Sponsors
lose a million dollars as SA-Lanka series ends early
Johannesburg,
January 23: Pathetic
performances by the Sri Lankan’s resulting in early defeats to South
Africa in two Tests and washout of one Test have cost sponsors nearly a
million rands in lost television exposure.
The
last Test at Centurion ended on Monday with the match barely into the
third day and the second Test at Newlands in Cape Town also ended two
days earlier. Earlier, two of the five days in the first Test in Durban
were lost due to rain. However, sponsors are pleased at being linked to
the South African squad.
"We
did lose out on broadcast time and probably something on other related
marketing costs, but that has to be balanced against being associated
with such a successful team," Rob Reynolds, group executive for
marketing and sales of one of the main sponsors (the mobile phone
company MTN) said.
"The
crowds have turned out in force to watch them, which is great for us,
and a team that has won seven of their last 11 Tests is a great vehicle
to be linked to," added Reynolds.
Meanwhile,
South African cricket administrators expressed confidence that the
public had overcome the debacle of the Cronje match-fixing saga and its
faith in the South African cricket team has been restored after record
crowds attended many of the Sri Lankan games as the local cricket season
ended.
Sri
Lankan team wins admiration of the South African fans
Pretorai,
January 24:
The Sri Lankan cricket team devastated after losing most of their
one-day and Test matches in South Africa, headed home, winning the
admiration of many fans for their important gesture when they first
arrived in the country two months ago.
Two
South Africans got their sight back after receiving the corneas Sri
Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya brought with him. By doing that the
Lankan skipper was only following his nation's tradition of donating
corneas.
On
Tuesday, Elizabeth Mabena, a mother of 11, and Norman Makgopa, 33,
expressed their gratitude to the Sri Lankan cricket team for bringing
the corneas with them.
Mabena
could previously see her children, but "it was like looking through
a bathroom window, with its blurred glass," she said. Now she can
see them clearly with her left eye.
"I
never thought that I would ever be able to see again, but God has
answered my prayers," Makgopa said. "Now I thank him and the
Sri Lankan people every day," he added. Mabena also said that she
would be remembering Sri Lanka in her prayers as she could now go to
church again.
South
Africa defeat Sri Lanka by an innings and 7 runs
Centurion, January 22: South
Africa completed their second successive innings victory over Sri
Lanka when they won the third and final Test by an innings and seven
runs on the third afternoon at Centurion on Monday. South Africa won
the series 2-0.
Sri Lanka, who had been forced to follow on 259 runs
behind on the first innings, were bowled out for 252, adding just 68
runs for the loss of seven wickets on Monday.
The morning session saw three wickets go down as Aravinda de Silva,
Sri Lanka’s last hope of putting a major total on the board,
slashed a full ball from Jacques Kallis to Shaun Pollock at wide
third slip, Pollock taking an excellent low catch. De Silva was gone
for 22, having added just one to his overnight score.
Jayasuriya, who dropped himself down the order to
number six after scoring only 50 runs in five innings in the series,
was bowled for 16 by Allan Donald when he drove at a ball which
swung past the inside edge of his bat and flicked his off stump.
Sri Lanka's last hope disappeared when Romesh
Kaluwitharana was caught behind off new cap Justin Kemp shortly
before lunch. Kemp took further wickets as South Africa quickly
wiped out the Sri Lankan tail.
The left-handed Sangakkara, 23,
playing in his sixth Test, went past his previous highest score of
74, made in the first Test of the current series in Durban. He
batted for 348 minutes and faced 215 balls, hitting 14 fours before
playing across the line against Ntini in an attempt to hurry to his
century before running out of partners.
Shaun Pollock was awarded both the Man of the Match and Man of the
Series awards for his finishing the series with a batting average of
41, plus 13 wickets at 13 apiece.
Asked about his maiden Test century, a magnificent 111 off 103
balls, Pollock expressed his relief at finally reaching the
milestone after 51 Tests. Pollock also took six catches in the
series, most of them outstanding efforts in the slips.
Losing captain Jayasuriya was philosophical about the defeat,
saying that Sri Lanka were in the midst of a rebuilding process
adding that more preparation could have averted the disastrous
series.
Sri
Lanka struggling on Day II
Centurion,
January 21: Sri
Lanka after being forced to follow on, were facing defeat in the
third and final Test against South Africa at Centurion Park on
Sunday.
Sri
Lanka reached 184 for three at the close on the second day. But they
remained short of repairing the damage caused when they were bowled
out for 119 in the first innings; needing 75 runs to avoid an
innings defeat.
Opening
batsman Marvan Atapattu who was run out for three in the first innings
was caught at first slip off South African captain Shaun Pollock for
nought in the second innings. Kumar Sangakkara, who opened the batting
in place of out-of-form captain Sanath Jayasuriya, made an unbeaten 64
as he and Russell Arnold (71) shared a century stand in the second
innings.
Although
it was a good day for the South African bowlers, Donald was well
below his best. He did not open the bowling in the second innings
and conceded 21 runs in two overs when he came on as first change.
Makhaya
Ntini took four for 39 as South Africa's fast bowlers again
overpowered the tourists.
South
Africa lead the series 1-0 after winning the second Test by a record
margin of an innings and 229 runs.
Centuries
by No. 9 batsmen in Test cricket
Centurion,
January 21: South
African No. 9 batsman, Shaun Pollock, by playing a magnificent knock
of 111 off 106 balls against Sri Lanka in the Centurion Test,
provided the ninth instance of a Century by No. 9 batsman in Test
cricket.
Ian
Smith's 173 off just 136 balls in 237 minutes is the highest
individual score by any one batting at number nine in Test cricket.
The complete list of 9 instances of centuries by No. 9 batsman in
Test cricket is:
-
173
I.D.S. Smith (NZ) vs India Auckland 1989-90
-
160
C. Hill (Aus) vs. England Adelaide 1907-08
-
146
Asif Iqbal (Pak) vs England The Oval 1967
-
122
G.O.B. Allen (Eng) vs NZ Lord's 1931
-
112
J.T. Murray (Eng) vs WI The Oval 1966
-
111
S.M. Pollock (SA) vs Sri Lanka Centurion 2000-01
-
102*
L. Klusener (SA) vs India Cape Town 1996-97
-
100
R.R. Lindwall (Aus) vs England Melbourne 1946-47
-
100
J.M. Gregory (Aus) vs England Melbourne 1920-21
SA
in command as they crucify Sri Lanka for 5/54
South
Africa didn't waste any time on the second day of the third Test
against Sri Lanka at Centurion - by lunch they had already snapped
up five wickets and seemed headed for a hefty first innings lead
Romesh Kaluwitharana off Pramodya Wickramasinghe caught Ntini - and
then the game was on as back-from-injury Alan Donald, perhaps
angered by the bumpers bounced at him on Saturday, roared in with
frightening aggression.
Exhibiting
much of his old fire, the veteran speedster capture the wickets of
Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara in the just three balls - and
this when Sri Lanka already had one down with no more than 25 runs
on the board.
Their
first wicket had fallen when a quick, slick Gibbs lob to opening
partner Dippenaar had Marvin Attapatu stranded in no man's land.
Jayasuriya,
slashing wildly, was caught on the boundary by McKenzie, while
Sangakkara went deflecting the ball onto his stumps playing back
defensively.
Aravinda
da Silva, flown in last week to add some experience and backbone to
the tourists' batting, was the next to go on 40/4, the veteran
having reason to feel a little aggrieved as Gibbs, atoning to some
extent for his failure with the bat, dived instinctively to his left
and at full stretch took a miracle catch off Jacques Kallis.
And
then, just before lunch with the score still in the fifties, Mahela
Jayawardene followed his fallen comrades back to the pavilion when
Mark Boucher caught him behind off a wickedly rising ball from
Ntini.
Centurion,
January 21:
A devastating bowling spell from South Africa speed demon Allan Donald
left Sri Lanka's batting order in tatters on the second day of the
second Test at Centurion Park Sunday.
Donald ripped through the Sri Lankan top order, taking two wickets in
three balls as the tourists staggered to the lunch interval on 54 for
five in reply to South Africa’s 378 all out.
