Lankans Pull One Back.

Marvan Atapattu and Russel Arnold made contrasting half-centuries as Sri Lanka recovered from a poor start in the rain-hit sixth limited overs international against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium to eventually win by 5 runs.

Atapattu made 55 and Arnold 65 not out in a Sri Lankan total of 214 for six. The match, the final games of the series, was reduced to 42 overs a side after a thunderstorm stopped play when Sri Lanka were 21 for three after nine overs.

Fast bowler Roger Telemachus took all three wickets for nine runs before the stoppage. He finished with the best South African figures of three for 25 in eight overs.

South Africa, who sent Sri Lanka in, were firmly in command before a massive thunderstorm drenched the stadium. But the tourists came back strongly when play resumed more than two hours later.

Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene put on 65 for the fourth wicket as the South African bowlers appeared to struggle to find their rhythm in the damp conditions. Allan Donald bowled five wides in two overs. Atapattu launched the recovery by batting sensibly, scoring his 55 off 83 balls, and Arnold went on the attack in the late stages of the innings, slamming 65 off 56 deliveries.

Allrounder Justin Kemp, playing in his second match, claimed his first wicket in international cricket when he had Jayawardene caught behind for 25 and followed up by dismissing Atapattu when the batsman lofted a catch to deep cover.

Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya slashed Pollocks first ball of the match for four behind point but he was out in the next over when Telemachus forced him onto the back foot and he was caught behind. Telemachus followed up by trapping Romesh Kaluwitharana lbw and having Aravinda de Silva caught at third man when he top-edged a cut.

It was a match which, in all honesty should have been won easily by the Proteas. With eight overs remaining, South Africa needed 40 to win with six wickets standing. Then Jonty Rhodes was bowled trying to reverse sweep Muttiah Muralitharan to precipitate a collapse which ended with Pollock needing to hit 12 off the last two balls of the game.

He hit the penultimate delivery back over Jayasuriya's head for six, but played the last one back to the bowler for Allan Donald to be run out.

The dismissal of Rhodes was the turning point. South Africa had had Nicky Boje, with 46 off 50 balls, and Neil McKenzie add 76 for the fourth wicket in a partnership that seemed to have taken the game completely away from Sri Lanka. But when Rhodes went at 169 for five, he was followed quickly by Mark Boucher and Justin Kemp and then, crucially, McKenzie for 47.

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Mail Cricket Editor