Klusener checks SA slide with unbeaten fifty

Pollock batted confidently, but failed to get on top of a Muralitharan delivery and was bowled off the inside edge for 33.

Sri Lanka who lost the second Test at Kandy by seven runs last week, got off to a fine start when they captured three wickets for 63 runs by lunch after Sanath Jayasuriya had won the toss for the third time in the series and elected to field.

The start was delayed by 20 minutes because of rain, and Sri Lanka seam bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Ruchira Perera extracted a lot of movement and bounce from the pitch to put South African batting under pressure.

Perera returning to the venue where he made his Test debut last year, captured the wickets of openers Neil McKenzie and Gary Kirsten, but it was Vaas who ended with the best figures for the day taking three for 50.

Two of his wickets fell to brilliant catches on the outfield. Darryl Cullinan was held by a diving Marvan Atapattu at deep square leg when he pulled a delivery with his score on 38.

Mark Boucher was out to superb catch by Upul Chandana at cover point taken inches off the ground for four.

The third wicket was that of Jacques Kallis who received a superb delivery that rose off a good length to take the outside edge to the wicket-keeper.

Muralitharan also entered the fray with two vital wickets. He had Jonty Rhodes and Pollock both playing on to deliveries which spun sharply.

Sri Lanka and South Africa are level at one-all in the three-match series.

Scoreboard

South Africa (1st Innings): Gary Kirsten c Ranatunga b Perera 11, Neil McKenzie c Arnold b Perera 0, Jacques Kallis c Sangakkara b Vaas 19, Darryl Cullinan c Atapattu b Vaas 38, Jonty Rhodes b Muralitharan 21, Lance Klusener batting 50, Mark Boucher c Chandana b Vaas 4, Shaun Pollock b Muralitharan 33, Nicky Boje batting 2 Extras: (b-2, lb-6, nb-8) 16 TOTAL (for 7 wkts, 62 overs) 194

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-23, 3-57, 4-89, 5-103, 6-117, 7-186.

Bowling: Vaas 21-7-50-3, Perera 14-2-54-2, De Silva 5-2-16-0, Muralitharan 19-6-41-2, Chandana 3-0-25-0.