Langeveldt takes 5-39 as Proteas bundle out Lankans for 209

Georgetown, Guyana, Mar 28 (UNI) Charl Langeveldt returned five for 39 as a determined South Africa utilised overcast conditions and a slow pitch to their advantage to bundle out Sri Lanka for 209 in their first Super Eight match at the brand new Guyana National Stadium here today.

Some disciplined bowling and trademark South African fielding never actually allowed the Lankas to go on the front foot for most part of their innings and each of the promising stints of the Lankan batsmen were cut short repeatedly to restrict them to a modest total.

Had it not been a disciplined partnership of 97 runs between Russell Arnold (50) and Dilshan Tilakaratne (58), the Lankans would have been in serious trouble as both played the middle overs without any bravado and stepped on the accelerators only towards the death to give their team a respectable total after the top order collapsed before crossing 100 runs on the board.

Pick of the South Afrian bowling was Charl Langeveldt who ended the day with 5-39 while Makhaya Ntini bagged two and Andrew Hall one.

Both Dilshan and Russell did not try to be over ambitious in the middle overs playing within their own limitation and kept the scoreboard ticking with some intelligent battling, never taking the aerial route till the end. Only towards the end, both stepped up the pressure.

Dilshan finally perished to Nitni's second spell while trying to hit over the cover for an easy catch at backward square leg.

Russell too followed soon after.

Electing to bat first under the overcast conditions and on a pitch where cricket is being played for the first time, the Lankans never actually took off as they lost the first wicket in the form of Upul Tharanga when the scoreboard read just 13.

He was caught at slip by Justin Kemp off Makhaya Nitni who kept on firing in from one side while Shaun Pollock kept the other end under strict leash restricting dangerous Sanath Jayasuruya from going over the top.

Guyana stadium being a small one, Jayasuriya fancied to hit over the top and did get a couple of boundaries but never allowed to carry on. Jayasuriya (26) finally perished, trying to lift first change bowler Langeveldt and mistimed his shot and the ball landed safely in the hands of Jacques Kallis at midwicket.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene tried to steady the innings in the company of wicket-keeper batsmen Kumar Sangkarkara but Greame Smith constantly put pressure on the duo. Jayawardene was the first to go, trying to flick a ball and the leading edge scooped off only to be caught gleefully by de Villers off the bowling of Langeveldt.

Sangakarara perished soon after when trying to go for the hook shot only to be gloved by wicket-keeper Mark Boucher.

Chamara Silva was out unfortunately from mix up. Lance Gibbs grabbed the ball at gully, ran two paces and dived full length to remove the bail catching Silva out of the crease.

Sri Lanka was then precariously placed at 98 for five as South Africa brought the game under complete control and waited for the Lankans to make the mistake as he brought in his spinners from both the sides.

UNI