McKenzie leads SA to another win
Source: IOL -Fergus Ryan - December 06 2002

Neil McKenzie staked his claim for a spot in the World Cup squad by steering South Africa to an eight wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the final limited overs clash in Bloemfontein on Friday.

The victory saw the hosts sweep the series 4-1 after winning the Test series 2-0.

In pursuit of Sri Lanka's modest 228 for eight, South Africa cruised to 229 for four with 29 balls to spare.

Their chase was given wonderful impetus by Herschelle Gibbs, who batted with abandon in making 47 from 45 balls.

Once Gibbs played on though, South Africa adopted a far more measured approach in chasing down the remaining runs.

McKenzie (70 not out) and Boeta Dippenaar, who are probably vying for the same World Cup place in the middle order, put on 88 for the fourth wicket in 145 balls to completely take the game away from the hapless Lankans.

Dippenaar was eventually run out for 36 while McKenzie hung around to ensure another one-sided victory.

Apart from going some way in sorting out an inconsistent middle order, the match also unearthed the next South African strike bowler.

20 year old Monde Zondeki took a wicket with his first ball in international cricket.

He removed the dangerous Marvan Atapattu for 53 when he found the edge which flew to Mark Boucher who could only parry the ball to Andrew Hall who hung onto it at first slip.

Earlier, and as has become almost the expected on their six week tour, the Sri Lankans made yet another disappointing start to their innings, losing skipper Sanath Jayasuriya in the first over for two.

Four balls later Aravinda de Silva was caught behind for a duck with only seven on the board.

Once again it was their best batsman on the tour - Atapattu - who began the recovery.

In making his 53, Atapattu put on 36 for the fourth wicket before Zondeki was brought on as the fifth bowler.

Atapattu's dismissal, unfortunately, was the high point in Zondeki's spell.

Although he bowled comfortably quicker than any of his team mates, he proved to be slightly expensive, conceding 37 runs in his eight overs.

He did, however, do enough in two spells to vindicate the selectors' gamble in picking him on the basis of 12 domestic outings for Border.

After Atapattu's departure, Russel Arnold continued the recovery with Kumar Sangakkara, putting on 61 for the sixth wicket.

Sangakkara blasted 14 off Donald's final over of the innings to end undefeated on 77 after failing in his previous four innings.

Before that he played another important role along with Thilan Samaraweera. Samaraweera, who has been curiously ignored until this game, batted extremely positively in making 33 and added 56 for the sixth wicket.

While Donald, who took the new ball in the place of the rested Makhaya Ntini, was collared in conceding 64 runs from 10 overs, his opening partner was typically miserly.

Shaun Pollock has bowled superbly this entire series. In Bloemfontein he took two for 23 in 10 overs - this despite bowling his last three overs at the end of the innings. - Sapa