March 4, 2003	Tuesday	Zul Hijjah 30, 1423

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DURBAN, March 3: Opener Marvan Atapattu struck his ninth One-day International century to lift Sri Lanka to an imposing total of 268 for nine in their crunch World Cup Group ‘B’ match against South Africa on Monday.

The hosts must now make the highest successful run chase at Kingsmead, albeit on a superb batting surface, to secure the win they need to progress in the tournament.

Atapattu was in sublime touch, driving anything over-pitched with the crispest of timing and reaching his hundred with a trademark rapier drive to the extra cover boundary of Monde Zondeki, who was chosen ahead of Allan Donald in the South African team.

The centrepiece of the Sri Lankan innings was Atapattu’s fourth-wicket partnership of 152 off 141 balls with veteran Aravinda de Silva.

The stand ended when Atapattu skied Andrew Hall to mid-on, his 124 coming off 129 balls and including 18 fours.

De Silva followed in the next over, miscuing Makhaya Ntini to mid-wicket. He made 73 from 78 balls with six fours and two sixes.

The wickets came at a crucial time, slowing the Sri Lankan charge to a large total. Only 25 runs came from the final five overs as Jacques Kallis finished with figures of three for 41 from his 10 overs.

Honours were more or less even in the opening stages, Atapattu driving Shaun Pollock for three exquisite boundaries in one over, before Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya presented South Africa with their first wicket.

Setting off for a single to mid-on, Jayasuriya (16) realised his mistake and turned too slowly as Gary Kirsten swooped to throw down the stumps.

Hashan Tillekeratne (14) was beginning to look settled when he edged Kallis to Mark Boucher. Mahela Jayawardene (one) then played the most reckless of shots as he charged down the wicket to Hall and presented Boucher with his second catch.

The Sri Lankans are playing the match under protest after their appeal to the World Cup Event Technical Committee (ETC) over qualification permutations for the Super Six was turned down earlier on Monday.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA:

M.S. Atapattu c sub b Hall 124

S.T. Jayasuriya run out 16

H.P. Tillekeratne c Boucher b Kallis 14

D.P.M. Jayawardene c Boucher b Hall 1

P.A. de Silva c Smith b Ntini 73

R.P. Arnold b Pollock 8

K.C. Sangakkara c Pollock b Kallis 6

W.P.U.J.C. Vaas run out 3

M. Muralitharan b Kallis 4

C.R.D. Fernando not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-11, NB-2) 18

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 268

DID NOT BAT: P.W. Gunaratne.

FALL OF WKTS: 1-37, 2-77, 3-90, 4-242, 5-243, 6-258, 7-261, 8-266, 9-268.

BOWLING: Pollock 10-1-48-1 (1nb, 2w); Ntini 10-0-49-1 (2nb, 3w); Zondeki 6-0-35-0 (3w); Kallis 10-0-41-3 (1w); Hall 10-0-62-2 (2nb, 1w); Klusener 4-0-31-0 (1nb, 1w).

SOUTH AFRICA: G.C. Smith, H.H. Gibbs, G. Kirsten, J.H. Kallis, H.H. Dippenaar, M.V. Boucher, S.M. Pollock, L. Klusener, A.J. Hall, M. Ntini, M. Zondeki,

UMPIRES: S.A. Bucknor (West Indies) and S. Venkataraghavan (India).

TV UMPIRE: P. Willey (England).

MATCH REFEREE: C.H. Lloyd (West Indies).—Reuters