Johannesburg - Allan Donald is not one to dwell on facts and statistical detail, but his six for 53 career best at the Wanderers did give the fast bowler known as White Lightening a touch of enjoyment.

Especially the way he bowled his main adversary, England opening batsman Michael Atherton, with the sixth ball of the day or only the second ball he faced in this innings.

Donald, shrugging aside fears of a strained rib problem only two days before the opening match of the series started at the Wanderers yesterday, admitted though that he did not rate the ball with which be howled Atherton as the best delivery he has sent down in his Test career.

That was when he dismissed Sachin Tendulkar at Kingsmead in Durban in the 1996/97 series: a ball which cut back and sent two stumps cartwheeling in differing directions.

"It was a nice feeling though, a good ball to get up to him (Atherton) so early in this series, and I couldn't have wished for a better start to the series," Donald said after the first day's play saw him move closer to his aim of taking 300 wickets this season.

More importantly, however, it was not the injury which had bothered him or threaten to sideline him from the match but a technical fault.

"It was small really: not getting my wrist in the right position since Zimbabwe and to get the in-swinger working by bowling wide than I normally do.

"Really, I don't think I could have wished to bowl a better in-swinger than that to get Michael Atherton and the couple of wickets to follow that," he added. "It is great to be back among the wickets. It gives me a great deal of confidence of going into the next innings."

Donald than admitted that his captain, Hansie Cronje, had helped psyched him to deliver the in-swinger by suggesting that the fast bowler would get his man in the first over.

"I don't think I could have placed that ball any better and I turned around and pointed to him and called 'You little beauty'.

"Yes, it is very satisfying but we have a long way to go in this Test. Also I don't think we could have wished for any better conditions than this," he commented.

Donald also felt that the way he and Shaun Pollock placed a high percentage of balls in the right place had also helped South Africa maintain pressure throughout the 41 overs which they bowled in the innings of 122..

He also felt that South Africa's batsmen had the advantage of "leaving the ball well and not playing at it".

England coach, Duncan Fletcher felt the performance by Donald and Shaun Pollock had been a "world class act by two superb bowlers".