Sri Lanka were in early trouble when Attapatu was run out for three when
he played Donald into the covers.
Gibbs moved quickly to pick up and Attapatu was sent back by Sanath
Jayasuriya. He was easily run out when Gibbs lobbed the ball to short
leg fielder Dippenaar.
Donald had Jayasuriya caught at wide third man for 16 when he cut a
short ball. Two balls later Kumar Sangakkara was bowled off an inside
edge for three.
Sri Lanka suffered another blow when veteran Aravinda de Silva was
sensationally caught for five by a diving Gibbs at backward point. De
Silva hammered a cut against Jacques Kallis and Gibbs flung himself to
his left to take the ball two-handed.
Kallis was bowling in place of Donald, who left the field briefly for
treatment after hurting his right elbow diving in a futile attempt to
stop a boundary by Jayasuriya. It was the same elbow on which he
developed a swelling, which caused him to miss the second Test in Cape
Town last month.
Although he seemed to be in pain, it was in his next over that Donald
made his double breakthrough, with Jayasuriya trying one powerful shot
too many after punching the previous delivery through the covers for
four.
Mahela Jayawardene was caught behind for 17 off Makhaya Ntini in the
lunch over as Sri Lanka’s troubles worsened.
Earlier
South Africa decided not to declare at their overnight total of 375 for
nine and added just three runs before Makhaya Ntini was caught behind
off Pramodya Wickramasinghe in the second over of the day.
Lance
Klusener out of final Test against Sri Lanka due to failed fitness
trial
Centurion,
January 18: South African all-rounder Lance Klusener failed a
fitness trial on Thursday therefore, will miss the third and final
Test against Sri Lanka which starts at Centurion Park on Saturday.
Klusener
will have microscopic surgery on his right knee to repair damaged
cartilage and will be out of action for four to six weeks and he is
expected to be fit for South Africa's tour of the West Indies which
starts on March 1.
All
rounder Justin Kemp will replace Klusener. Chaminda Vaas , the Sri
Lankan pace bowler too has an injury problem with his left groin and is
a doubtful starter for Saturday’s match.
Key
off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was also hobbling at the Wanderers
but skipper Sanath Jayasuriya said Vaas was the only worry - and
that it was too early to tell whether Vaas would be fit. The Sri
Lankans took a day off Thursday after winning at the Wanderers.
Jayasuriya
said the one-day win was a boost for the team's confidence after a
succession of poor results. Sri Lanka lost the first five one-day
Internationals and lost the second Test in Cape Town by a record
margin of an innings and 229 runs.
Sri
Lanka will be boosted by the addition of veteran batsman Aravinda de
Silva to their squad. The loss of Vaas would be a big blow but it
could force Sri Lanka to rely more on spin bowling, their
traditional strength.
With
Vaas out of action in the tense closing overs at the Wanderers,
Jayasuriya relied on the off spin of Muralitharan and De Silva and
his own left-arm spin as South Africa lost their last six wickets
for 35 runs.
Loss
against Sri Lanka on Wednesday left with ‘a sour taste’: Shaun
Pollock
Centurion,
January, 18:
South African captain Shaun Pollock reacting to the Wednesday defeat
against visitors Sri Lanka said that the one-day defeat, prevented
South Africa from equalling the world record of 11 successive wins
and hence left a "a sour taste". He added that inspite of
this he was confident his team would be able to come out firing in
the test. Pollock admitted that the form of strike bowler Allan
Donald was a worry.
Donald
missed South Africa's most recent three Test matches because of a
stomach muscle injury and has been unimpressive in two one-day
games.
"He's
a little bit rusty," said Pollock. "It doesn't matter how
hard you work in the nets, there's no substitute for bowling in the
middle. There will be a little less pressure on him in a Test when
there isn't an umpire waiting to wide' him."
Donald
bowled five wides at the Wanderers when he conceded 31 runs in six
overs.
Sri
Lankans defy South Africa of a record eleventh
consecutive victory
Johannesburg,
January 17: Sri
Lanka's spin bowlers wrecked South Africa's 10-match unbeaten streak
here Wednesday, clinching a four-run victory for the tourists in the
sixth and final one-day international at the Wanderers.
Chasing
the rain-reduced target of 209 in 42 overs, South Africa were
cruising towards their record-equaling eleventh consecutive win in
one-day cricket before a disastrous collapse led to the final over
of drama.
Jonty
Rhodes missed a reverse sweep against off spinner Muttiah
Muralitharan to start a slide in which the last six wickets fell for
35 runs. Off spinner Aravinda de Silva dismissed Mark Boucher and
Justin Kemp in the space of three balls and top-scorer Neil McKenzie
was bowled for 47 by the first ball of the next over from Sri Lankan
skipper and left-arm spinner Sanath Jayasuriya.
Muralitharan
came back for his final spell and bowled Roger Telemachus. With 27
needed and one wicket left, South African captain Shaun Pollock hit
sixes off Jayasuriya and Muralitharan.
Pollock
declined runs off the first two balls, gave Donald a single, and
then smashed his opposite number Jayasuriya down the ground for six.
With six more needed off the last ball, Pollock could only drive the
ball back to the bowler, who ran out Donald just for good measure.
South Africa were all out for 204, agonisingly close to the West
Indies record of 11 straight wins in ODI’s.
It
was a remarkable comeback by Sri Lanka who lost the first five
matches of the series and were 21 for three after being sent in when
a violent thunderstorm stopped play for two hours.
Kallis
was named man of the series for his allround contributions.
Earlier
the match was set up by a brutal onslaught from Russel Arnold who
earned the man of the match award for his unbeaten 65 off 56
deliveries. Atapattu, who launched the recovery in a fourth wicket
stand of 65, made 55 off 83 balls.
Fast-bowler
Roger Telemachus took all three wickets for nine runs before the
stoppage. He finished with the best South African figures of three
for 25 in eight overs.
They
proved to be important strikes because the three wickets lost before
the interruption counted against Sri Lanka when the Duckworth-Lewis
tables were consulted.
It
meant South Africa had to score five fewer runs than their
opponents. If Sri Lanka had not lost any wickets before the stoppage
the target would have been 220.
Sri
Lanka suffered a blow when left-arm opening bowler Chaminda Vaas
collapsed with a groin injury after bowling the fifth ball of his
fifth over, one delivery after bowling Jacques Kallis. Muralitharan
also sustained an injury in the closing overs of the match.
Vaas
is likely to be a doubtful starter for the third and final Test
starting at Centurion on Saturday.
Andrew
Hall on standby for South Africa
Johannesburg, January
17: With
Herschelle Gibbs having strained his side during the fifth one-day
international against Sri Lanka on Sunday, Andrew Hall has been
placed on standby to play in the final ODI on Wednesday.
The final decision on Gibbs, who
suffered the injury while scoring 79 runs in Bloemfontein on Sunday,
will be taken on Wednesday morning.
Gibbs has made a rapid recovery, but it will be touch and go
whether he is fit to play.
Hall was to have travelled to Kimberley for a Standard Bank Cup
match against Griquas, but now he will remain in Johanesburg.
Hall made a name for himself in the six-match home-and-away series
against Australia, which South Africa won 3-2, with one match tied.
Since then, his fortunes have taken a dip, although there is a
strong chance he will be able to make a name for himself once again.
If South Africa wins the last ODI against Sri Lanka, they will
create history, since it will equal the world record of eleven
uninterrupted victories in succession, set up by the West Indies.
The teams for the match in Johannesburg:
South Africa (from): Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs or Andrew
Hall, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Jonty Rhodes, Mark Boucher
(wicket-keeper and vice-captain), Justin Kemp, Nicky Boje, Shaun
Pollock (captain), Roger Telemachus, Allan Donald, Makhaya Ntini.
Sri Lanka : Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Romesh Kaluwitharana
(wicket-keeper), Marvan Atapattu (vice-captain), Kumar Sangakkara,
Mahela Jayawardene, Aravinda de Silva, Russel Arnold, Chaminda Vaas,
Nuwan Zoysa, Pramodya Wickramasinghe, Muttiah Muralitharan, TM
Dilshan, Avishka Gunawardene, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Dilhara
Fernando, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara.
