Series win sees South Africa maintain pressure on Australia at top of LG ICC ODI Championship Table

South Africa's 3-2 series win against Pakistan, completed with a 14-run victory in the final ODI in Lahore on Monday, has ensured it maintains the pressure on Australia at the top of the LG ICC ODI Championship table.

Graeme Smith's side is now just five rating points behind the world champions and, with a three-match series to come against third-placed New Zealand in November and December, there is a chance for the Proteas to close that gap still further.

Pakistan lies fourth in the table but its hold on that position following back-to-back losses in Multan and Lahore is now extremely tenuous.

Shoaib Malik's line-up is ahead of India, in fifth position, only when the ratings are calculated to three decimal places - and with the two sides set to face up to each other in five ODIs in early November then there is plenty of scope for things to change over the coming weeks.

The middle section of the table remains tight with just two rating points between four sides - Pakistan, India, sixth-placed Sri Lanka and England, in seventh spot.

Neither Sri Lanka nor England are set to play any more ODIs in 2007 and that means the West Indies could close the gap on them as it is scheduled to play five matches against Zimbabwe in November and December.

The West Indies, currently eighth in the LG ICC ODI Championship table, is five points behind England and six points back from Sri Lanka.