Kallis helps S.Africa post fighting score

COLOMBO, JULY 8. Jacques Kallis scored 83 to lift South Africa to 241 for six from 50 overs in the Singer Cup one-day International against Pakistan here on Saturday.

Opener Gary Kirsten contributed 52 as the South Africans, electing to bat, put up a challenging score in the day- night game at the Premadasa Stadium. Both sides need a win after losing their opening matches to host Sri Lanka at Galle.

Kallis, who took 84 balls to reach his half-century, opened out later with four boundaries and a six. He fell in the penultimate over, caught in the deep while trying to loft seamer Abdur Razzaq.

Razzaq, one-day cricket's leading wickettaker this year with 47 wickets from 28 matches, claimed three for 36 from 10 overs.

It was an improved batting display by the South Africa, which had lost all its 10 wickets in the space of 62 runs against Sri Lanka on Thursday to lose by 37 runs.

Kirsten and Andrew Hall, whose first-wicket stand of 150 against Sri Lanka went in vain, once again gave their team a sound start of 64 by the 13th over.

Hall made 27 when he was trapped leg-before by Razzaq, while Kirsten batted till the 27th over before he holed out in the deep off leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed.

Daryll Cullinan hit 38 off 40 balls to corner the major share of a third-wicket stand of 61 with Kallis, which lifted South Africa to a promising 175 for two in the 40th over.

South Africa, however, lost four wickets in the last 10 overs to lose some ground to Pakistan. Jonty Rhodes helped Kallis add a quickfire 45 for the fourth wicket, while Lance Klusener made 14 before being caught off the last ball of the innings.

- AFP

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