January
16: Herschelle Gibbs has
joined the ever-increasing list of South African injury casualties,
and could sit out the final ODI against Sri Lanka as the home side
attempt to make history.
On
Wednesday the South Africans will challenge a 16-year-old record:
the West Indies’ 1984 winning streak of 11 straight games. However
a stomach strain could keep the talented right-hander out of the
lineup.
The
injury, to his left side, will be a major concern to the team, as
Gibbs seemed to be striking form with a match-winning 79 in
Bloemfontein on Sunday.
United
Cricket Board spokeswoman Bronwyn Wilkinson said that Gibbs would be
assessed nearer to the game, and confirmed that Jonty Rhodes would
play with a splint after chipping a bone in his little finger.
However Gibbs is unlikely to play on Wednesday with the third and
final Test starting at Centurion on Saturday.
Gibbs
joins his injured mates Gary Kirsten (cracked middle finger), Lance
Klusener (cartilage tear in knee) and Mfuneko Ngam (stress fracture
in right femur).
Andrew
Hall, unlucky to be dropped from the ODI squad late last year, looks
set to make his return in Gibbs place. However some superb
performances from Adam Bacher for the Highveld Strikers could sway
the selectors into opting for the former South African opening
batsman
Herschelle
Gibbs carries South Africa to a 5-wicket victory
Bloemfontein, January 14: A superb
79 by opener Herschelle Gibbs carried South Africa to a five-wicket
victory over Sri Lanka in their fifth one-day international on
Sunday.
The shaven-headed South
African opening bat hit 79 well-struck runs as South Africa
steamrolled Sri Lanka by five wickets to take a 5-0 lead in the
six-match series and equal the national record of 10 wins in a row.
Gibbs, suspended from international cricket for six months until
December 31 for agreeing to accept money to under-perform, achieved
his first batch of runs following a Test duck on January 2 and
consecutive one-day scores of 1 and 13.
The 26-year-old stroke-player toned down the flamboyance as he
cautiously worked for his runs from 112 balls, perhaps fittingly
hitting a single from Russell Arnold to reach his ninth 50. His
innings at that stage contained just four fours and came from 78
balls.
Sri Lanka started well, having been put in to bat by
South African captain Shaun Pollock after he won the toss. But they
lost wickets regularly, plummeting to 80 for five in the 17th over.
A 62-run partnership off 96 balls between left-handers
Russell Arnold and Kumar Sangakkara helped haul Sri Lanka back to
some sort of respectability.
But they then fell to 160 for eight, before
Pramodya Wickramasinghe, with a fighting 32 off 40 balls, helped
them get to 206.
Pollock bagged 3/44 and Boje and Kallis claimed two scalps each to
starve the Lankans of runs before dismissing them in 49.2 overs.
With a 5-0 lead over the Sri Lankans in the
six-match series, South Africa are now just one win short of
equalling the record of 11 straight victories by the West Indies in
the 1984-85 season. Australia won 13 matches on the trot in early
1988, but the run was interrupted by a rained-out match.
South
Africa sends Sri Lanka to bat
Bloemfontein,
January 14: South Africa won
the toss and sent Sri Lanka in to bat in the fifth limited overs
international at Springbok Park on Sunday. Allan Donald returned to
the South African team in place of Roger Telemachus after recovering
from a stomach muscle injury and an abscess on his right elbow.
Allrounder
Justin Kemp, 23 rested for the final two matches of the series
because of a right knee cartilage injury. Veteran batsman Aravinda
de Silva was included for his first match of the tour after arriving
on Tuesday as a replacement for injured allrounder Upul Chandana,
while fast bowler Dilhara Fernando was picked ahead of Nuwan Zoysa.
South
Africa lead the six-match series 4-0.
South
Africa beat Sri Lanka comfortable once again
Cape
Town, January 11: Sri Lanka crashed to another defeat against South Africa in the
fourth one-day international as they crashed to 191 all out to go
down by 99 runs with Makhaya Ntini picking up a five-wicket haul.
All-rounder, Jacques Kallis scored a belligerent
82 as they lead the series 4-0 in the six-match series.
Chasing a challenging total of 291, Sri Lanka suffered an early
setback when skipper Sanath Jayasuriya was caught by Herschelle
Gibbs off Roger Telemachus for 12 with the team total on 25.
Romesh Kaluwithrana, who was the highest scorer for Sri Lanka with
74 further added 38 runs for the second wicket with pinch-hitter
Kaushalya Weeraratne.
With the team score at 98, Sri Lanka suffered a major blow when
their in-form Marvan Attapattu was caught by skipper Shaun Pollock
off Kallis.
With three more runs added to the total, Sri Lanka lost Kumara
Sangakkara, caught behind off Ntini.
Sri Lanka collapsed in the end losing their last five wickets for
just 17 runs and at no stage looked to overhaul the South African
total. Ntini was the pick of the bowlers with splendid figures of
five for 37 off 8.2 overs. Kallis and Telemachus chipped in with two
wickets apiece.
Earlier, South Africa put up a mammoth total of 290 for seven in 50
overs.
The opening batsman, Boeta Dippenaar, Kallis and Jonty Rhodes all
made half-centuries. Herschelle recalled after his six-month ban
only made 13.
Dippenaar gave South Africa an ideal start after they won the toss
and batted on a perfect batting pitch in hot weather. He hit a
fluent 77 off 86 balls with 12 fours and a six and was party to two
fruitful stands-53 for the first wicket with Gibbs and 67 for the
second with left-hander Nicky Boje.
Rhodes hit his fifth successive one-day international 50 to set a
new South African record. The 31-year-old decided earlier in the
season to retire from Test cricket and play only in one-day games
with a view to extending his international career to the 2003 World
Cup.
Rhodes reached his 50
off 45 balls and faced 52 balls in all before falling to a diving
catch by wicketkeeper Kaluwitharana when he tried to run a ball from
Chaminda Vaas to third man.
Left-arm opening bowler Vaas dismissed big-hitting Lance Klusener
two balls later and finished as Sri Lanka's most successful bowler
with three for 44.
Kallis
and Rhodes guide South Africa to their third victory
Paarl,
January 9: Jacques
Kallis hit an unbeaten century and Jonty Rhodes cracked his fourth
consecutive fifty, gaining
their eighth successive limited overs win when they beat Sri Lanka
by eight wickets in the third international at Boland Park in Paarl
on Tuesday. The win achieved with seven balls to spare gave the home
side a 3-0 lead in the six match series.
Faced
with a challenging target of 248, South Africa lost Herschelle Gibbs
immediately, lbw to Vaas for a duck, but they were set on the way to
victory by Boeta Dippenaar, who made 65, and Jacques Kallis, who
finished 100 not out, put on 111 for the second wicket.
Jonty Rhodes then gave
the innings crucial impetus as he made an unbeaten 75 off 59 balls.
Earlier,
Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya made a return to form, hitting
66 in a Sri Lankan total of 247 for four.
Earlier,
Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya made a return to form, hitting
66 in a Sri Lankan total of 247 for four. Jayasuriya
put on 110 for the first wicket with Romesh Kaluwitharana, who went
on to make top score of 83.
The
stand between Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana equalled the Sri Lankan
first wicket record against South Africa set by Chandika
Hathurusinghe and Roshan Mahanama in Kandy in 1993/94.
Jayasuriya
had been in poor form on the tour, scoring only ten runs in the
first two one-day internationals and 34 runs in four innings in the
first two Tests, won by South Africa. But he struck the ball crisply
on Tuesday, hitting seven fours and a six in an 83-ball innings.
Kaluwitharana, who
faced 117 balls and hit eight fours, was dropped four times,
including difficult caught and bowled chances to Shaun Pollock when
he had 11 and Jacques Kallis when he was on 30. He was dropped twice
off Nicky Boje on 81, by Herschelle Gibbs at midwicket and Alan
Dawson at wide long-on.
Dawson, 31, the
replacement of Allan
Donald and Roger Telemachus had an unhappy return to international
cricket conceding 58 runs in nine overs.
