Innings win for South Africa

South Africa stormed to a crushing innings and 229 runs victory over Sri Lanka on the third day of the second Test at Newlands on Thursday.

Sri Lanka, 409 behind on first innings, were dismissed for 180, to give South Africa a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after the first Ttest was drawn.

Left-arm spinner Nicky Boje snapped up four for 28 as the home side achieved their biggest Test win, surpassing the innings and 219 runs thrashing they handed Zimbabwe in Harare in the 1999- 2000 season.

Earlier, South Africa had continued their first innings run spree by moving from their overnight 426 for six to reach a massive 504 for seven declared, following the dismissal of Sri Lanka for just 95 on day one.

South African captain Shaun Pollock called a halt to the slaughter of Sri Lanka's bowlers shortly before lunch.

South Africa's lead was the fifth highest recorded by a team batting second in a Test match and was only the 10th occasion on which a team batting second had built a lead of more than 400.

At lunch the touring side had limped to 15 for one after captain Sanath Jayasuriya cut the second delivery he faced from Mfuneko Ngam to Pollock in the gully.

Pollock declared after Lance Klusener was dismissed for 97 when he pulled a long hop from part-time spinner Russel Arnold straight to Sanath Jayasuriya at square leg.

Resuming on 426 for six, the home side continued their mauling with left-handers Klusener and Nicky Boje taking their seventh- wicket partnership to 93 before Klusener's departure.

Having hit Arnold for a straight six to reach 97, Klusener appeared to lose concentration in the face of the extreme inaccuracy of the next over bowled by Mahela Jayawardene.

Arnold's following over saw Klusener depart for the second time in his career for 97. He faced 143 deliveries and struck 13 fours and a six.

Boje was left unbeaten on 31 at the declaration. Arnold finished the innings with career-best figures of three for 76.

The first Test was drawn.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka (1st innings): 95 (S. Pollock 6/30, M. Ngam 3/26).

South Africa (1st innings): (overnight 426/6)

G. Kirsten c Dilshan b Muralitharan 52
H. Gibbs c Sangakkara b Vaas 0
J. Kallis c Jayawardene b Fernando 49
D. Cullinan run out (Vaas) 112
N. McKenzie c and b Arnold 47
M. Boucher c Jayawardene b Arnold 92 L. Klusener c Jayasuriya b Arnold 97
N. Boje not out 31
Extras (lb5, nb18, w1) 24
Total ( for 7 wickets decl, 158.2 overs) 504
Fall of wickets: 1/1 (Gibbs), 2/97 (Kirsten), 3/130 (Kallis), 4/231 (McKenzie), 5/317 (Cullinan), 6/411 (Boucher), 7/504 (Klusener).
Bowling: Vaas 32-6-109-1 (8nb), Zoysa 26-6-80-0 (1w), Fernando 25-2-105-1 (10nb), Muralitharan 43-11-99-1, Jayasuriya 7-1-28-0, Arnold 24.2-4-76-3, Jayawardene 1-0-2-0.
Did not bat: S. Pollock, M. Ntini, M. Ngam.

Sri Lanka (2nd innings):

M. Atapattu lbw b Pollock 13
S. Jayasuriya c Pollock b Ngam 0
K. Sangakkara c Boucher b Ngam 11
D. Jayawardene lbw b Boje 45
R. Arnold c Gibbs b Boje 26
T. Dilshan c Boucher b Boje 17
D. Gunawardene b Ntini 13
W. Vaas c and b Boje 38
D. Zoysa c Klusener b Ntini 0
R. Fernando c Boucher b Ngam 5
M. Muralitharan not out 1
Extras: (lb6, nb4, w1) 11
Total (45.2 overs) 180
Fall of wickets: 1/4 (Jayasuriya), 2/18 (Sangakkara), 3/53 (Atapattu), 4/99 (Jayawardene), 5/112 (Arnold), 6/119 (Dilshan), 7/131 (Gunawardene), 8/135 (Zoysa), 9/172 (Vaas).
Bowling: Pollock 9-3-29-1, Ngam 8.2-1-36-3 (3nb, 1w), Kallis 7-1-29-0, Ntini 11-2-52-2 (1nb), Boje 10-3-28-4.

Man of the match: Shaun Pollock.

Result: South Africa won by an innings and 229 runs.

Series: South Africa lead 1-0.

Umpires: I. Howell (Rsa) and E. Nicholls (WIs).
TV umpire: W. Diedricks (Rsa).
Match referee: Raman Subba Row (Eng).

Third Test: Centurion, January 20-24.

Mail Cricket Editor