Shahid Afridi took five windows to help Pakistan avoid a loss to Canada and moved to the top of their group in World Cup cricket. South Africa beat Netherlands by 231 runs.

Afridi said 5.23 for an end to persecution of Canada running and lifting his team to a victory of 46 runs in Colombo yesterday. Pakistan has been seduced by 184 in 43 acquisitions before hitting the ball with Canadians rejected for 138 in 42.5 overs.

“It’s a very good wake-up call for us for the next game,” Afridi said at the post-match presentation ceremony. “We are not going to repeat this batting performance again.”

Pakistan third straight win was the 1992 champion at the top of Group A with a maximum six points from three matches. The first four of two groups of seven teams qualified for the quarterfinals in 14-nation event.

Afridi move gave him a 14-tournament leader wickets and helped Pakistan avoid defeat a day after England lost three wickets shock for Ireland. Canada and Ireland rarely plays against teams of elite sport by playing tests.

Umar Akmal Pakistan scored over 48 points and Misbah-ul Haq made 37. The Canadians went 104-3 with 99 balls of their allotted 50 overs remaining before losing their last seven windows for 34 runs.

“Fighting is one thing but getting across that line is obviously taking it to another level,” said Canada captain Ashish Bagai. “We had a chance to show everybody what we’ve put in over the last few years but we fell short.”

Twin Centurions

Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers struck centuries to lead South Africa’s rout of the Netherlands in Group B.

open Amla hit 113,130 balls out and de Villiers, was 134 from 98 balls as South Africa were 351-5 in Mohali, India. Spinner Imran Tahir then took 3-19 as the Netherlands, and broke 120 all in its response.

South Africa beat West Indies by seven wickets in his opening match, moving atop the group with four points from two matches. Holland remains in last place after third straight loss.

In today's match, New Zealand and Zimbabwe to play a group game in Ahmedabad, India, Bangladesh, despite having a Group B rivals West Indies in Dhaka.

The tournament, co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, ends April 2.