Pollock hit a magnificent 130 before he was the last man out in the 48th over when Bangladesh paceman Mashrafe Bin Mortaza had him caught in the deep to bring an end to the valiant African chase at 283.

The South Africa all-rounder hit 19 fours and a massive six in his 109-ball knock to bring the match to the wire after the Africans lost their first seven batsmen for a mere 87 in the 21st over.

He added 67 runs with Zimbabwe's Elton Chigumbura, 40, for the eighth wicket and then 103 with Kenyan Thomas Odoyo, 39, for the ninth.

Although Mashrafe, bowling as an unlikely position of first change, was expensive in his 6.5 overs that yielded 57 runs, he still had the last laugh by dismissing the potential match-winner.

Earlier, Mohammad Asif and Zaheer Khan delivered swift blows to a weary Africa XI after Mahela Jayawardene and Mohammad Yousuf hit half-centuries to help Asia XI post a challenging 317.

The Africans however never looked like they could launch a comeback after those early losses, and succumbed to the pressure of some tight fielding and spin bowling to limp to 116 for seven by the 25-over mark.

Asif needed just two deliveries to get stuck into the Africans. After giving up a four first ball, he got one to nip back in off a length and AB de Villier's decision to shoulder arms ended in disaster. Asif should have had a second right after but Steve Tikolo was let off by Upul Tharanga at third slip, though it must be said he had no reaction time as the ball fairly shot at him. Still, he got his man when Tikolo tread back onto his stumps after he defended another immaculate delivery.

Zaheer too showed just how much juice there was in this virgin pitch when he castled Boeta Dippenaar with an inswinger and welcomed Tikolo with some superb lifters marginally outside off stump. A second wicket came Zaheer's way after he set up Loots Bosman with a bouncer and followed up with a fuller delivery which the batsman nicked to first slip.

Justin Kemp, the African captain, opened his account with a straight drive off Zaheer but his tendency to thrust forward proved his undoing when Asif snuck one through his defence. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, the only Bangladeshi to make the final cut, came on first change and was taken off after his two overs went for 15. Sanath Jayasuriya may have failed with the bat, but he bowled Boucher with a skidder to make it 77 for 6. That would become 87 for 7 when Jayasuriya got one to spin and kick up for Albie Morkal to edge to the keeper.

Rendered hors de combat with the ball, Shaun Pollock's role as a batsman -- he was definitely the second best after Mark Boucher -- was always going to be paramount to the Africans' cause. However, his presence on an unbeaten 31 from 37 balls at the half-way stage when all was lost did little to mask what was a pretty one-sided affair.

Earlier, Jayawardene and Yousuf hit half-centuries to help Asia post the massive total.

Skipper Jayawardene made a fluent 65 and Pakistan's Yousuf a solid 66 after Asia had elected to bat on a good track in the day-night game.

Yousuf also became the third Pakistani batsman to complete 8,000 runs in one-day internationals during his 74-ball knock after retired Inzamamul Haq and Saeed Anwar.

Debutant seamer Morne Morkel of South Africa was the most successful bowler with 3-68. His brother Albie and Zimbabwean seamer Elton Chigumbura grabbed two wickets apiece.

Indians Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly had put the Asian side on course for a big total with a brisk 68-run stand for the second wicket off just 49 deliveries.

Opener Sehwag smashed a 42-ball 45 with one six and seven fours before inside-edging a Chigumbura delivery on to his stumps.

Left-handed Ganguly fell in similar fashion, but to Morne Morkel. The former Indian captain hit seven fours in his 29-ball 32.

Jayawardene, who led Sri Lanka to the World Cup final in April, and Yousuf then built on the Indian duo's efforts as they put on 94 for the fourth wicket to ensure the African side chased a stiff target under lights.

The Sri Lankan hit one six and seven fours in his 62-ball knock before being caught by Shaun Pollock off Kenyan off-spinner Steve Tikolo while attempting a big shot.

Indians Yuvraj Singh (31) and Harbhajan Singh (20) scored valuable runs in the closing overs to help their team cross the 300-mark.