By Neil Manthorp in Cape Town
DARYLL Cullinan produced his best innings for South Africa for two years as the home side put Sri Lanka to the sword on the first day of the first Test at Newlands yesterday.
Cullinan's 113 was his fourth Test century, but he had not reached 50 in his previous eight Tests and had only passed 20 three times during that period. According to the coach Bob Woolmer, he had been ``under a psychological cloud''.
Yesterday he was dropped by Roshan Mahanama at slip before scoring; his century came from 138 balls.
Makhaya Ntini, a seam-bowler from a township in the Eastern Cape, was selected as the first black development programme player to reach Test level.
Day 2; Ntini recovers from mauling
By Neil Manthorp in Cape Town
MAKHAYA NTINI, the 20-year-old Xhosa fast bowler from a township outside East London, grabbed the headlines and fluttered a nation's hearts when he survived a brutal mauling at the hands of Aravinda de Silva before bouncing back to claim the great batsman's wicket on the second day of the first Test at Newlands.
The debate about whether Ntini, who became South Africa's first black Test cricketer, was ready for the rigours of Test cricket seemed to be heading the way of the doubters when Ntini's first four overs went for 32. He was brought back for a second spell, with the wind at his back, and was immediately hooked and cut by de Silva for two more fours.
But the third ball of his fifth over was a snaking bouncer that followed the master batsman as he tried to duck and brushed his gloves on the way to wicket keeper Mark Boucher. It was an epic moment in the transition of the game in South Africa and the cheer that greeted it was exceeded only by the noise the 10,000-strong crowd made when Ntini came out to bat earlier in the day.
His 10 overs cost him 57 runs but the wicket, described by coach Bob Woolmer as ``absolutely vital'', made up for everything.
Earlier Shaun Pollock played the major hand in extending South Africa's overnight total of 298 for six to 418 all out.
Allan Donald reduced the tourists to 36 for two before coloured left-arm spinner Paul Adams plunged Sri Lanka into trouble on 212 for five by the close.
Day 3: Cullinan on top
By Nick Rouse
DARYLL CULLINAN and Jacques Kallis pressed home South Africa's advantage on the third day of the first Test against Sri Lanka with a century partnership to extend their overall lead to 267.
Cullinan followed up his first-innings 113 with 68 before being caught off pad and bat with 16 balls left in the day. Kallis made 49.
Shaun Pollock earlier took four of the last five wickets as Sri Lanka slipped from their overnight 212 for five to 300 all out, giving South Africa a first-innings lead of 112. Pollock finished with four for 83, while Allan Donald took three for 66.
Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher held six catches in an innings for the second successive match, again equalling the South African record set by Denis Lindsay in 1966-67.
After Pollock made an early breakthrough by dismissing Romesh Kaluwitharana, the Sri Lankan lower order looked uncomfortable against the pace of Pollock and Donald, both of whom bowled numerous short-pitched deliveries.
Chaminda Vaas, who made 30 after being dropped on four and eight, was the only Sri Lankan batsman to make a significant score yesterday.
Bacher continued a poor run of form when he was caught behind for nought. In four home Tests this season he has made 103 runs at an average of 14.71. Kirsten was caught at second slip for 15.
Cullinan in particular played some superb strokes as he and Kallis rescued their team from a shaky 18 for two. The pair put on 116 runs in 147 minutes.
Day 5: Ntini puts an end to Sri Lanka resistance
By Neil Manthorp in Cape Town
SOUTH AFRICA completed a 70-run victory over Sri Lanka an hour after lunch on the final day of the first Test at Newlands.
Makhaya Ntini, South Africa's first black Test cricketer, hit Pramodya Wickremasinghe's leg stump with an inswinger to end an aggressive display of tail-end hitting that brought him a maiden Test fifty and briefly threatened a comeback.
Resuming on 120 for three, opener Marvan Atapattu (71) and Arjuna Ranatunga (43) batted easily through the first hour to offer the tourists encouragement but left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adams held a stinging return catch to end Atapattu's 200-ball innings and Ranatunga edged an away swinger from Jacques Kallis to slip.
Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock took three wickets in three overs with the second new ball soon after lunch to bring the innings to the point of closure before Wickremasinghe struck eight fours and a hooked six off Pollock in a knock of 51 from 45 balls.