PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Efficient Pakistan warmed up for Tuesday's opening match against the West Indies in the 2007 (CWC) Cricket World Cup with an authoritative seven-wicket win against top-rated South Africa in their last practice match at the Sir Frank Worrell Grounds in St Augustine yesterday.

In two other warm-up matches, New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 18 runs at the Three Ws Oval in Barbados while Australia humbled England by five wickets at Arnos Vale.

Led by Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan completely outplayed South Africa and placed themselves as one of the early favourites for the World Cup, which begins with an opening ceremony in Jamaica tomorrow evening. The Pakistanis played unbeaten in their two official warm-up matches at this venue, having defeated Canada by 77 runs on Tuesday.

Listless batting display

The South Africans - after being inserted - gave a listless batting display and were routed for a modest 199 in 48.3 overs, with rookie batsman Loots Bosman top-scoring with 53.

Getting starts but failing to carry on were Ashwell Prince (35) and Jacques Kallis (29).

Four bowlers picked up two wickets apiece for the Pakistanis - Mohammad Sami (2-13), Umar Gul (2-20), Mohammad Hafeez (2-23), and Shoaib Malik (2-35).

In response, the Pakistanis raced to victory in 44.3 overs, with Younis Khan leading the way with a fluent 79, compiled in 155 minutes from 98 balls, laced with nine fours and one six.

He received admirable support from Hafeez who made 49 off 77 balls with seven fours, and batting sensation Mohammad Yousuf, who made an unbeaten 48 off 69 balls with three boundaries.