KIRSTEN CENTURY LIGHTS UP GLOOMY KINGSMEAD

Kirsten won himself a share of the individual South African Test record a year ago when he made 275 against England and on Tuesday it was Sri Lanka’s turn to suffer as he crafted a chanceless 112 not out.

With Kirsten in such commanding mood, the home side were able to reach 230 for three before the umpires decided that the light was not fit for play. Kirsten contributed directly to the decision to end play when he was struck by on the right forearm by a ball that lifted at him from Dilhara Fernando.

The umpires, Dave Orchard of South Africa and Riazuddin of Pakistan, immediately conferred and, with the new ball due at the end of the over, took the players off the field.

However painful the blow, Kirsten would have been comforted by an innings constructed with typical patience and judgement. He was unbeaten on 78 at tea in partnership with Daryll Cullinan, and although Cullinan was to become the first victim of Muttiah Muralitharan in this match, Kirsten continued unperturbed.

Cullinan, who came into this match with his position under threat, composed an elegant 59 in 139 minutes, hitting seven fours and a six before he went down the wicket to Muralitharan, turning a regulation off break into a full toss, but hit it straight and low to Marvan Atapattu at midwicket.

Cullinan and Kirsten had put on 108 in 139 minutes for the third wicket.

Kirsten had 87 when Cullinan was dismissed and he moved through the 90s before producing an exquisite straight drive off Muralitharan to reach three figures.

When the close came, Kirsten had been at the crease for 325 minutes, hitting 15 boundaries. His partner, when the innings resumes on Wednesday, will be Neil McKenzie who has 5.

KIRSTEN, CULLINAN LAY FOUNDATIONS FOR BIG TOTAL AT KINGSMEAD

And with Daryll Cullinan also in punishing mood, the home team had laid the foundations for a commending total just two sessions into the game. At the tea break Kirsten had 78 with Cullinan on 43. The pair had put on 82 in an unbroken stand for the third wicket.

South Africa shrugged off the loss of a second wicket shortly after lunch when Dilhara Fernando accounted for Jacques Kallis and did a good job of coping with Muttiah Muralitharan as the limitations of the Sri Lankan attack were exposed.

Kallis rather gave his wicket away in the third over after lunch. He had pulled the last ball of Fernando’s previous over for four, going uppishly over midwicket, and tried to repeat the shot off the first ball of the seamer’s next over. But the ball got big on him and looped off the splice to Muralitharan, standing near the square leg umpire.

Kallis made 21 in 87 minutes and the wicket fell at 86 with he and Kirsten having put on 55 for the second wicket.

Kirsten reached his 50 after two-and-a-half hours at the crease, but it was Cullinan, who has been in patchy form this summer, who took the attack to the Sri Lankans. He produced a succession of flowing drives and also lifted Muralitharan over midwicket for six.

The offspinner represented Sri Lanka’s best hope of containing South Africa and after coming on for four overs before lunch, he bowled unchanged from the Old Fort Road end for a further 13 overs before Sanath Jayasuriya turned him around for a spell at the Umgeni end.

At the interval, Muralitharan had bowled 19 overs for 38 runs and although he managed to go past the bat on several occasions, neither batsmen had given a clearcut chance off him.

Kirsten had been at the crease for just under four hours for his runs, striking 12 boundaries while Cullinan went to tea having hit six fours and the six off Muralitharan.

KIRSTEN STANDS FIRM AS SA MAKE SOLID START

At lunch on the first day the home side were 80 for one with Kirsten unbeaten on 40 and Jacques Kallis not out on 17.

Despite rain falling in Durban throughout Christmas Day, the match was able to start on time on Tuesday and although South African captain Shaun Pollock may have considered sending Sri Lanka in to bat when he won the toss, his decision to bat first was fully justified at the end of the morning session.

There seemed little in the pitch to alarm the South African batsmen during the early stages of the innings with Kirsten looking particularly comfortable against the tourists all left-arm opening attack.

But visitors did break through in the ninth over of the innings when Sri Lanka’s third seamer, Dilhara Fernando, was brought into the attack from the Old Fort Road end. Fernando, the quickest of the visitors’ seam attack, struck with his fifth delivery when he forced Boeta Dippenaar onto the back foot and found the outside edge as the batsman played away from his body.

Dippenaar, who made a maiden Test century last time out in the rain-ravaged third Test match against New Zealand at the Wanderers two weeks ago, had scored only 11 before being dismissed with the wicket falling on 31.

It was Sri Lanka’s only success during the session, although Muttiah Muralitharan, as ever, posed a threat when he came on 22 minutes before lunch. Typically, Muralitharan spun the ball from his first delivery, finding the leading edge of Kirsten’s bat on one occasion, but he went in at lunch wicketless after four overs from the Old Fort Road end.

SOUTH AFRICA ELECT TO BAT AT KINGSMEAD

Despite overnight rain, the match was scheduled to start on time. South Africa made no changes to their already named team – fast bowler Mfuneko Ngam was in the side in place of the injured Allan Donald – while Sri Lanka included a third seamer, Dilhara Fernando with legspinner Upul Chandana named twelfth man.

Teams

South Africa: Gary Kirsten, Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Nicky Boje, Shaun Pollock (capt), Makhaya Ntini, Mfuneko Ngam.

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Romesh Kaluwitharana, Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Russel Arnold, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando.

Umpires: Dave Orchard (South Africa) and Raizuddin (Pakistan). Third umpire: Ian Howell (South Africa). Match referee: Raman Subba Row (England).

© CricInfo

Date-stamped : 26 Dec2000 - 22:23