Boje's triple strike dent Lanka

Boje's triple strike dent Lanka
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

COLOMBO, AUGUST 7: Left-arm spinner Nicky Boje gave South Africa the edge over Sri Lanka when he snapped three quick wickets for nine runs off 24 balls on the second day of the third and final cricket Test on Monday.

Boje's brilliant bowling at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds here saw Sri Lanka slump from 122 for one to 138 for 4 by the close in reply to South Africa's 279.

Boje ended the century partnership between Sanath Jayasuriya and Russel Arnold and then went on to take two further wickets to finish the day with figures of three for 21 off ten overs.

Arnold was superbly caught by Lance Klusener at mid-on for 28 as he tried to loft Boje over the top. Boje followed it up by having Aravinda de Silva stumped by Mark Boucher for two by a ball that turned sharply to beat the bat and then got the prize wicket of Jayasuriya, who top edged a sweep to Gary Kirsten at backward square leg.

Jayasuriya had batted fluently for his 85 off 113 balls hitting 14 fours, and his loss could be costly for Sri Lanka, hoping to gain a first-innings lead over South Africa.

Before Boje came on the scene, Sri Lanka lost opener Marvan Atapattu for 10 when he was bowled off his pads by Nantie Hayward.

Earlier, South Africa were greatly indebted once again to the batting talents of Klusener who stuck it out for 246 minutes to remain unconquered on 95. Klusener who hit an unbeaten 117 in the Kandy Test, was on course for his second successive century but ran out of partners.

The big hitting left-hander struck only six fours in his disciplined knock which carried South Africa from a hopeless 117 for 6 to their final total of 279. Boje (21) helped Klusener add 54 for the eighth wicket, and Paul Adams (15) frustrated the Sri Lankan bowling further with a further stand that realised 38 runs for the ninth wicket.

Scoreboard

South Africa (1st innings; overnight 194-7): G Kirsten c Ranatunga b Perera 11, N McKenzie c Arnold b Perera 0, J Kallis c Sangakkara b Vaas 19, D Cullinan c Atapattu b Vaas 38, J Rhodes b Muralitharan 21, L Klusener not out 95, M Boucher c Chandana b Vaas 4, S Pollock b Muralitharan 33, N Boje c Sangakkara b Vaas 21, P Adams lbw b Muralitharan 15, M Hayward c de Silva b Chandana 0; Extras: (b2, lb8, nb12) 22. Total: (all out in 108.2 overs) 279

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-23, 3-57, 4-89, 5-103, 6-117, 7-186, 8-240, 9-278

Bowling: Vaas 36-9-85-4, Perera 18-3-60-2, de Silva 5-2-16-0, Muralitharan 39-14-70-3, Chandana 4.2-0-26-1, Jayasuriya 3-0-9-0, Arnold 3-1-3-0

Sri Lanka (1st innings): M Atapattu b Hayward 10, S Jayasuriya c Kirsten b Boje 85, R Arnold c Klusener b Boje 28, A de Silva st Boucher b Boje 2, M Jayawardene batting 4, C Vaas batting 1; Extras: (b1, lb1, w1, nb5) 8. Total: (for four wickets in 44 overs) 138

Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-122, 3-130, 4-135.

Bowling: Pollock 11-4-22-0, Hayward 11-2-32-1, Kallis 8-1-38-0, Klusener 4-0-23-0, Boje 10-3-21-3.