Date-stamped : 30 Apr96 - 02:16 Benson & Hedges Cup Warwickshire v Leicestershire Edgbaston 26 April 1996 ====> REPORT Pollock to the fore on debut day By Peter Deeley at Edgbaston Warwicks (183-3) bt Leics (182-9) by 7 wkts SHAUN POLLOCK burst on the English domestic scene in a manner yesterday which suggests he is yet another major overseas capture for Warwickshire capable of helping them to yet further honours this summer. The impact the South African fast bowler had on his Birmingham debut can hardly be exaggerated. By the end of his fourth over, the seventh of the match - bowling into the breeze from the City end - Leicestershire were already nine for five and all had fallen to the 22-year-old. Four wickets came in as many balls, a feat unmatched in one-day cup competition in this country: only Alan Ward previously achieved the feat, for Derbyshire in the Sunday League against Sussex in 1970. Pollock`s figures were then 4-3-1-5 and he finished with six for 21. The runs coming off only 11 deliveries. Leicestershire had been put in to bat, though Pollock`s suc- cess was down to his own qualities of straightness allied to ex- tra pace and lift rather than inadequacies in the pitch. In fact once the red-haired son of one of his country`s greatest pace bowlers had retired, amid much applause, the remainder of the Warwickshire attack found it difficult to sustain the momentum. Pollock claimed his first wicket with his 11th delivery when Vince Wells`s attempt to go over the top in the manner expected from the changed format ended with a skied catch into the covers. Then came the crucial fourth over and Pollock`s second ball elud- ed Gregor MacMillan`s attempted drive and was deflected to first slip. Unfortunately television film showed that the devi- ation had come from the arm and not the glove but Pollock was in a mood to capitalise on any good fortune. There was no doubt about Pollock`s next victim, Leicestershire captain James Whitaker who fell to his second first-ball dismissal in three innings when the delivery nicked his pad on its way to the stumps. Pollock`s final act was to beat Paul Nixon for pace, the Leicestershire wicketkeeper edging an attempted cut for Moles` second slip catch. The unfortunate hat-trick victim was Phil Robinson who pushed forward to give Andy Moles the easiest of catches at short leg and Pollock added icing to the occasion when Darren Maddy pushed at the next delivery and was well taken low at third slip. Pollock`s final act was to beat Paul Nixon for pace, the Leicestershire wicketkeeper edging an attempted cut for Moles` second slip catch. Sadly Moles later went down awkwardly fielding a drive and was taken to hospital for X-rays on a badly injured leg which could keep him out of the rest of the competition. Last summer he missed most of the season with Achilles tendon troubles and underwent four operations in order to be fit for this campaign. Ben Smith was the driving force in Leicestershire`s late rally with 61 off 85 balls, sharing in a stand of 81 with Nixon. When Smith was eventually caught trying to force the pace David Millns showed his new-found ability with the bat hitting two sixes in an unbeaten 39 off 46 deliveries. Nick Knight`s early departure, caught third ball at mid-wicket, suggested Warwickshire too might be struggling. But after Paul Smith holed out to mid-off and Neil Smith played on in succes- sive overs, half-centuries from Dominic Ostler and Trevor Pen- ney in an unbroken stand of 127 in only 24 overs gave them victory with over 15 overs to spare. Millns failed to match his batting improvement, conceding 45 runs in a little over six overs and with off-spinner Adrian Pierson missing from the attack Leicestershire are looking at early problems. Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http.//www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by Shash (shs2*.cwru.edu)