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Mixed success for SA bowlers
16/10/2007 22:01 - (SA)
Altus Momberg , Die Burger
Lahore - The South African cricket team's bowlers had mixed success against a Board XI here on Tuesday as they warmed up to take on Pakistan in a series of five one-day internationals.
The bowlers ensured that the home team would never get close to the Proteas' total of 328 but some won't be happy with their individual performances.
Shaun Pollock, who would have liked to make a good impression after being dropped from the Test team, was particularly disappointing.
The veteran seamer sent down six wides in his first spell of 5-0-38-0. Opener Ahmed Shazad, a star in Pakistan's Under-19 team, hit three fours in Pollock's fifth over; all over the bowler's head.
The Proteas scored an imposing 328-4 in their 45 overs and dismissed the Board XI for 152 runs in 31 overs and three balls.
The match was the only warm-up before the ODI series that starts in the Gaddafi Stadium here on Thursday.
Proteas coach Mickey Arthur said after the match that he was not worried about Pollock's lack of form.
"He is still number one on the ODI rankings list," Arthur said. "He is outstanding in one-day cricket. I won't be surprised if he turns out to be one of the leading bowlers at the end of this series."
The team's management would have been delighted about Makhaya Ntini's performance.
Opposition was on the poor side
The Mdingi Express was below his best in the Test matches but struck form on Tuesday, often beating the bat and compiling an opening spell of 6-1-16-2.
However, the opposition was on the poor side and the South Africans should not take too much notice of the statistics.
Only one of the locals, middle-order batsman Shahid Yousuf, has a chance of being included in Pakistan's ODI squad.
Seamer Charl Langeveldt and Johan Botha, the only spinner in the SA side, bowled well throughout.
Botha, who would like to emulate the Test-series success of left-arm spinner Paul Harris, maintained a commendable line and length.
The match was played at the picturesque Bagh-e-Jinnah ground and the SA batsmen had a ball.
Pollock hit four successive sixes in his 33 off 11 balls, AB de Villiers made 113 and Mark Boucher hammered 14 fours and a six in his 103.
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