Battling Klusener digs in to keep out Sri Lanka

Lance Klusener hit a fighting unbeaten half-century to spearhead South Africa's recovery after they had slumped to 117 for 6 on the rain-affected opening day of the third and deciding Test against Sri Lanka here.

Lance Klusener hit a fighting unbeaten half-century to spearhead South Africa's recovery after they had slumped to 117 for 6 on the rain-affected opening day of the third and deciding Test against Sri Lanka here.

A total of 28 overs were lost to rain and, when play ended just before tea, South Africa had scored 194 for 7, with Nicky Boje not out on two. The fast bowler Chaminda Vaas did most of the damage, claiming 3 for 50 off 21 overs after Sanath Jayasuriya had won the toss and elected to field.

Resuming after an 18-month lay-off due to a back injury, the Sri Lankan left-arm fast bowler Ruchira Perera struck on his first delivery, when Neil McKenzie was caught at second slip by Russel Arnold for a duck. The Sri Lankan umpire B C Cooray sought the opinion of the third umpire to be sure that the ball did not hit the ground first, but Cooray's phone failed and the players had to wait for almost five minutes for the decision.

Having lost McKenzie, the South Africans batted cautiously. Gary Kirsten scored three off 43 balls, but Jacques Kallis took charge and hit Perera for two consecutive boundaries on the leg side.

That prompted a bowling change and Jayasuriya brought on Aravinda de Silva in the 10th over. Vaas continued from the other end and struck in the 11th over. Moving the ball both ways off the seam, he had Kallis caught behind.

Vaas also troubled Daryll Cullinan, beating him on numerous occasions, but it was Perera who was next to strike, claiming the wicket of Kirsten for 11 off 63 balls. South Africa went to lunch on 63 for 3.

After the break, Marvan Atapattu again swung the initiative towards Sri Lanka with a sensational catch at deep square leg that saw the end of Cullinan, for 38.

The South Africans reached their hundred in the 37th over before Muttiah Muralitharan claimed the wicket of Jonty Rhodes, who could not read the flatter delivery that looked like an arm ball. The ball got the inside edge and cannoned into the stumps.

Mark Boucher was off the mark with a boundary snicked through the slips, but soon thereafter was brilliantly caught by Upul Chandana at cover point. Boucher got forward and looked to play the ball into the covers, but was too early on the shot, and the ball travelled low to the right of the fielder, who dived forward and scooped up the ball just inches from the ground.

Sri Lanka won toss

SOUTH AFRICA - First innings

G Kirsten c Ranatunga b Perera 11 N D McKenzie c Arnold b Perera 0 J H Kallis c Sangakkara b Vaas 19 D J Cullinan c Atapattu b Vaas 38 J N Rhodes b Muralitharan 21 L Klusener not out 50 ÿM V Boucher c Chandana b Vaas 4 *S M Pollock b Muralitharan 33 N Boje not out 2 Extras (b2 lb6 nb8) 16 Total (for 7, 62 overs) 194

Fall: 1-0, 2-23, 3-57, 4-89, 5-103, 6-117, 7-186.

To bat: P R Adams, M Hayward.

Bowling: Vaas 21-7-50-3; Perera 14-2-54-2; De Silva 5-2-16-0; Muralitharan 19-6-41-2; Chandana 3-0-25-0.