Shaun Pollock became the most fiendish of bludgeoning bashers with bat in hand when he mercilessly destroyed the Eastern Province Jumbos attack at Kingsmead on Wednesday.
He helped the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins to a formidable 45 overs total of 272 for four wickets in their Standard Bank cricket match.
Pollock, who was given an 11th hour approval from the United Cricket Board to play, came in at the fall of the first wicket — that of Doug Watson for 21 — and was left undefeated at the end with 134 scored in 157 minutes off 111 balls and including four sixes and 13 fours.
It was enough to scuttle the Jumbos who replied with 194 to go down by 78 runs as the Dolphins celebrated their first rain-free Standard Bank Cup game in five successive outings.
Pollock, who was clearly man of the match, was simply awesome as he gained his first ton in domestic competition in South Africa and his second in limited overs cricket. He bettered his 111 not out for Warwickshire against Worcestershire two seasons ago.
And the man who really bore the brunt of his furious onslaught was medium pacer Johan Botha who was savaged for 56 runs in three overs.
As an opening bowler his first six overs had cost him just nine runs. And then came his second spell and a nightmare seventh and ninth overs.
Pollock, on 83, hit 20 runs off his first four balls of the seventh over with two sixes and two fours to race to his century, as the Jumbos man also gave away another two runs.
Botha finished with no wickets for 65 runs. Pollock and Hashim Amla added 135 for the third wicket to beat the previous Dolphins best of 127 by Doug Watson and Andrew Hudson — ironically also against Eastern Province.
Amla hit 54 in 78 minutes off 71 balls with four fours in playing junior partner to Pollock on the day.
Best of the Jumbos attack was quickie Montana Hayward who showed bursts of real pace. Although he only picked up one wicket it was significant that only 35 runs were scored off his nine overs. He had three wides recorded against his name. Mfuneko Ngam claimed one for 46 in seven overs.
Carl Bradfield with 41 held the Jumbos innings together for 97 minutes but the required run rate was always lagging and an EP victory was never on the cards. The Dolphins also grabbed a very valuable bonus point. – Sapa