Cricket: Donald advances SA's cause

South Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360-9

India. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .161-5

ALLAN DONALD effectively made sure yesterday that South Africa would win their series against India. The tourists, trailing 1-0 in the rubber, were 161 for 5 at the close of a soporific third day of the fourth and final Test, the follow-on just saved but still 199 behind South Africa's first innings of 360 for 9 declared.

After Manoj Prabhakar, in a rare Indian display of patience, disciplined batting, and Sanjay Manjrekar had played comfortably for nearly four slow hours, Donald dismantled the tourists' batting with the second new ball.

Prabhakar had already been dislodged, by Omar Henry for 62, and Donald then triggered the fall of three wickets in seven overs, dismissing Praveen Amre for 6 and Manjrekar for 46 himself while his pace partner, Brian McMillan, accounted for Mohammad Azharuddin for 7.

Sachin Tendulkar survived a tough 47 minutes, including a fierce leg-before appeal from Donald's last ball. At the close he was nine not out with the nightwatchman, Venkatapathy Raju, on two.

It was an unexpectedly exciting finish to a day which had achieved the difficult feat of being even more boring than the dull display of the previous two days. Only 148 runs were scored on a slow but even-paced pitch against a four- man attack that toiled in 95F (35C) heat for six hours, making Donald's late assault all the more remarkable.

Donald took the second new ball with India safely inside the last hour, having reached the relative prosperity of 138 for 2.

The touring team had reshuffled their batting once more but, with Prabhakar out of the way, they still surrendered meekly. Donald needed just five deliveries for his extra pace to disarm Amre, who guided the ball to McMillan's sure hands at second slip.

In Donald's next over, Manjrekar, who batted for 273 minutes, was surprised by a bouncer and looped the ball up to Andrew Hudson at short leg.

McMillan then had Azharuddin meekly edging to the wicketkeeper Dave Richardson. It was McMillan's second wicket, having had Ajay Jadeja caught at point in the morning for 19. The catcher, Peter Kirsten, had dropped him off the same bowler nine runs earlier.

CAPE TOWN SCOREBOARD

(Third day: South Africa won toss)

SOUTH AFRICA - First innings: 360-9 dec (J N Rhodes 86, B M McMillan 52; A R Kumble 3-101).

INDIA - First innings

(Overnight: 13 for 0)

A D Jadeja c Kirsten b McMillan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

M Prabhakar c Wessels b Henry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

S V Manjrekar c Hudson b Donald. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

P K Amre c McMillan b Donald. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

S R Tendulkar not out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

* M Azharuddin c Richardson b McMillan. . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

V Raju not out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Extras (lb6 w3 nb1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Total (for 5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

Fall: 1-44 2-129 3-138 4-144 5-153.

To bat: Kapil Dev, K S More, A Kumble, J Srinath.

Bowling (to date): Donald 24-10-37-2; McMillan 24-6-44-2; Matthews 18-6-25-0; Cronje 10-4-7-0; Henry 21-5-42-1.