South
Africa were hit by a further late withdrawal when opening batsman
Gary Kirsten was ruled out with a bruised right hand, with Boeta
Dippenaar coming back in his place.
Telemachus
makes way for Dawson
Paarl,
January 8: South
African fast bowler Roger Telemachus has joined veteran quickie
Allan Donald as a non-starter for South Africa's one-day
international against Sri Lanka at Paarl on Tuesday.
Team
manager Goolam Rajah said on Monday that Telemachus, who woke up
with a stiff neck on Sunday morning, had not responded to treatment.
"Hopefully
he will be in consideration for Thursday's game (in Cape Town), but
in the meantime we have drafted Alan Dawson (the Western Province
all-rounder) into the squad for the Paarl match.
Dawson,
who has previously represented SA in ODI matches and has been one of
the mainstays of the Western Province team this season, joins the
squad's other replacement, uncapped Eastern Province all-rounder
Justin Kemp, who earlier came into the team in place of Donald.
Donald,
who underwent minor surgery to have an abscess on his right elbow
drained at the weekend, should know after a visit to his surgeon on
Tuesday whether he'll be fit for Thursday's match.
The
South Africa squad for Paarl is now: Shaun Pollock (capt.), Nicky
Boje, Mark Boucher (v-capt. w/k), Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs,
Jacques Kallis, Justin Kemp, Lance Klusener, Gary Kirsten, Neil McKenzie, Makhaya Ntini, Jonty
Rhodes, Alan Dawson.
Cape
Town,
January 7:
Allan Donald is out of Tuesday’s one-day encounter with Sri Lanka
at Paarl because an abscess on his right elbow, thus giving Eastern
Province all rounder Justin Kemp a chance to make his international
debut.
Western
Province speedster Roger Telemachus has had trouble with a stiff
neck. With Donald and Telemachus out, the selectors decided to test
the classy all rounder.
Two
phenomenal performances this season would not have escaped the
selectors: playing for the combined Eastern Province/Border side, he
made 180 against Sri Lanka; and in a day-night match against Free
State he bagged the best bowling figures in South African history,
taking 6 for 20.
Kemp,
who has been a fixture near the top of the first-class average for
the last three seasons, could not rise to prominence because of the
presence of all rounders like, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis and
Lance Klusener.
"It
hasn't been a frustration,” he said. “The all-rounders ahead of
me are all quality players. "I didn't think it (being selected
for the squad) would come this soon and it has come as quite a big
surprise.
"I
was very happy when the news broke. I have done well this season, so
I was hopeful, but, when you have players like Jacques Kallis and
Lance Klusener available, you know you are always going to be a
back-up player if one of them gets injured."
Kemp
has made a name for himself as a batsman of some quality, but he
says he feels his bowling has come on enough to make him a
contender.
Aravinda
de Silva called back as Sri Lanka struggles against South Africa
Cape
Town, January7: Sri Lanka
have called up master batsman Aravinda de Silva to strengthen their
fading performance in South Africa.
Tour
liaison officer Doug Russel said on Sunday that a visa application
had been made but he was unable to confirm whether it had been
granted.
Sri Lanka
has lost the first two games of their six-match one-day series and
was hammered by an innings and 229 runs in the second test in Cape
Town on Thursday.
A vacancy
in the stressed Sri Lankan squad arose when all-rounder Upul
Chandana broke a finger batting in the nets against a bowler from
local side Western Province.
Sri
Lanka suffers biggest-ever defeat
Cape Town,
January 4: South Africa
stormed to a crushing victory over Sri Lanka by an innings and 229
runs on the third day of the second cricket Test today.
Sri Lanka, 409 behind
on first innings, was dismissed for 180 to give South Africa a 1-0
lead in the three-match series after the first Test was drawn.
The victory was
achieved by a thoroughly professional performance, and marked in the
final innings by a four-wicket haul for Nicky Boje and three for
young fast bowler Mfuneko Ngam.
Boje finished with 4
for 28 off ten overs; a remarkable showing despite being
hammered by the defiant Vaas, while Ngam claimed 3 for 36 off 8.2
overs.
Pollock was named man
of the match for his feat of becoming the first Test captain to take
7 wickets in an innings, and the amiable allrounder revealed the
secret of his success.
Earlier, Lance
Klusener scored 97 as South Africa declared its first innings on 504
for seven wickets before lunch, giving it a 409-run lead over Sri
Lanka.
Then Ngam struck with
just his second ball to have Sri Lanka's captain Sanath Jayasuriya
caught at gully without scoring.
Sri Lanka, having
scored just 95 in its first innings, was wobbling precariously on 15
for one at lunch, with Marvan Atapattu on four and Sangkkara on
nine.
Klusener's 97 was just
three short of what would have been his fourth test century. When he
was dismissed to a simple catch at square leg off Arnold, South
African captain Shaun Pollock declared immediately, leaving Boje
undefeated on 31.
The 504 runs scored by
South Africa was the highest total the home team has achieved
against Sri Lanka.
The best bowling for
Sri Lanka came from Arnold, who took three for 76.
The next test takes
place in Centurion Jan. 20. There are four one-day internationals
before then, beginning in Paarl Jan. 11.
Klusener
- Second South African batsman to be out on 90s as Proteas declare
at 504/7
Cape Town, January 4: Lance
Klusener became the second South African batsman to be out in the
90s on day three of the second Test at Cape Town, but the Proteas
declared their first innings on 504/7 shortly afterwards and took a
wicket before lunch, to leave Sri Lanka 15/1 at the break, still
needing 394 to avoid an innings defeat.
Lance Klusener hit 97 as he and Nicky Boje batted without being
greatly troubled for most of the morning. Klusener batted for 212
minutes and faced 146 balls, hitting 13 fours and a six.
Pollock declared immediately, leaving Boje on 31 not out. The pair
put on 93 for the seventh wicket to cap a solid batting performance
in which only Herschelle Gibbs failed.
Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka’s ace bowler did not bowl in the
morning.
Marvan Atapattu steered Pollock’s first ball past gully for four
but in the next over Jayasuriya fended Ngam to gully where Pollock
held a low catch. It was Jayasuriya's second duck of a series in
which he has scored only 34 runs in four innings.
Jayasuriya stood his ground and the decision was referred to
television umpire Wilf Diedricks, who viewed several replays before
confirming the Sri Lankan captain was out.
Ngam produced a vicious 147kmh bouncer which Kumar Sangakkara only
just avoided but Sangakkara and Atapattu survived until lunch.
South Africa in
Charge
Cape Town, January 3: The
Proteas put on 296 for the loss of just four wickets, finishing the
day 331 runs ahead on 426 for 6. Lance Klusener was unbeaten on 44,
while Nicky Boje had 7.
Neil McKenzie and Cullinan dominated the morning session, McKenzie
crafting a solid 47 as the pair added 101 for the fourth wicket.
The
visitors made a perfect start to the day, when Fernando had Kallis
caught at slip off the second ball of the day – without any
addition to the overnight score.
However,
Cullinan and McKenzie, who added 101 for the fourth wicket, thwarted
the Sri Lankans in their quest for quick wickets.
McKenzie
was finally dismissed by part-timer Russel Arnold for 47.
But
Boucher replaced him and immediately got stuck into the Lankans, his
partnership with Cullinan being the brightest part of the day. The
pair combined in a fluent and attractive stand of 86 for the 6th
wicket, Cullinan moving ahead of Gary Kirsten as South Africa’s
most prolific centurion. His 112 – his 12th Test century and 4th
in consecutive Tests at Newlands – lasted just under four hours
and included 12 fours and three imperious sixes.
When Cullinan was run out ambling a single, South Africa was on 317
for 5 just before the tea break.
Lance Klusener and Boucher took the charge after that and the pair
batted at well over 4 to the over, and Sri Lanka’s fielders looked
more and more ragged as the score mounted past 350 and then 400.
Boucher moved easily into the 90’s, and then undid all his hard
work, seizing upon a long hop from part-time off spinner Russell
Arnold. However he failed to clear the man at deep backward square,
and was caught for 92. His innings lasted 143 balls and included 10
superb boundaries.
