It’s SA — Pollock, stock & barrel

It was a remarkable victory for South Africa, who recovered from 21 for five after being sent in to bat in a match reduced to 45 overs a side by rain. Skipper Hansie Cronje made 56 (113b, 4×4, 1×6) to lead the South African fightback after devastating bowling by England new ball bowlers Andrew Caddick and Darren Gough.

Caddick finished with four for 19 and Gough three for 18 but England’s back-up bowlers failed to maintain the pressure. Cronje and wicketkeeper Mark Boucher (36) put on 74 for the sixth wicket. It was crucial for South Africa to strike hard with the new ball and Cronje took a calculated gamble byletting Pollock bowl his full quota of nine overs, setting attacking fields with up to three slips. All Pollock’s wickets fell to catches between wicketkeeper and third slip, with Boucher going on to equal the South African One-Day International record by holding five catches. Extras was the biggest contributor to the England total with 24, including 21 wides as the South African bowlers made the ball swing alarmingly in the damp conditions. The match was reduced to 45 overs a side after the start had been delayed by two hours by rain.

SCOREBOARD
South Africa: Herschelle Gibbs c Knight b Gough 8, Neil McKenzie b Caddick 4, Jacques Kallis b Gough 0, Hansie Cronje c Knight b Mullally 56, Jonty Rhodes c Hick b Caddick 5, Shaun Pollock c White b Caddick 0, Mark Boucher c Hick b Alleyne 36, Lance Klusener c Hussain b Gough 10, Pieter Strydom c Maddy b Caddick 3, Steve Elworthy not out 8, Henry Williams run out (Gough) 7. Extras: (lb 5, w 6, nb 1) 12. Total: (all out in 45 overs)149
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-14, 3-14, 4-21, 5-21, 6-95, 7-129, 8-132, 9-134
Bowling: Caddick 9-1-19-4, Gough 9-2-18-3 (w 4), Mullally 9-3-22-1 (w 2), White 7-0-38-0 (nb 1), Ealham 5-0-24-0, Alleyne 6-0-23-1

England: Nasser Hussain c Boucher b Pollock 8, Nick Knight c Boucher b Pollock 10, Greame Hick c Kallis b Pollock 12, Darren Maddy c Kallis b Pollock 0, Mark Alleyne c Cronje b Pollock 6, Craig White b Klusener 16, Mark Ealham c Boucher b Klusener 4, Chris Read lbw Williams 9, Andrew Caddick c Boucher b Kallis 7, Darren Gough c Boucher b Kallis 1, Allan Mullally not out 14. Extras: (lb 1, w 21, nb 2) 24. Total: (all out in 38 overs) 111
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-22, 3-23, 4-41, 5-45, 6-64, 7-72, 8-83, 9-87
Bowling: Pollock 9-1-20-5 (w 3), Kallis 8-0-25-2 (w 5), Elworthy 6-0-19-0 (nb 1), Williams 6-0-18-1 (w 12), Klusener 9-1-28-2 (nb 1, w 1)
Result: South Africa won by 38 runs
Man of the match & Series: S Pollock.