Pollock scythes through Sri Lanka

CAPE TOWN, JAN. 2. South Africa progressed to 49 for one, in reply to Sri Lanka's 95 all out, in the final session on the first day of the second Test on Tuesday. Gary Kirsten (29) and Jacques Kallis (12) put on an unbeaten 48 following the early dismissal of Herschelle Gibbs. He was caught at the wicket off Chaminda Vaas off his second ball on his return from a six-month ban.

Earlier Shaun Pollock captured six for 30 in 13.4 overs, the best figures by a South African captain, surpassing Buster Nupen's six for 87 against England at the Wanderers in 1930/31. The Sri Lankans were virtually defenceless against a bombardment of short-pitched bowling after Pollock ripped the heart out of their batting with a spell of four wickets for no runs in 13 deliveries.

Mfuneko Ngam took three for 26 as he and Pollock exploited a pitch with good bounce and some lateral movement after Sri Lanka won the toss and batted.

All 10 Sri Lankan batsmen were caught, seven in the cordon between wicketkeeper and gully.

Pollock started the Sri Lankan slide after Marvan Atapattu and skipper Sanath Jayasuriya had reached 12 in the fifth over seemingly without any difficulty.

The South African captain made a ball seam away from Atapattu who edged a simple catch to Kallis at second slip. Pollock produced a superb delivery in his next over which moved away from the left- handed Jayasuriya, who edged a catch to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

Celebration time as the South African team gathers around its skipper Shaun Pollock after he snared Sri Lankan Russel Arnold for a duck on day one of the second Test in Cape Town on Tuesday.

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