JOHANNESBURG, Nov 27: South Africa captain Shaun Pollock gave a superb bowling display to set his team on the way to an easy six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first of five one-day internationals Wednesday.

Pollock, who won the toss and put Sri Lanka in, returned figures of four for 18 in 8.4 overs, destroying the top order as the visitors limped to 128 all out in 46.4 overs.

He was ably supported by seamer Makhaya Ntini who took three for 22 in his 10-over spell. Sri Lanka, 30 for five after just 13 overs, could never recover.

South Africa scored the winning runs in the 30th over with Mark Boucher unbeaten with 45 and Jacques Kallis on 38.

Ntini made the early breakthrough for South Africa when he claimed the wicket of Marvan Atapattu caught behind for one with the final ball of the second over.

With the first ball of the fifth over Pollock trapped debutant left-hander Jehan Mubarak leg before for two and in the next over, bowled by Ntini, Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya was caught at third man by Boeta Dippenaar for seven.

Kumar Sangakkara was next to go, caught by Justin Ontong in the covers for seven off Pollock in the 11th over. Two overs later, Pollock had Aravinda da Silva caught behind for 12.

Mahela Jayawardene (31) and Russel Arnold (28) cobbled together a 65-run sixth wicket partnership, devoid of flamboyance, but full of grit.

When Ntini was recalled to the fray in the 32nd over he wasted no time as his first ball found Arnold’s leading edge, sending the ball safely into the hands of Andrew Hall at mid-off.

Jayawardene followed soon after, brilliantly caught by Herschelle Gibbs at point off the bowling of Allan Donald who then removed Dilhara Fernando two balls later, caught behind by Boucher for a duck.

With the rest of the wickets falling quickly South Africa were left with the modest target.

Although they made a poor start with Gibbs being caught behind by Sangakkara for a duck off left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas in the first over and Graeme Smith following three overs later for three, there was little doubt about the outcome once Kallis and Boucher got going.

The Wanderers pitch is not up to standard for next year’s World Cup final, South Africa captain Shaun Pollock said Wednesday.

Pollock made the comments after leading his side to an easy six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first of five one-day internationals.

The final of the 2003 World Cup is due to be played at the Wanderers March 27.

“I don’t think that would be a good wicket for the World Cup final,” Pollock said after earning the man of the match award.

“I think in a World Cup final you are looking for a spectacle and you are not going to get it on that unfortunately.

“You would want a better surface than that.”

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA

M.Atapattu c Boucher b Ntini 1

S.Jayasuriya c Dippenaar b Ntini 7

J.Mubarak lbw Pollock 2

K.Sangakkara c Ontong b Pollock 7

A.Da Silva c Boucher b Pollock 12

M.Jayawardene c Gibbs b Donald 31

R.Arnold c Hall b Ntini 28

C.Vaas not out 19

D.Fernando c Boucher b Donald 0

P.Nissanka run out 5

P.Gunaradne lbw Pollock 2

EXTRAS: (b-2 lb-5 w-7) 14

TOTAL (all out, 46.4 overs) 128

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-3 2-6 3-10 4-25 5-30 6-95 7-104 8-104 9-125

BOWLING: Pollock 8.4-2-18-4, Ntini 10-1-22-3 (w-1), Kallis 6-0-21-0 (w-2), Donald 10-0-32-2 (w-3), Hall 5-0-15-0 (w-1), Boje 7-0-13-0

SOUTH AFRICA

G.Smith c Sangakkara b Gunaradne 3

H.Gibbs c Sangakkara b Vaas 0

B.Dippenaar c Gunaradne b Nissanka 23

J.Kallis not out 38

J.Ontong c Sangakkara b Nissanka 6

M.Boucher not out 45

EXTRAS (lb-5 nb-4 w-5) 14

TOTAL (for four wickets, 29.3 overs) 129

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-1 2-11 3-50 4-56

DID NOT BAT: S.Pollock, A.Hall, N.Boje, A.Donald, M.Ntini

BOWLING: Vaas 8-0-23-1, Gunaradne 6-0-25-1 (w-1), Nissanka 7-0-33-2 (w-2), Fernando 5.3-0-31-0 (nb-4 w-2), Jayasuriya 3-0-12-0

RESULT: South Africa won by six wickets

SECOND MATCH: Nov 29, Centurion (d/n)

THIRD MATCH: Dec 1, Benoni

FOURTH MATCH: Dec 4, Kimberley (d/n)

FIFTH MATCH: Dec 5, Bloemfontein (d/n)—Reuters