South Africa’s tour woes worsened on Friday when spinner Nicky Boje injured his hand during the one-day festival match against a Western Australian Chairman’s XI.
Boje was fielding during the limited-overs game at Perth’s Lilac Hill ground when he split the webbing on his right hand.
Team officials said he had seven stitches inserted in the cut but they were confident he would still be able to play in the first Test against Australia starting at the Western Australian Cricket Association Ground here next Friday.
Boje bowls with his left hand and did not take any further part in the match.
The South Africans also have injury doubts over captain Graeme Smith and key allrounder Jacques Kallis.
Smith has an injured finger on his left hand but was listed to bat, though he did not field in the Lilac Hill match. Kallis meanwhile was left out with tendon damage in his left elbow.
Both are hopeful of playing in the first Test.
Bowler Charl Langeveldt, who could not bat in second innings of the tour opening three-day match against Western Australia because of a chest infection, bowled eight overs but he too left the field with a recurrence of the problem.
At one stage the South Africans even sent fitness trainer Adrian Le Roux out to field, albeit unsuccessfuly — he droped Justin Langer at long-off when he was on 20.
The Australian Test opener was eventually dismissed for 31 after being caught by Herschelle Gibbs off the bowling of Garnett Kruger.
The South Africans, beaten by an innings and 48 runs by Western Australia earlier this week, had the Chairman’s XI on the ropes at 197 for 9 after their reduced innings, following a much-improved bowling performance.
The match, played in a carnival-like atmosphere was scheduled for 50 overs a side, but officials reduced the number to 46 overs because of time constraints.
Paceman Shaun Pollock struck early for the tourists, claiming the wickets of openers Chris Rogers and Ryan
Campbell.
Rogers was first to go, caught behind by Mark Boucher for one run with the score at six while Campbell, a renowned big-hitter, was trapped lbw one delivery after smashing Pollock for six.
He made 23 off 19 balls.
Western Australian batsman Marcus North offered the strongest resistance for the home side by making 41, including six fours and a six, before he was run out by Herschelle Gibbs.
For South Africa Kruger took 4-33 off eight overs while Pollock claimed 2-22. – Sapa-AFP