Pollock leads SA to easy victory

South Africa captain Shaun Pollock gave a superb bowling display to set his team on the way to an easy six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first of five one-day internationals on Wednesday.

Pollock, who won the toss and put Sri Lanka in, returned figures of four for 18 in 8.4 overs, destroying the top order as the visitors limped to 128 all out in 46.4 overs.

He was ably supported by seamer Makhaya Ntini who took three for 22 in his 10-over spell. Sri Lanka, 30 for five after just 13 overs, could never recover.

South Africa scored the winning runs in the 30th over with Mark Boucher unbeaten with 45 and Jacques Kallis on 38.

Ntini made the early breakthrough for South Africa when he claimed the wicket of Marvan Atapattu caught behind for one with the final ball of the second over.

With the first ball of the fifth over Pollock trapped debutant left-hander Jehan Mubarak leg before for two and in the next over, bowled by Ntini, Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya was caught at third man by Boeta Dippenaar for seven.

Kumar Sangakkara was next to go, caught by Justin Ontong in the covers for seven off Pollock in the 11th over. Two overs later, Pollock had Aravinda da Silva caught behind for 12.

Mahela Jayawardene (31) and Russel Arnold (28) cobbled together a 65-run sixth wicket partnership, devoid of flamboyance, but full of grit.

When Ntini was recalled to the fray in the 32nd over he wasted no time as his first ball found Arnold's leading edge, sending the ball safely into the hands of Andrew Hall at mid-off.

Jayawardene followed soon after, brilliantly caught by Herschelle Gibbs at point off the bowling of Allan Donald who then removed Dilhara Fernando two balls later, caught behind by Boucher for a duck.

With the rest of the wickets falling quickly South Africa were left with the modest target.

Although they made a poor start with Gibbs being caught behind by Sangakkara for a duck off left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas in the first over and Graeme Smith following three overs later for three, there was little doubt about the outcome once Kallis and Boucher got going.

Mail Cricket Editor