Gilchrist's catching skills shake S. Africa
Gilchrist's catching skills shake S. Africa
CAPE TOWN (AFP): Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist held a
world record six catches as Australia raced to a five-wicket win
with 25.3 overs to spare in the second limited-overs
international against South Africa at Newlands on Friday.
Australia's victory squared the series at 1-1. The final match
will be played in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Gilchrist was involved in six of the first eight dismissals as
Australia's bowlers kept the South African batsmen under almost
constant pressure after Australian captain Steve Waugh sent them
in.
South Africa stuttered to 144 for nine in their 50 overs.
Australia lost three wickets to allrounder Jacques Kallis when
they started their reply but Damien Martyn blazed to a 31-ball 50
as he and Michael Bevan hammered 83 off 69 balls for the fourth
wicket.
The tourists finished up on 145 for 5.
Fast bowler Brett Lee and his medium-paced brother Shane did
the major damage as South Africa's top order failed. Brett Lee
took three for 32 and Shane Lee two for 19.
In contrast to their below-par performance when South Africa
won the first match in Durban on Wednesday, all the Australian
bowlers were impressive.
Opening bowler Glenn McGrath was immaculate in taking two for
13 off 10 overs while legspinner Shane Warne took one for 21 from
his 10 overs.
Opening batsman Gary Kirsten, who was man of the match when he
scored 97 in South Africa's six-wicket win in Durban, made 34 and
was joint top scorer with Lance Klusener, who hit an unbeaten 34,
putting on 20 for the last wicket with Makhaya Ntini.
Kirsten and Neil McKenzie (22) put on 39 for the second wicket
before Kirsten was caught at gully off Shane Lee to start South
Africa's slide.
Shane Lee claimed the key wicket of Jacques Kallis and Brett
Lee followed up by dismissing Jonty Rhodes, McKenzie and Boucher
in quick succession.
One of Gilchrist's victims was opposite number Boucher, who
fluffed an opportunity to set the record two days earlier when he
dropped an easy chance after holding five catches in Durban.
A capacity crowd of 21,137 cheered as Kallis ripped out
Gilchrist, Mark Waugh and Shane Lee but they were soon silenced
when Martyn hit three fours in an over from South African captain
Shaun Pollock to launch a thrilling innings.
Meanwhile, South African opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs has
broken his silence and denied any part in match-rigging or
spread-betting allegations involving disgraced South African
cricket captain Hansie Cronje.
Gibbs told Saturday's Cape Argus newspaper he was stunned when
he was implicated in the Indian betting scandal: "I felt bad, but
I knew I was innocent. Nothing would ever make me do something so
irresponsible."
"I think somebody who would become involved in anything like
this would have let their country down, and themselves and the
team, and it is terribly unprofessional."
Cronje was accused by Indian police of having accepted money
from a London-based Indian bookie who allegedly has links to a
betting syndicate.
The other South African players implicated by police in India
are Gibbs, Pieter Strydom and Nicky Boje.
The South African government is in the process of setting up a
commission of inquiry, headed by a judge, to investigate the
allegations and prepare a report for the International Cricket
Council.
"Nobody approached us," Gibbs said. "When we were told about
it, we were terribly shocked."
The batsman was implicated by transcripts of alleged
conversations between Cronje and London-based bookmaker Sanjiv,
alias Sanjay, Chawla.