Donald comes through first test

Allan Donald allayed concerns over his fitness with a strong display in South Africa's opening tour match against the ACB Chairman's XI at Lilac Hill today.

The Proteas opened their account with a strong bowling performance, winning by 47 runs.

Donald, 35 and out of Test cricket since March through illness and then an abdominal muscle strain, stretched out nicely in two spells of six overs and two overs and took 2-42.

He is most likely to play against WA in a four-day match starting on Friday with South Africa indicating it will play close to a Test strength line-up.

South Africa made 9-256 in 50 overs against what amounted to the West Australian side minus its Test players but with some ring-ins - Andy Bichel, Michael Slater and former Test stars Bruce Reid and Dean Jones.

In reply, the Chairman's XI was bowled out for 209 in the 45rd over.

Donald made an inauspicious start to the match, with Ryan Campbell blazing shots around the ground.

His first two overs cost 23 runs but he struck back in quick time, removing Campbell for 29 (off 20 balls) caught behind by Mark Boucher.

Slater went soon after, caught at point by Herschelle Gibbs for 14 to have the home side 2-49 in the eighth over.

The Chairman's side was soon in deeper trouble, with captain Simon Katich falling to Steve Elworthy (4-27) for five as his side slipped to 3-68.

Mike Hussey (56) kept his side in the contest and was joined by an evergreen Jones, who responded to his fanclub in the bleachers by making a dashing 38 off 41 balls.

But the pair departed in the same over from Lance Klusener (2-15) as the home side dipped to 6-188 in the 41st over, Hussey providing Herschelle 'you've just dropped the World Cup' Gibbs with his fourth catch of the day.

Earlier, Klusener and man of the match Neil McKenzie saved South Africa from some blushes when they provided some substance to the tourist's innings in a partnership of 98 for the fifth wicket.

McKenzie made 76 off 88 balls, hitting 12 fours and a six while Klusener took 75 balls for his 63, with seven fours and a six.

Bichel, after serving as 12th man for Australia in the Test series against New Zealand, relished the chance to have a bowl and in an aggressive opening spell captured two early wickets before coming back to remove Boucher (26) late in the innings.

He took 3-28 off eight overs.