/ 15 June 1999

Kirsten racks it up in rain

MONDAY, 12.30PM:

SOUTH AFRICAN opener Gary Kirsten scored his second half-century, to add to two centuries, in his sixth first-class innings on tour in England on the final day of the three-day match against Sussex at Arundel.

The match was interrupted by intermittent rain, resulting in the abandonment of the match before the final session of the last day, with South Africa on 96/0.

Test reject Adam Bacher partnered Kirsten, and after scoring 43 not-out seems likely to open at Lord’s on Thursday.

Sussex resumed earlier in the day with their score on 252/5 and were bowled out in just 45 deliveries, Steve Elworthy and Makhaya Ntini picked up the last four sticks.

Elworthy struck first, taking the wicket of Alex Edwards caught behind by keeper Mark Boucher off the first ball of the day. Elworthy scalped Rajesh Rao in his second over, with Bacher taking a simple catch at short-leg.

Ntini gave Boucher more practice, dismissing Shaun Humphries and Paul Jarvis in successive overs.

The English selectors have meanwhile called in 23-year-old Yorkshire paceman Chris Silverwood to replace Darren Gough in the second Test against South Africa at Lord’s.