Storm washes out final match

South Africa 218 for 6 (Terblanche 61, du Preez 55*) v Pakistan 38 for 0 ( Qadeer 16*, Maroof 18*) - no result
Scorecard

A storm put paid to South Africa's chances of winning this series 5-0. Nevertheless, they still had time to reach 200 for the fourth time in four matches batting first - today's effort was 216 for 6. Daleen Terblanche made her second fifty of the series, and Mignon du Preez boosted them late on with an unbeaten 55.

A rare failure for Cri-Zelda Brits (8) couldn't wipe the smile off her face; she finished the series with 183 runs and will settle for the 4-0 cleansweep, and a job well done as stand-in captain. Pakistan showed some encouraging signs, reaching 38 without loss from 11 overs. It was shaping up to be the highest opening stand of the series - the highest being 40 - when lightning forced the players off the field and ultimately ended the match.

The series victory will give South Africa the boost they needed after missing out on automatic qualification for the 2009 World Cup after being pipped on home soil by the West Indies in the 2005 tournament. That means they now face qualification and will have to attend the qualifying tournament later this year.

South Africa have only played three one-dayers since the World Cup - against West Indies immediately after that competition in a hastily arranged ODI series. Their morale dented after unexpectedly losing out on qualification, they lost 2-1 at home.

This series against Pakistan provided them with the opportunity to get their confidence back and on the evidence, a 4-0 drubbing without three players including their captain, they're on course to gain a place at the 2009 World Cup in Australia.