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World Cup: Kirsten's record haul an illustration of gulf between the teams

South Africa (321-2) beat UAE (152-8) by 169 runs

Gary Kirsten blazed his way into the World Cup record book here yesterday, courtesy of a feeble attack. He overtook Viv Richards's record competition innings but failed, by one run, to equal the West Indian's other milestone, the highest individual international total.

Kirsten, batting through South Africa's innings, was 188 not out at the end, off 159 balls, hitting four sixes and 13 boundaries sufficient to see off United Arab Emirates single-handed.

The Gulf side reached 152 for eight, losing by 169, but the game was so one-sided that, when UAE reached 72 for eight after 28 overs, the contest was already dead.

Richards hit 181 against Sri Lanka in the 1987 World Cup in Kara- chi and his 189 against England at Old Trafford in 1984 remained tantalisingly out of reach of the South African left- hander.Kirsten's first fifty took 51 balls, the second 54 and the third 29. He overtook Richards's competition high off the first ball of the final over but then only managed two twos, with the field spread, off the final two deliveries. Kirsten said he knew nothing about the World Cup record until he heard his partner, Daryll Cullinan, talking about it with an umpire. ``Then, when I came off, I discovered I had missed Viv's other record by one run.'' Kirsten gave one chance - on 118 - when he skied to square leg - but UAE captain Sultan Zarawani was slow off the mark and did not get under the ball. The only real threat to Kirsten's progress was fatigue and, as the South African is the fleetest man in the side and a long distance runner, his three-and-a- half-hour innings was probably the equivalent of only a half marathon. If England do not beat UAE by something approaching the length of Oxford Street tomorrow in Peshawar, they should seri- ously consider packing their bags and returning home.

Extending the competition to 12 countries may broaden cricket's horizons but it is going to throw up some terribly unequal con- tests: apart from the medium-fast Johanne Samarasekera, who bowled steadily, forcing Andrew Hudson to play on and conceding only 39 runs in his nine overs, the rest of the attack was scarcely club standard. The four slow bowlers persisted in trying to flight the ball but their length was awry and each went for around six an over. Zarawani did lure Hansie Cronje down the pitch for a stumping but the South African captain admitted he had played ``a cow of a shot''. Allan Donald's pace and Brian McMillan's accuracy destroyed the UAE batting and their naivety was illustrated when Zarawani came in wearing a sun hat with Donald at his fastest. The fast bowler immediately bounced the UAE captain. Zarawani was struck on the temple and staggered away, the hat almost falling on the stumps, but he gathered him- self and carried on as if nothing had happened.