Pollock joins 200 club

DURBAN, DEC. 28. South African captain Shaun Pollock took his 200th Test wicket as the Sri Lankans were bowled out for 216 after promising much on the third day of the first Test here today.

Despite a third-wicket partnership of 168 between Mahela Jayawardena (98) and Kumar Sangakarra (74), the Sri Lankan tail capitulated against some hostile bowling from the South Africans.

Pollock needed two wickets at the start of the match to become the second South African, after Allan Donald, to reach 200 in Tests. But he was wicketless until he took the last three to polish off the tail in five balls. His second victim was Nuwan Zoysa, who top-edged a pull to Mfuneko Ngam at mid-on, and this brought him his 200th wicket (49th Test).

Pollock was congratulated by his teammates and gave a thumbs-up to his father, Peter, a former Test fast bowler who took 116 wickets in 28 Tests, and uncle Graeme, a batsman who was voted South Africa's Cricketer of the Century earlier this year.

Peter and Graeme Pollock were sitting together in the VIP enclosure in the main grandstand. South Africa, which totalled 420 in the first innings, declined to enforce the follow-on and was 47 for one when bad light stopped play for the day. Boeta Dippenaar was the man out, leg before to Muttiah Muralitharan for 22.

After making reasonable progress for much of the day Sri Lanka lost its last eight wickets for 46 runs in the space of 20 overs.

Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena shared 168 runs for the third wicket before Sangakkara lifted a drive to Gary Kirsten at short cover to be dismissed for his highest Test score of 74. Sangakarra was at the crease for four-and-a-half hours in which he faced 213 balls and hit eight 4s and a 6.

The stand was the biggest for Sri Lanka's third wicket in matches against South Africa.

Three overs later Jayawardena was caught behind by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher off Lance klusener for 98 to reduce Sri Lanka to 184 for four. Jayawardena faced 195 balls and hit thirteen 4s, but his departure spelt the beginning of a swift end. - Reuters & AFP

Shaun Pollock

Mahela Jayawardena, who was unlucky to miss a century, pulls Makhaya Ntini on the third day of the first Test in Durban on Thursday.

- Reuters

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