Shaun Pollock spearheaded a spirited South African pace attack in defending a moderate tally to beat the West Indies by 16 runs in the second one day international cricket match at St George’s Park on Wednesday.
Pollock grabbed four for 26 as South Africa, under intense and sustained pressure for the first time this summer, dismissed the Windies for 163 in pursuit of the hosts’ 179 for seven.
The result sees South Africa take a 2-0 lead with three matches in the series still to be played.
After failing to pick up as many wickets as he might have deserved in the Test series, Pollock thrived in the overcast conditions on a slow and spongy pitch.
Having made such a modest total, it was vital that the hosts struck early. Pollock responded by trapping Shivnarine Chanderpaul in front for two before dismissing Chris Gayle and Ricardo Powell in successive overs.
The Windies further squandered their best chance of winning a match and drawing level by embarking on suicide runs. Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Ridley Jacobs were all left stranded by considerable margins.
That South Africa was able to post a defendable total was due almost entirely to the efforts of Boeta Dippenaar. Dippenaar confounded those critics who had accused him of failing to play a substantial innings when his team was in dire need of one by making 83 from 123 balls.
While Dippenaar provided the stability, Pollock provided the desperately needed impetus.
After 40 overs, the South Africans were scoring at below three to the over — a far cry from the rampant scoring they enjoyed in the recent Test series.
Pollock hammered four fours in making 26 from 30 balls to significantly increase the run rate before Corey Collymore removed his middle stump.
Dippenaar came to the crease with the hosts struggling on 20 for two in the 10th over. Herschelle Gibbs made 10 before punching Mervyn Dillon straight to Shivnarine Chanderpaul before Collymore produced a magnificent delivery to knock back Smith’s off stump.
The 26 year old Dippenaar began the initial recovery with Jacques Kallis, who was declared fit on Wednesday morning after suffering a bout of flu.
Kallis, however, was to be denied his sixth century in as many games when he top edged Ravi Rampaul to fine leg when he had 16.
He did, however, enjoy success with the ball, taking two for 21.
Kallis’ departure saw Dippenaar take control of the innings, putting on 46 with Jacques Rudolph before teaming up with Pollock.
Having taken 93 balls to make his half century, Dippenaar scored his next 33 in 30 balls. – Sapa