AHMEDABAD, Oct 27: A superb bowling performance by South Africa gave them their first win of the Champions Trophy and kept them in the tournament as they eased to a 78-run win against Sri Lanka on Tuesday (partially reported in Wednesday’s edition).

South Africa's total of 219 for 9 — built around an 80-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Jacques Kallis (43) and A.B. de Villiers (54) — seemed too little, but their seamers hit back in style, as Sri Lanka were routed for 141 at Ahmedabad.

At the halfway stage of the match there was little to suggest that South Africa would romp to such a convincing win. The pitch, while on the slower side, was playing reasonably well and was expected to stay firm, and the prediction was for dew to make it extremely difficult for the bowling side later in the evening.

Moreover, Sri Lanka had a long list of in-form batsmen used to these conditions — everything suggested a fairly comfortable Sri Lankan win.

Within the first 15 overs of their run-chase, though, the equation changed dramatically as South Africa's seamers struck blow after blow to leave the Sri Lankans reeling.

Shaun Pollock was his usual Scrooge-like self, superbly accurate and nipping it both ways off the seam; Makhaya Ntini bowled a fiery first spell, while Andre Nel backed them up in style, finishing with three wickets. So effective were the seamers that the services of Robin Peterson, the only specialist spinner in the team, were not required at all.

Sanath Jayasuriya was the first to succumb, though he can justifiably claim to have been unlucky, being adjudged lbw to one which pitched outside leg. The in-form Upul Tharanga was the next to fall, done in by a Ntini special which angled away. Kumar Sangakkara continued the left-handers' procession, and when Marvan Atapattu completely misjudged a Nel indipper, Sri Lanka had slumped to 34 for 4.

Through all the mayhem at the other end, Jayawardene battled on to keep Sri Lanka in the contest. He had his share of play-and-misses and miscues, but he slowly gained in confidence and was looking increasingly confident till a terrible misunderstanding with Tillekeratne Dilshan in the 25th over.

Dilshan played to backward point, Herschelle Gibbs made a spectacular diving stop and threw to the bowlers' end, Jayawardene made a desperate scramble to get back, but Pollock, backing up for the throw, dived and threw down the stumps Jonty Rhodes-style.

Halfway into their innings Sri Lanka were five down, and there was no coming back from that slump.

Dilshan had plenty of making up to do for first calling his captain and then refusing the run, and he seemed to make amends for a while, getting to 36 before Gibbs got in the way again, this time intercepting a screaming square-drive.

With the last recognised batsman out of the way, the end didn't take much longer.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA:

G.C. Smith c Jayasuriya b Vaas 10

H.H. Dippenaar c Sangakkara b Vaas 3

H.H. Gibbs c Sangakkara b Malinga 16

J.H. Kallis st Sangakkara b Jayasuriya 43

A.B. de Villiers c Maharoof b Murali 54

M.V. Boucher b Malinga 29

J.M. Kemp b Jayasuriya 7

S.M. Pollock not out 21

R.J. Peterson b Malinga 22

A. Nel b Malinga 0

M. Ntini not out 1

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-2, W-6, NB-1) 13

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 219

FALL OF WKTS: 1-13, 2-30, 3-30, 4-110, 5-145, 6-169, 7-176, 8-218, 9-218.

BOWLING: Vaas 10-3-16-2; Malinga 9-0-53-4 (3w); Fernando 5-0-24-0 (1nb); Muralitharan 10-0-42-1 (1w); Jayasuriya 10-0-36-2 (2w); Maharoof 5-0-34-0 (2w); Dilshan 1-0-8-0

SRI LANKA:

W.U. Tharanga c Boucher b Ntini 11

S.T. Jayasuriya lbw b Pollock 3

D.P.M.D. Jayawardene run out 36

K.C. Sangakkara c Boucher b Pollock 0

M.S. Atapattu b Nel 2

T.M. Dishan c Gibbs b Nel 36

M.F. Maharoof c Smith b Kallis 3

W.P.U.J.C. Vaas not out 29

S.L. Malinga c Smith b Nel 2

M. Muralitharan c Pollock b Ntini 3

C.R.D. Fernando lbw b Kemp 4

EXTRAS (LB-5, W-5, NB-2) 12

TOTAL (all out, 39.1 overs) 141

FALL OF WKTS: 1-9, 2-21, 3-23, 4-34, 5-78, 6-91, 7-114, 8-124, 9-127.

BOWLING: Pollock 10-0-21-2 (1nb, 1w); Ntini 9-1-24-2 (1nb, 1w); Nel 9-1-41-3; Kallis 8-0-34-1 (1w); Kemp 3.1-0-16-1 (2w).

RESULT: South Africa won by 78 runs.

UMPIRES: D.J. Harper and S.J.A. Taufel (both Australia).

TV UMPIRE: Aleem Dar (Pakistan).

MATCH REFEREE: J.J. Crowe (New Zealand).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Shaun Pollock.—Agencies