendar. So, Pakistan's accidental tourists filled that gap and more, and are now on the brink of a momentous achievement.

Since South Africa returned to international cricket in 1991, no team has left the country with a clean sweep in an ODI series. Not even Ricky Ponting's world champion Australia of a few years ago or the mighty Indians.

South Africa's pride is on the line at SuperSport Park in Centurion, near Pretoria, this weekend and while the home country demands it is defended, Pakistan is probably in better shape having won three in a row over the Proteas including the second Twenty20 game.

''It is a young side and now they believe they can win. That was what was lacking,'' Misbah said of his history-chasing team.