South Africa stumble on unfit pitch

ST AUGUSTINE, Trinidad, Mar 9 (Reuters) South Africa stumbled to 199 all out on a pitch that captain Graeme Smith labelled as ''unfit'' in their World Cup warm-up match against Pakistan today.

Loots Bosman top-scored with 53 before South Africa were dismissed in the 49th over after they lost the toss and were sent in to bat.

Play was held up for seven minutes while the coaches, South Africa's Mickey Arthur and Pakistan's Bob Woolmer, came on to the field after 16 overs to discuss the state of the pitch in the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground with umpires Peter Parker and Ian Gould.

''Mickey and Graeme both consider the pitch unfit for play,'' South African media manager Gordon Templeton told reporters.

Fast bowler Mohammad Sami used the conditions effectively to trap AB de Villiers in front for three and have Herschelle Gibbs caught behind for 11 as South Africa limped to 27 for three after 10 overs.

Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince then stabilised the innings with a stand of 66 before they were dismissed with consecutive deliveries.

Prince was leg-before to off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez for 35 with the last ball of the 26th over, and Kallis fell in identical fashion to leg spinner Danish Kaneria for 29 with the first delivery of the 27th over.

Bosman and Mark Boucher added 43 runs for the sixth wicket before Hafeez bowled Boucher for 22.

The last four South African wickets tumbled for 26 runs.

Fast bowlers Umar Gul and Sami, and spinners Hafeez and Shoaib Malik each took two wickets.

REUTERS PDM KN2329