Pakistan have a wonderful ODI bowling attack, with the right battery of pacers and some brilliantly clever spinners. Unfortunately, their batting is pretty awful, with just one masterful batsman amongst them - Misbah-ul-Haq -- who alas cannot do all the work in a 50-over game.
South Africa overcame the disappointment of the defeat against India in their first match, with their bowlers coming to the party to help them to a 67-run win in their ICC Champions Trophy 2013 game at Edgbaston.
On a sluggish wicket, which wasn't exactly conducive for stroke-making, South Africa trudged on to a barely par 234 for nine, losing their way in the final ten overs after Hashim Amla (81, 97b, 9x4) had set them a platform to carry on to a score closer to 300.
Pakistan, who only managed 170 all out against the West Indies in their first game and that too thanks to a brilliant innings from Misbah, were even worse this time around, with Misbah, who else, waging a lone hand, but helpless to prevent his side from crashing to 167 all out in 45 overs.
The chase was painfully slow for Pakistan to begin with and that put a lot of pressure on the middle order, with the three of the top four failing again, unable to reach even double figures.
Chris Morris, only flown in a couple of days ago as a replacement to the injured Morne Morkel, was impressive picking up the wickets of Imran Farhat and Mohammad Hafeez to leave Pakistan on 18 for two.
Shoaib Malik came and went quickly as well - bowled by JP Duminy - before Nasir Jamshed and Misbah (55, 75b, 3x4, 1x6), just like in the first match, looked to build a partnership of note to inch their side closer to the target.
However, Jamshed's 76-ball 44 (4x4) came to an end courtesy Lonwabo Tsotsobe, and from there Misbah was just left with a little too much to do, with Pakistan stuck on 86 for four from 27.2 overs.
Umar Amin (16 in 29) hung around for a little while, but Ryan McLaren (four for 19) picked up the first of his four wickets in the 39th over, with the Pakistan batsman top-edging a delivery while trying to accelerate and Colin Ingram making no mistake with the skier.
Kamran Akmal found Faf Du Plessis at backward point in the same over as Misbah was left hanging at the other end yet again by the rest of the Pakistan batsmen.
Earlier, Amla's patient 81 was key to South Africa eventually managing at least 234, although the result might have been completely different had Amin taken a catch at point off Mohammad Irfan when the opener was just on seven.
The Proteas were 186 for three in the 41st over, but a run out of skipper AB De Villiers triggered a raft of wickets as the Pakistani bowlers came to the fore, to keep the score well within reach.
Unfortunately, their batsmen did not quite return the favour, leaving their side gasping for breath to stay alive in the tournament.
The Proteas are now in with a shout of making the semifinals, while Pakistan need to hope for some favours and a superior nett run rate, which is unlikely considering they haven't crossed 170 in two matches, to have any chance of making the final four.
