Cricket: Pollock sets up South Africa victory

South Africa's Shaun Pollock appeals successfully for the wicket of Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya. Picture / Reuters

AHMEDABAD, India - Medium-pacer Shaun Pollock took two early wickets in a masterly 10-over spell as he set up South Africa's 78-run victory over Sri Lanka in their Champions Trophy Group B cricket match today.

Man of the match Pollock, who conceded just 21 runs, dismissed Sanath Jayasuriya for three and Kumar Sangakkara for nought.

He then ran out skipper Mahela Jayawardene for 36 as Sri Lanka were reduced to 78-5 before being bowled out for 141 in 39.1 overs while chasing 220 for victory under lights.

The former South Africa captain also caught tail-ender Muttiah Muralitharan at long-on for three.

A half-century by A B de Villiers along with a quickfire eighth-wicket stand of 42 between Robin Peterson and Pollock guided South Africa to 219 for nine after they were put into bat in what was a must-win game for both teams.

It was former champions South Africa's first victory in the four-team league after they lost to New Zealand.

They meet Pakistan in their concluding group match in Mohali on Friday.

Sri Lanka, joint-winners in 2002, completed their games with two defeats and a victory and are all but out of the race.

Paceman Andre Nel took three for 41 to dismantle the middle order, including Tillakaratne Dilshan, who was caught brilliantly by Herschelle Gibbs at backward point for 36.

Makhaya Ntini finished with two wickets as the South African pacemen bowled their team to an astonishing victory despite the dew making the ball wet and the ground slippery.

The turning point was the run out of Jayawardene.

Dilshan sent back non-striker Jayawardene after playing pacer Jacques Kallis to backward point. Gibbs threw to the non-striker's end where Kallis fumbled but Pollock, covering up, collected the ball and dived forward to throw down the stumps.

Playing in his first match of the tournament, De Villiers scored 54 and shared an 80-run fourth-wicket stand with Jacques Kallis (43) after Chaminda Vaas struck early.

De Villiers was caught in the deep off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

Peterson hit a six and two fours as medium-pacer Farveez Maharoof was clubbed for 22 runs in the 49th over.

Pollock also struck a quick unbeaten 21, including a pulled six off Malinga who went for 10 in the final over.

Fast bowler Lasith Malinga bowled an explosive second spell to finish with four for 53.

Scoreboard

South Africa Innings

G Smith c Jayasuriya b Vaas 10
B Dippenaar c Sangakkara b Vaas 3
H Gibbs c Sangakkara b Malinga 16
J Kallis st Sangakkara b Jayasuriya 43
A de Villiers c Maharoof b Muralitharan 54
M Boucher b Malinga 29
J Kemp b Jayasuriya 7
S Pollock not out 21
R Peterson b Malinga 22
A Nel b Malinga 0
M Ntini not out 1
Extras (4b 2lb 1nb 6w) 13
Total (for 9 wickets, 50 overs) 219
Fall: 13, 30, 30, 110, 145, 169, 176, 218, 218
Bowling: C Vaas 10-3-16-2, L Malinga 9-0-53-4 (2w), D Fernando
5-0-24-0 (1nb), M Muralitharan 10-0-42-1 (1w), S Jayasuriya
10-0-36-2 (2w), F Maharoof 5-0-34-0, T Dilshan 1-0-8-0

Sri Lanka Innings

U Tharanga c Boucher b Ntini 11
S Jayasuriya lbw b Pollock 3
M Jayawardene run out 36
K Sangakkara c Boucher b Pollock 0
M Atapattu b Nel 2
T Dilshan c Gibbs b Nel 36
F Maharoof c Smith b Kallis 3
C Vaas not out 29
L Malinga c Smith b Nel 2
M Muralitharan c Pollock b Ntini 3
D Fernando lbw b Kemp 4
Extras (5lb 2nb 5w) 12
Total (all out, 39.1 overs) 141
Fall: 9, 21, 23, 34, 78, 91, 114, 124, 127, 141
Bowling: S Pollock 10-0-21-2 (1nb 1w), M Ntini 9-1-24-2
(1nb 1w), A Nel 9-1-41-3, J Kallis 8-0-34-1 (1w),
J Kemp 3.1-0-16-1 (2w)

Result: South Africa won by 78 runs

- REUTERS