The
Proteas seem to be comfortably placed at tea and looking good to go
1-0 up in the three Test series.
Cullinan
hits fourth Newlands hundred
Cape Town, January 3: Daryll
Cullinan hit his fourth century in successive Tests at Newlands and
put South Africa in a commanding position on the second day of the
second Test against Sri Lanka here on Wednesday.
Cullinan, who hit 10 fours and three sixes to reach
his century, made 112 before being run out by a direct hit from
Chaminda Vaas shortly before tea. Cullinan made centuries against
Sri Lanka, West Indies and England in his previous three Tests at
Newlands. He reached his hundred off 212 balls when he punched off
spinner Russel Arnold through the covers for his 10th four.
South Africa had scored 323 for five at the interval,
a lead of 228, after bowling out the Sri Lankans for 95 in the first
three hours of the match.
Cullinan shared stands of 101 with Neil McKenzie (47)
and 86 with Mark Boucher (43 not out).
His innings again put Cullinan in front of
teammate Gary Kirsten as South Africa's leading century-maker
It was his 12th Test hundred and fifth against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka bowled out for 95 at
Cape Town
Cape Town, January 2: South African captain Shaun Pollock took six wickets for just 30 runs,
reducing the tourists to 95 all out, and a 96-run second wicket
partnership
between Gary Kirsten and Jack Kallis gave
the hosts a 35-run first innings lead at stumps on day one of the
second Test at Newlands. .
Sangakkara
was the top-scorer with 32 in a pathetic batting display by the
Islanders. Pollock grabbed the first four wickets to have the
visitors reeling at 13/4 at one stage.
The
Lankans found it difficult to find the middle of the bat as the
South Africans found their edges regularly. The highest partnership
was a mere 33 between Sangakkara and Gunawardene, who was included
in the squad in place of Kaluwitharana. Just three Sri Lankans got
to double figures Sangakkara (32), Gunawardene (24) and Zoysa who
made 10, including a rousing six off Ngam.
However,
Ngam backed up his captain well to grab 3/26, while Kallis claimed
the remaining wicket.
In
response the South Africans have made 15/1 after three overs, Gibbs
being the man out for 0.
Pollock
destroys Sri Lankan top order
CAPE
TOWN, January 2: South African captain Shaun Pollock destroyed
Sri Lanka's top order with an opening spell of four wickets for nine
runs on the first day of the second Test. Sri Lanka was 63 for five
at lunch, with young left-handers Kumar Sangakkara and Avishka
Gunawardene undefeated on 30 and 13 respectively.
Sri
Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya won the toss and elected to bat on
a pitch that looked a good batting strip. Pollock struck early,
inducing edges from Marvan Atapattu and Jayasuriya in consecutive
overs. He did the same to Mahela Jayawardene, and got one to lift on
Russel Arnold to play one into the hands of Gary Kirsten at short
leg.
Jacques
Kallis, having taken two of the catches off Pollock's bowling, got
in on the act, having Tillikeratne Dilshan caught low down by
Pollock at third slip to have Sri Lanka reeling at 33 for five. Sri
Lanka has made one change to the team bringing in Gunawardene for
wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana. Sangakkara will keep wicket.
South
Africa has recalled opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs, who has served
a six-month ban for his role in match-fixing.
Durban,
December 31 :The first
Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka, in Durban, ended in a draw
out as rain on the fourth day, and bad light on the fifth, caused
too many overs to be lost for a result to be feasible.
The
Sri Lankan after being set a victory target of 345 in 82 overs
batsmen held on for a draw. Stumps were called with Sri Lanka 149
for six with T. Dilshan on 30 and Chaminda Vaas on 3.
South
Africa made a serious effort to pull off an improbable win, batting
purposefully and then declaring. They continued their good work
when, with Sri Lanka needing 345 runs to win in 82 overs, they had
the visitors 85/4 at tea.
In the
end, it took a tenacious partnership by Arnold and Dilshan to wipe
out South Africa's faint hopes of pulling off a remarkable win.
With Sri
Lanka on 80/2, and tea approaching, all seemed safe for the
visitors. However, two wickets fell on that score, and South Africa
saw hope where there had been very little just a matter of overs
before.
The
168-run third wicket partnership between Jayawardene and Sangakkara
was probably more indicative of the threat posed by the surface than
the addition of just 46 runs during the fall of the next seven
wickets.
Sri
Lankan offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan took six for 39 as he
benefited from the South Africans boldness. His fourth wicket, that
of South African captain Shaun Pollock, made him the 17th bowler in
Test history to take 300 Test wickets. Pollock promoted himself up
the order as the South Africans sought to leave themselves enough
overs in which to have a chance of forcing a victory.
The two
teams now move to Cape Town for their next meeting, starting on 2
January 2001.
Muralitharan
joins the 300 Club
Durban,
December 30: Muttiah
Muralitharan, playing in his 58th Test, against South Africa at
Kingsmead, took Shaun Pollock's wicket to reach the magical 300
mark.
Only Dennis Lillee has reached the
300-wicket mark in fewer Tests (56). For Muralitharan, as a spinner,
to reach the milestone so quickly, is an extraordinary feat.
He joins Sir Richard
Hadlee as the only bowlers to have taken 300 Test wickets before any
countryman has reached the 150-mark.
Having
taken five wickets in the first innings, Muralitharan added an
analysis of 6/39 in the second innings.
South
African bowlers have achieved a breathtaking task: Pollock
Durban,
December 30:
South Africans was devastating with the ball at the end of the third
day of the first Test against Sri Lanka here, during which the
visitors lost eight wickets for just 46 runs.
On
his team’s performance, the skipper said that the bowlers deserve
credit for having shot out two international teams this season on
pitches that were batsmen-friendly.
"The
South African team prefers hard and fast pitches, which is what we
always ask for, but whether we get them is another question,"
he said.
Pollock
said the previous four tests in South Africa (three against New
Zealand) were played on pitches that favored batsmen. These pitches
particularly did not give seam bowlers an advantage, he added, and
his bowlers had achieved "a breathtaking" task by getting
rid of the Sri Lankans so quickly.
He
said that if the Lankan wickets fell consistently, it was due to the
dedication of his squad and also to a bit of luck - as the batsmen,
who were new to the slow pitch at Kingsmead, took time adjusting to
it.
"A
turning point was the departure of Mahela Jayawardene, because he is
the backbone of their batting order and seemed to be the one player
who could have stayed for a long time," said Pollock. "It
was also significant that we could claim the last six wickets with
the second new ball," he added.
Pollock
especially lauded left-arm spinner Nicky Boje, who claimed two
wickets for 44 runs in 19 overs during what Pollock referred to as
"a critical stage" of the game.
Pollock
himself took his 200th Test wicket during the match, becoming only
the second South African to achieve the coveted mark after colleague
Alan Donald.
Allan
Donald has been my role model: Fernando
Durban,
December 30: Sri
Lanka's latest pace bowling find Dilhara Fernando has said that
South African fast bowler Allan Donald has been his role model.
Fernando,
who took five for 98 in Sri Lanka's first Test against South Africa
at the Kingsmead ground here, said that he had always idolized
Donald and had spent a long time studying his techniques.
But
his idol did not play the first Test, and may also be out of the
second, which starts in Cape Town on Tuesday, due to a stomach
muscle injury. It was Fernando's second appearance for Sri Lanka in
a Test.
Fernando's
colleague and off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is getting much more
attention during the South African tour, especially after he also
took five wickets to bring him only four wickets away from his 300th
Test scalp. But Fernando may soon become as well known, after his
bowling speed was recorded at 147 km per hour on Thursday.
Pollock
unhappy with pitches
Durban,
December 30: South
African skipper, Shaun Pollock, has expressed his disappointment at
the nature of the pitches which have been prepared in South Africa
this summer.
He
said on Thursday that South Africa played best on fast, bouncy
pitches, yet not one Test pitch this South African summer had
displayed those characteristics.
