Afridi Stunner posts a huge total against Africa ...

Shahid Afridi unfurled his full repertoire of individual brilliance as it was South Africa's turn to feel the punishment of flashing blades. With a masterful anchoring century from Mohammad Yousuf, Pakistan racked up a massive 351 for 4 in the second one-day international at Durban.

In an attempt to level the series after their dismal effort at Centurion Park, Pakistan packed their side with allrounders, handing Azhar Mahmood a first ODI since February 2005, and the long batting line-up enabled the top order to play with freedom. The result was Pakistan's highest total against South Africa and the highest score at Durban.

The 200 arrived in the 33rd over, but that wasn't a patch on the entertainment to follow when Yousuf joined Afridi at 222 for 4 in the 39th. The next 11.4 overs brought 129 thunderous runs as Afridi bludgeoned the ball to all corners of Kingsmead. His first six came off his fifth ball and five more followed, including two of amazing power from low full tosses and another than hit the roof of a stand and finished in the road off a waist-high delivery. His half-century came off a blink-off-the-eye 20 balls.

This was Afridi had his cheeky best, never better exemplified than when he twice walked across his stumps and swept Makhaya Ntini to fine leg. Then he brought out his best Kevin Pietersen impression, effortlessly flicking a full toss through midwicket.

When Afridi arrived, Yousuf was on 52 and his century was almost a by-the-way moment such were the headline-grabbing feats at the other end. But it was a typical Yousuf knock, working the gaps and punishing the loose balls. His 12 ODI century came in the last over off 110 balls and he fed Afridi the strike at every opportunity during their stand.

Even before the Afridi show arrived in town, Pakistan had shown that they'd decided to get out of bed on the right side this morning. Shahid Nazir, recalled in place of Mohammad Hafeez, set the ball rolling with a rollicking 57 after the early loss of the suffering Kamran Akmal.

Ntini and Shaun Pollock hadn't been treated with such disdain for the whole summer and the introduction of the change bowlers didn't slow the rate. Nazir favoured the leg side, occasionally stepping across his crease, and pulled a couple of huge sixes into the crowd. The extent of his onslaught was shown as he raised his own 50 off 33 balls with the Pakistan total reading 60.

Charl Langeveldt hit back by trapping Nazir with a fine slower-ball and with the innings only 12 overs old Yousuf and Younis Khan sensibly opted for accumulation and worked the strike with sharp running, not always a facet of Pakistan cricket. Younis was set for only his third ODI century but picked out long off against Graeme Smith's offspin and when Inzamam-ul-Haq decided today was the right time add to his run-out count, Pakistan threatened to lose their way. Afridi put them back on the right path in a style that is volatile and exhilarating.