-Scorecard

Seamers Rao Iftikhar and Umar Gul shared six wickets and Mohammad Yousuf [ Images ] hammered a century to guide Pakistan to a 25-run victory over South Africa [ Images ] in the second one-dayer at the Gaddafi stadium [ Images ] on Saturday.

Yousuf's 117 led the hosts to 265 for nine before they bowled out South Africa for 240 to level the five-match series 1-1.

Iftikhar (3-43) and Gul (3-59) bowled a disciplined line on a slow, wearing pitch.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith [ Images ] top-scored with 65 in 96 balls but he enjoyed a charmed life as he was bowled first ball off a no-ball and was dropped on 19, 29 and 44.

He and AB de Villiers [ Images ] (35) shared a stand of 76 for the third wicket.

After Smith went with the score on 140 for six in the 35th over, the experienced Shaun Pollock [ Images ] hit 37 and Albie Morkel [ Images ] made 31 in a partnership of 55 but Pakistan stayed cool to clinch victory.

GOOD EFFORT 

"It was a challenging total on that wicket," Smith told reporters. "Credit to Yousuf, his hundred was a good effort.

"We got close but we kept on losing wickets in the middle overs."

Pakistan made an excellent start when Gul trapped Herschelle Gibbs [ Images ] lbw for a duck from the third ball of the innings and next over left arm paceman Sohail Tanvir [ Images ] removed Jacques Kallis [ Images ] for another duck.

Younis Khan [ Images ] took over as Pakistan captain in the 10th over after Shoaib Malik [ Images ] went off with a calf strain.

Malik, though, returned for the final few overs.

Earlier, Yousuf notched his 13th one-day international century for Pakistan.

After opting to bat first, the home team built their sizeable total around a 107-run fourth-wicket partnership between Yousuf and Malik, who clubbed four sixes in his 56.

Yousuf said it was a tricky pitch to bat on.

"It was slow and difficult to make shots when the ball got old," he said.

"It was a good effort from me."

Malik said winning the toss was important after the same pitch was also used for the first match on Thursday.