The three
Tests against New Zealand were played at Springbok Park in
Bloemfontein, St George's Park in Port Elizabeth, and the Wanderers
in Johannesburg.
The first
Test against Sri Lanka, being played at Kingsmead in Durban, used to
be a fast bowler's paradise, with the attributes sought by Pollock.
However, this Kingsmead pitch is not as lively as that, and has been
another in the long line of South African pitches that have been
just too docile to suit the South African pace attack.
The
reason for the pitches not suiting the home side's bowling attack
will be discussed at the top level of South African cricket. But
this might give rise to a conflict of interests, since the provinces
staging the Tests must surely be looking to prepare surfaces which
are likely to produce five days of cricket, and revenue at the
turnstiles, rather than favour South Africa's winning strategy as
the top priority.
Durban,
December 2000: South Africa
will be frustrated that their opportunity to build on their strong
position has been undermined by steady drizzle at Kingsmead on the
morning of the fourth day of the first Test.
The
further loss of time forces South Africa, 251 runs ahead with nine
wickets in hand, to start thinking in terms of a mild gamble if they
want to force the win.
That may not be a good
option, of course, especially with the Sanath Jayasuriya, in the
opposing line-up.
South
Africa will be very disappointed if they draw a match they have
dominated to the extent that they had the option of enforcing the
follow-on.
Pollock
shatters record as Sri Lanka fold
Durban, December 28: Proteas captain Shaun Pollock became just the second South African to
pass 200 Test wickets as Sri Lanka's lower order was mopped up
quickly on the third evening of the first Test in Durban. The
tourists were reduced to 216 all out - a first innings deficit of
204 on the third day.
At
draw of stumps, South Africans were at the driver’s seat with
47-1, as captain Shaun Pollock chose not to enforce follow-on. They
now have a lead of 251.
The
only African wicket to fall was that of Dippennar (22) who was
trapped lbw by off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan. With Gary Kirsten
(20) and Jacques Kallis (1) at the crease, South Africans will be
looking to start the three Test series on a winning note.
Apart
from the Lankan collapse, South African captain Shaun Pollock led from the front
to shatter Sri Lanka’s hopes of saving the follow on in the first
Test at Kingsmead, and shattered a record in the process. He got his 200th Test victim when he got the wicket
of Nuwan Zoysa. After Allan Donald, he became the second South
African bowler to join the 200-club.
After
making a wonderful recovery from 2-2 to 170-3, thanks to 168-run
partnership between Mahela Jayawardene and Kumara Sangakkara, the
Sri Lankan collapse was initiated by Nicky Boje, who bowled
brilliantly throughout the day, when he had Sangakkara caught by
Kirsten. Sangakkara played exceedingly well for his 74, which
included four boundaries and a six.
Jayawardene,
who was batting brilliantly and was on his way to another Test
century also perished when he edged it to the wicketkeeper off
Klusener. He went out at 98.
Soon
after, Boje struck again to remove Russell Arnold for three, leaving
the Lankans reeling at 184-5. The Islanders never recovered from
there.
Eagerly
looking to join 200-club, Pollock ripped through the Lankan tail,
picking three of the next five wickets. The last five wickets could
only add 32 runs. Pollock's hard work paid off in the end as he
finished with 3-40 in 20.4 overs. Ngam and Boje bagged two wickets
each.
Jayawardene
and Sangakkara bat impressively
Durban, December 28: Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara did some impressive
batting as Sri Lanka were 122 for two in the first session of the
third day.
Resuming
on the overnight score of 62-2, the two batsmen batted
extraordinarily to keep the incisive Proteas bowling attack at bay
and added 60 runs on the board.
South
African skipper Shaun Pollock made quite a few changes to extract a
breakthrough, but all his moves went in vain. He even tried spinner
Nicky Boje , who bowled quite impressively, but the two Lankan
batsmen were just too good.
Jayawardene,
who was unbeaten on 31 last night, showcased his technique and
temperament which has made him the integral part of the Lankan
middle-order. He played some excellent drives to reach another
half-century. At lunch, he was unbeaten at 68. Sangakkara also
batted positively and was batting at 45.
Sri
Lanka needs to score 221 in order to avoid follow-on.
Shaky Start By Sri Lanka Chasing South African Impressive Total
Durban, December 28: Sri Lanka lost two early wickets on 62 chasing
mammoth total of 420 runs after the second day of the first Test
against South Africa yesterday.
It was only 60 run partnership from
Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, which gave some relief to
the team, which were 358 runs behind South Africa's first innings
total of 420 at Kingsmead.
Atapattu was the first to go, run
out after Makhaya Ntini steamed in from mid-off to gather the ball
and hit the stump. And a jumping Neil McKenzie at point plucked the
ball out the air with his right hand to get rid of Jayasuriya off
the bowling of Mfuneko Ngam for the same. Sangakkara and Jayawardene,
the only two batsmen to have shown form on tour so far, however
batted defiantly - as Gary Kirsten and Lance Klusener (50) had done
earlier.
The shaky start to their innings
took the gloss off a good day for Sri Lanka, who had earlier bowled
well to dismiss the Proteas.
After starting the day on 230 for three, South
Africa were all out shortly after tea for 420, with off-spinner
Muttiah Muralitharan and 21-year-old seamer Dilhara Fernando,
playing in only his second Test, bagging five wickets apiece. The
home team folded quickly after opener Kirsten was out on 180 after a
marathon knock of nine-and-a-half hours. The young fast bowler from
Colombo, Dilhara Fernando ended up taking five for 98 and recorded
speeds of up to 147 kilometres per hour.
Kirsten
hits his 11th test hundred; equals Daryll Cullinan’s
record
Durban, Dec 27, 2000:
Gary Kirsten hit an unbeaten 112 to
leave South Africa in charge after the opening day of the first Test
against Sri Lanka here yesterday. Kirsten's 11th Test century put
him level with his teammate Daryll Cullinan for the most Test
hundreds scored by a South African.
South Africa were for 331 for five at lunch.
Kirsten batted patiently, adding only 31 runs to his overnight
score, to be 143 not out, while fellow left-hander Klusener lifted
the tempo of the innings, making an unbeaten 42 off 67 balls.
Muralitharan took two wickets in the first 11 overs of the morning,
justifying captain Sanath Jayasuriya’s decision not to call for
the second new ball, which was due as soon as Dilhara Fernando
completed an over he had started Tuesday evening.
Muralitharan had Neil McKenzie
caught off bat and pad at short leg and followed up when Mark
Boucher’s attempted pull went off an inside edge on to his pad
before looping to slip.
Klusener batted positively,
striking the ball confidently and causing Jayasuriya to ask for a
new ball when the total was 297 for five after 99 overs.
Klusener contributed 37 and
Kirsten only 11 as a 50 partnership was posted in 64 minutes but
both batsmen then played sedately until lunch when their stand was
worth 62 in 102 minutes.
Muralitharan had innings figures of three for 87
from 39 overs and needed only six more wickets to reach 300 in
Tests.
Kirsten however, did
not bat with the confidence he showed Tuesday. He played and missed
several times against fast bowler Dilhara Fernando early in the day.
He hit only two boundaries in a morning’s play, which was extended
by half an hour after an early close because of bad light Tuesday.
Kirsten Century Puts
South Africa On Driving Seat
Durban,
December 27, 2000: Gary Kirsten's unbeaten 112 left South Africa
in charge after the opening day of the first test against Sri Lanka
yesterday. They were 230 for three when bad light ended play 10.4
overs early. Kirsten's 11th test century was chanceless. He has
faced 210 balls and hit 15 fours. South Africa established their
dominance in partnerships of 55 between Kirsten and Jacques Kallis for the third wicket and 108 for the third wicket
between Kirsten and Daryll Cullinan. Cullinan scored 59, his 13th
half century, before becoming off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan's
292nd test victim. His 116-ball innings included seven fours and a
six.
South Africa makes solid start
Durban December 26: Gary Kirsten made a solid South African start on the first day of the
first Test against Sri Lanka at Kingsmead Tuesday.
South
Africa were 80 for one at lunch, with Kirsten 40 not out.
