Malinga tears into South Africa in second test

COLOMBO, Aug 4: Sri Lanka pace bowler Lasith Malinga starred with the new ball as South Africa struggled to 113 for four at lunch on the opening day of the second test today.

Malinga dismissed opener Andrew Hall for a duck and left-hander Jacques Rudolph (13) during a fiery seven-over burst with the new ball at P. Saravanamuttu Oval.

At the interval South Africa captain Ashwell Prince was 28 not out with AB de Villiers on 31 from 27 deliveries.

Malinga was two for 25 from seven overs.

Experienced left-armer Chaminda Vaas celebrated his return from a hamstring injury with a second-ball wicket, trapping Herschelle Gibbs lbw for a duck by an inswinger.

Malinga beat Hall on six occasions with a series of outswingers before finding the outside edge in the fourth over. Tillakaratne Dilshan pouched a sharp catch in the slips.

Rudolph was later bowled off-stump by a full-length delivery that swung back through the gate.

Hashim Amla was then dropped on 17 as wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene was surprised by the extra pace and bounce being generated by Malinga.

Amla capitalised on his good fortune, leading a mini fightback with a positive 40 from 47 deliveries including seven boundaries.

But Muttiah Muralitharan, searching for the five wickets he needs to bring up 650 in test cricket, dismissed Amla with an off break that pinned him lbw on the backfoot.

De Villiers and Prince continued the fight-back with a string of positive strokes off Muralitharan before the break.

South Africa had made one change to the team that lost the first test by an innings and 153 runs, bringing in all rounder Shaun Pollock in place of fast bowler Andre Nel.

Sri Lanka's Dilhara Fernando was forced out of the match with a stiff thigh.

Test Series Sri Lanka v South Africa scoreboard COLOMBO, Aug 4 (Ruters) Scoreboard at lunch on the first day in the second and final Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa today. South Africa 1st innings H. Gibbs lbw b Vaas 0 A. Hall c Dilshan b Malinga 0 J. Rudolph b Malinga 13 H. Amla lbw b Muralitharan 40 A. Prince not out 28 A. de Villiers not out 31 Extras (nb-1) 1 Total (for 4 wickets, 27 overs) 113 Fall of wickets: 1-0 2-4 3-31 4-70 Bowling C. Vaas 7 - 2 - 27 - 1 L. Malinga 7 - 3 - 25 - 2 M. Muralitharan 9 - 0 - 43 - 1 F. Maharoof 4 - 0 - 18 - 0 (nb-1)

REUTERS