Pollock, Nel script famous 78 run win for South Africa over Lanka

Ahmedabad, Oct 24 (UNI) Shaun Pollock and Mkahaya Ntini backed up by Andre Nel and Jacques Kallis scripted a famous 78 run victory for South Africa as Sri Lanka, set a target of 220 folded up for 141 in 39.1 overs in the Super Eight Group 'B' match of the Champions Trophy at the Sardar Patel stadium, Motera here today.

With this win today, South Africa stayed in with a chance for a semifinal place having one win and a loss with one match to go, while Sri Lanka with two defeats and a win now have to hope that Pakistan win all their remaining matches to have any hope of qualifying for the semifinals.

Sri Lanka, replying to the South Africa total of 219 for nine, had to contend with Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini who opened the bowling.

The duo, bowling an inspired spell had the Lankans on the back foot immediately as Pollock removed Sanath Jayasuriya leg before wicket.

Jayasuriya who made just three, was unlucky as the ball looked like it had pitched marginally outside the leg stump.

Mahela Jayawardene had chosen to field first in the hope that the dew would hamper the bowlers, but there was no such luck for the Sri Lankans so far as both bowlers got plenty of seam movement, and on the odd occasion some unexpected bounce.

The line and length was impeccable as well, and the results followed soon.

Ntini then got Tharanga caught behind for 10 and then Kumar Sangakkara was removed by Shaun Pollock for zero caught behind by Boucher to leave Sri Lanka in all sorts of trouble at 23 for three.

Soon it became 34 for four when Marvan Atapattu was beaten by sheer pace of Andre Nel to have his off stump uprooted after making just two runs.

Dilshan then joined his captain Mahela Jayawardene and the two slowly rebuild the innings with both playing some delectable drives on the off side.

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