Fast
bowler Dilhara Fernando, playing in his second Test, made the only
breakthrough for Sri Lanka when he had Boeta Dippenaar caught behind
for 11 when the total was on 31.
Fernando,
21, struck with his fifth delivery when Dippenaar was forced onto
the back foot and edged a catch to wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana.
Kirsten
and Jacques Kallis batted soundly on an easy-paced pitch, with the
conditions appearing to justify the decision by South African
captain Shaun Pollock to bat first.
Rain
fell steadily during most of Monday and it was expected there would
be some early life when the match started under overcast skies.
Fernando
built up lively pace and took one for 13 in his six overs. The first
ball he bowled to Kallis was a bouncer timed at 143 kmh, which
climbed high above the leaping wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana and
went for four byes.
Fernando,
who played in his only previous Test against Pakistan earlier this
year, was picked ahead of seamer Pramodya Wickramasinghe and
legspinner Upul Chandana. Despite bowling fast, he was off target
with many deliveries which the batsmen were able to leave alone.
South
Africa won the toss and elected to bat
Kingsmead, December
26: South African captain Shaun Pollock won the toss and elected
to bat in the First Test match against Sri Lanka at Kingsmead in
Durban on Tuesday.
Despite overnight rain,
the match was scheduled to start on time. South Africa made no
changes to their already named team – fast bowler Mfuneko Ngam was
in the side in place of the injured Allan Donald – while Sri Lanka
included a third seamer, Dilhara Fernando with legspinner Upul
Chandana named twelfth man.
South Africa: Gary
Kirsten, Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Neil
McKenzie, Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Nicky Boje, Shaun Pollock (capt),
Makhaya Ntini, Mfuneko Ngam.
Sri Lanka: Sanath
Jayasuriya (capt), Romesh Kaluwitharana, Marvan Atapattu, Mahela
Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Russel Arnold, Tillekeratne Dilshan,
Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando.
Umpires: Dave Orchard
(South Africa) and Raizuddin (Pakistan). Third umpire: Ian Howell
(South Africa). Match referee: Raman Subba Row (England).
Gibbs
focusing to get back in the South African Squad
Cape
Town, December 21: Herschelle
Gibbs, serving the last ten days of his international ban, says the
King Commission and similar investigations have solved the problem
of match-fixing.
Gibbs was
banned until January 1 for agreeing to accept money to underperform
in a one-day match in India last year. “I can't see it happening
again soon. Inquiries like the King commission's have made the
players far more aware of the consequences of such actions. It would
be the height of stupidity for any player to get involved
again," Gibbs told the Cape Times on Wednesday.
However
Gibbs is not one to dwell on the past. He is already focusing on
regaining his place in the national side, having been omitted from
the squad to play Sri Lanka in the three-Test series starting on
Boxing Day at Durban.
"I
would like to see this as the start of a new career for me if and
when I get chosen for the national side again. I don't want to
speculate on that possibility.
"I
wouldn't say I am frustrated at the moment. It is more a case of
being patient, knowing that my chances of regaining selection depend
on the form of other players."
And it
looks set to be long waiting, given the rich form of incumbent
opener Boeta Dippenaar and middle-order recruit Neil McKenzie.
However Gibbs is fully supportive of his prospective teammates.
“The
last thing I would do is hope that other players do badly. I was as
pleased as anybody to see Neil McKenzie and Boeta Dippenaar get
centuries in the Tests against New Zealand.
“I
would like to get back into the side as a middle-order player. There
are vacancies now that both Jonty Rhodes and Hansie Cronje have left
the Test scene."
"As
much as I try to forget about the events of the past seven to eight
months, I still ponder it from time to time. I know there will
always be one or two people who will remind me about it. That is why
it would be fantastic to return in a home match."
With the
selectors eyeing Dippenaar as a long-term solution to opening the
batting, Gibbs would fit into their plans in the middle-order,
something he endorses.
"I
don't regard myself as a natural opener, although it has helped me
to tighten my technique. I have tried to bide my time in the opening
position. Until recently it has been the only spot available in the
top six."
"My
immediate priority must be to try to score another century for
Western Province this weekend (against Eastern Province in the
Standard Bank Cup at Newlands on Friday). It was quite a relief to
reach three figures at the Wanderers last Friday.
"When
you go for quite a period without a century, you start doubting
yourself.
"I
have consciously played within myself for WP in the four-day
matches. Neil Johnson, H D Ackerman and I represent the batting
experience in the side and I knew it was important to try to bat for
long periods so that our younger batsmen could play around us.
"It
was a nice change to be able to play the way I wanted to play when I
got my century at the Wanderers."
Rain
sets back Sri Lankan practice plans
Pietermaritzburg,
December 21: Sri Lankan
cricketers suffered a setback today in their preparations
for a Test series against South Africa when the first day of
a three-day match against KwaZulu-Natal was abandoned without a ball
bowled.
Heavy
overnight rain left the Alexandra Oval outfield saturated and when
further rain fell Thursday morning the umpires decided no play would
be possible.
Sri
Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya said he was disappointed. "We
wanted to play for three days," he said. The teams were not
announced but Jayasuriya said it was planned that all the likely
Test batsmen would play.
"The
batsmen are the ones who need to have proper practice," he
said.
Lack
of preparation could be a big problem for Sri Lanka when the first
of three Tests against South Africa starts in Durban Tuesday.
The
tour itinerary was changed to accommodate a Sri Lankan tour of New
Zealand in late January and the three-day match was the only first
class fixture between two one-day internationals and the first Test.
Sri
Lanka had a three-day match against Eastern Province at the start of
the tour earlier this month but they won in two days, with the
result that their batsmen effectively had only one innings.
An
extra half-hour will be added to the scheduled six-and-a-half hours
on the two remaining days.
South
Africa takes away their second win
East
London, Dec 17: South
Africans beat the Lankans by 95 runs at Buffalo Park in to take a
2-0 lead in the six-match one-day series. The
home side posted 302 for seven and restricted Sri Lanka to 207 for
six. Sri Lankans never fully recovered from losing their first two
wickets inside the first five overs of the innings. They were still
in with a sniff at 96 for three after 25 overs, but after the fall
of Mahela Jayawardene at 59, South Africa had little difficulty in
strangling the rest of the innings.
Kumar
Sangakkara, who made 84 in Port Elizabeth on Friday could not do
much and was out at 11 before driving Makhaya Ntini to Andrew Hall
in the covers. Sangakkara was the fourth Sri Lankan wicket to fall
at 106, but with Jayawardene still there, they were not yet out of
the match. However two wickets in the space of six balls changed
that.
Earlier,
Neil McKenzie hit a maiden century as South Africa hammered out a
massive total. McKenzie was not out at 120. He hit 13 fours and a
six in a 141-ball innings and grabbed his opportunity after missing
selection for the first match.
South
Africa lost both their openers, with Andrew Hall trapped lbw on the
first ball by Chaminda Vaas and Gary Kirsten caught off his gloves
at slip for six when Nuwan Zoysa made a ball bounce steeply.
Jacques
Kallis and McKenzie steadied the innings before Kallis was caught at
cover for an aggressive 35 but South Africa then took control,
although McKenzie was dropped on 35 when he swept off-spinner
Muttiah Muralitharan to Upul Chandana at square leg.
McKenzie
and Jonty Rhodes put on 88 for the fourth wicket, with Rhodes racing
to his second successive half-century, making 50 off 51 balls. Mark
Boucher then played aggressively to hit 55 off 48 balls as he helped
McKenzie add 100 off 87 balls for the fifth wicket.
Rhodes
bounces back as South Africa win by four wickets
Dec
16, 2000:
Jonty Rhodes bounced back into the South African one-day team at St
George's Park on Friday night to lead his side to a four-wicket
victory over Sri Lankan in the first ODI match of Standard Bank
series. Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya said that he
thought his team had bowled and fielded exceptionally well, but
hadn't scored enough runs. He said that another 30 or 40 on top of
the 221 made by Sri Lanka would have made it a very interesting
match.
