/ 28 November 1997

SA cruises way ahead

FRIDAY, 2.20PM:

SOUTH AFRICA’S last wickets fell quickly on Friday afternoon, taking the team to 468 all out, with Pat Symcox reaching 54. Western Australia have started off strongly, with 117 for 1 wicket at close of play on the second day.

FRIDAY, 9.35AM:

South Africa cruised to 440/7 at lunch on the second day of their four-day encounter against Western Australia at the Waca on Friday. Shaun Pollock hit a century and Gary Kirsten a magnificent 190 not out.

Pollock, 78 not out overnight, slapped a four off spinner Jamie Stewart and then ran a quick single to reach his century. He hit 13 fours and two sixes off 118 deliveries. He attempted another big hit and was caught by Katich at mid-wicket without addition to his score. His patnership with Kirsten produced 171 for the sixth wicket in 148 minutes.

Their partnership equalled the all-time SA mark for any wicket against Western Australia set by Denys Morkel and Neville Quinn way back in 1931-32. It surpassed by far Roy McLean and Eric Norton’s sixth-wicket 54 at the Waca in 1952-53.

Wicketkeeper Dave Richardson managed to crack two fours in his 14. Pat Symcox, who had 25 at the time, was also dropped by Katich on 35 and went to lunch on 38 with six fours and that one six to his name. His 50 partnership with Kirsten had taken just 37 minutes.

SOUTH AFRICA first innings (313/5 wkts over) — A Bacher c Gilchrist b Atkinson 22

G Kirsten not out 190

J Kallis c Gilchrist b Harvey 10

D Cullinan b Garnaut 9

H Cronje b Atkinson 13

B McMillan c Gilchrist b Garnaut 20

S Pollock c Katich b Stewart 100

D Richardson c Katich b Stewart 14

PL Symcox run out (Harvey) 54

AA Donald c Langer b Stewart 0

PR Adams not out 1

Extras (b 1, lb 11, nb 12) 24

Total (all out, 125.0 overs) 468

Western Australia

ME Hussey not out 58

RM Baker c McMillan b Symcox 46

DR Martyn not out 5

Extras (lb 5, w 1, nb 2) 8

Total (1 wicket, 53 overs) 117 Close of Play