South Africa took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series after a hard fought 28-run win in the fourth game in Abu Dhabi on Friday night. De Villiers, whose team lost 4-1 in Sri Lanka in July, was delighted with the improvement against a Pakistan side he rates highly.

"I am proud of each and every one of the team, a series win away from home is never easy especially after defeat in Sri Lanka and against a world-class team like Pakistan," De Villiers said after the match.