Although
there were valiant efforts from Romesh Kaluwitharana, who made 55 at
the top of the order, and Kumar Sangakkara, whose 84 gave the Sri
Lankans something to defend, the truth was that the tourists lost
wickets too frequently and too regularly to build a winning target.
The
South Africans bowled well enough without being outstanding. Allan
Donald sat out, allowing Makhaya Ntini a run. It was one, perhaps,
he could have done without as he struggled to adjust to bowling a
one-day line and length after his exploits in the Test series. But
South Africa have bowlers to spare in this side, and with Pollock
wrapping up the tail to finish with four for 36, the home team had
given themselves a target they could see.
But
while they might have had it in sight, getting there was a little
more problematical. If there was an outstanding feature of this game
apart from the Rhodes-Klusener partnership it was the Sri Lankan
fielding. Kaluwitharana produced two outstanding catches to remove
Andrew Hall and Boeta Dippenaar and a smart stumping to get rid of
Gary Kirsten for 58 while Mahela Jayawardene and Russel Arnold
contrived direct hits to run out Nicky Boje and Mark Boucher.
Afterwards
Shaun Pollock described the run outs as "criminal" and it
is true that in both instances the South African batsmen played
roles in their own demise. But that is not to take away from two
excellent pieces of fielding.
At
143 for six, South Africa were in trouble before Rhodes and Klusener
started by pushing ones and twos before gradually increasing the
tempo. Only in the last 10 overs did the boundaries start to come
again. Klusener used his power and Rhodes, as ever, improvised. His
most memorable stroke, perhaps the shot of the match, was a reverse
sweep off Muttiah Muralitharan that dropped only two metres short of
the boundary rope.
He
said later that the reverse sweep is "just a last resort",
but if he can hit it that well who's to complain.
Together
they put on 80, emphasising the depth of the South African batting
and left Sri Lanka needing to win the second of the six-match series
in East London on Sunday if they are not to fall too far behind.
Sri
Lankan looks forward for a win
Port
Elizabeth, Dec 15 : Sri Lanka will be looking for a win away
from Asia when they take on South Africa in the first of six limited
overs internationals at St George's Park on Friday.
Sri
Lankan coach Dav Whatmore said "It's time for the whole team to
show people, not just in Sri Lanka, but all round the world, that we
have got what it takes to go abroad, adapt quickly to alien
conditions and win."
Whatmore
also sees the tour as an opportunity for Sri Lanka, the 1996 World
Cup champions, to prepare for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa
following a disappointing showing in the 1999 tournament in England.
Sri
Lanka has won 11 of their last 12 matches and South Africa trounced
New Zealand 5-0 in a recent one-day series. The extra bounce of
South African pitches compared to those in Sri Lanka is likely to be
a factor although Port Elizabeth and East London have two of the
slower surfaces.
Whatmore
said much of Sri Lanka's pre-tour preparation was based on adjusting
to the pace and bounce expected in South Africa, with the batsmen
practicing against tennis balls and against bowling from close
range.
"It's
important that the extra pace and bounce should not be considered a
negative factor. If the batsmen get settled, then stroke play will
become easier as the ball comes onto the bat. Our batsmen like to
play their shots and I believe that they should be thinking
positively about the opportunity of batting on the South African
wickets," said Whatmore.
South
Africa: Shaun Pollock (captain), Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher, Boeta
Dippenaar, Allan Donald, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten,
Lance Klusener, Neil McKenzie, Makhaya Ntini, Jonty Rhodes, Roger
Telemachus.
Sri
Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu
(vice-captain), Russel Arnold, Mahela Jayawardene, Avishka
Gunawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Romesh
Kaluwitharana, Muttiah Muralitharan, Upal Chandana, Chaminda Vaas,
Nuwan Zoysa, Pramodya Wickremasinghe, Dilhara Fernando, Kaushalya
Weeraratne, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara.
Rhodes
and Telemachus in, for one-dayers against Sri Lanka
Dec
12, 2000: Consistency
has not been part of the South African selectors vocabulary when it
comes to naming their national one-day and Test squads.
After
a successful tour of Sri Lanka, Australia and Singapore, the South
African selectors axed Daryll Cullinan from their team for the
mini-World Cup in Nairobi and introduced off-spinner Shafiek
Abrahams into their 14-man squad for the one-day bash in Africa.
No
sooner had the side returned after being beaten in the semi-finals,
the selectors were at it again - this time dropping Neil McKenzie,
who had not played a game at all in Nairobi.
And
yesterday when they named their side for the first two one-dayers
against Sri Lanka starting this weekend - Friday and Sunday - the
selectors have done it again. This time they dropped Abrahams, who
only played one one-day international since coming into the squad in
September. They hailed him as a player with big match temperament
after that match, the final one-dayer against New Zealand at
Newlands just over a month ago, when he helped South Africa squeeze
home by the finest of margins.
Like
Cullinan and McKenzie, Abrahams now is back on his heels after being
pushed to the sidelines. McKenzie, who scored a century and a
half-century in the Test matches against the Kiwis, has been given a
reprieve and has been recalled to the squad. He will fill the No 4
spot vacated by Cullinan, who has retired from one-day
internationals but who will continue to play Test match cricket for
his country.
While
McKenzie gets a recall, Jonty Rhodes, who announced his retirement
from Test cricket, returns to the squad along with Roger Telemachus,
who has since the one-dayers against Australia in Melbourne, proved
to be a tremendous success.
Also
back is opener Andrew Hall, who scored a swashbuckling half-century
against Sri Lanka in the tour opener last week outside Johannesburg.
The selectors named a 13-man squad for only the first two games and
will review their selections for the remainder of the series soon
after the New Year. "We felt we cannot go with too big a
squad," selection panel convener Rushdi Magiet told journalists
at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
"We
needed a back-up fast bowler, we needed a back-up batter and we felt
it was not necessary to have a back-up spinner with Nicky
(Boje)." While Boeta Dippenaar and Cullinan took turns opening
the batting with Gary Kirsten against the Kiwis, Magiet said Andrew
Hall would resume that role. Hall showed a return to form with 61
runs off 41 balls against Sri Lanka for the Nicky Oppenheimer XI on
Thursday.
Magiet,
however, said selectors had not yet decided who among McKenzie and
Dippenaar would fill the number four spot. "Either one or the
other will play. We need a back-up batter." But McKenzie -
dropped from the limited overs side for the New Zealand series -
must be considered the favourite after his century and half-century
against the Kiwis in two Tests.
South Africa squad:
Shaun Pollock (captain), Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher, Boeta
Dippenaar, Allan Donald, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten,
Lance Klusener, Neil McKenzie, Makhaya Ntini, Jonty Rhodes, Roger
Telemachus.
Lankan
team arrives in South Africa
04
December, 2000: Sri Lankan cricket team led by Sanath Jayasuriya
today arrived here with a pair of human corneas as a goodwill
gesture to mark the upcoming month-long tour.
Jayasuriya
handed over the corneas to Professor Paul Rous of Pretoria
University at a ceremony at Johannesburg International Airport. Two
sightless people in South Africa will have their vision restored.
Sri
Lankan High Commissioner to South Africa, Gamini Munasinghe said the
corneas "were a gift from the people of Sri Lanka to the people
of South Africa." South
African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang described the
Lankan gesture as a "strangely moving thought that these young
men have carried their special gift of sight thousands of miles
across the Indian Ocean."
"Their action challenges us to be more aware of the
wonderful possibilities of organ donation - and the need to take
steps to ensure that we act on our good intentions as potential
organ donors," he said.
Muralitharan
to sell his advertising rights
Colombo,
Dec 03: Sri Lanka's highest Test wicket taker and star
off-spinner, Muttiah Muralitharan, will sell his advertising rights
at an auction here.
Muralitharan,
27, is Sri Lanka's most successful bowler with 291 Test wickets to
his credit in 57 Test matches in a career that began in 1992.
Cricket officials said they expected Muralitharan to take his 300th
Test wicket during Sri Lanka's tour of South Africa for which the
team left on Saturday. Officials said Muralitharan was highly
regarded among a small club of world-class spinners. Promoters of
the auction, to be held on December 8, said they expected bidding to
reach about 100,000 dollars.
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