Zulu masters spin

The new boundary hoardings that have graced this idyllic hill county stadium, courtesy of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL), proclaim that, "cricket stimulates the nation." On a day of fluctuating fortunes, brilliant strokeplay and some absorbing spin bowling, the small but noisy crowd will not have disagreed.

On an overcast morning South Africa slipped to 34 for 5 before being rescued by a 124 run partnership between Lance Klusner (118*) and Mark Boucher (60). After another mini collapsed followed a daft run out, they eventually scrapped together 80 runs for the last two wickets to ensure a modicum of respectability, with a final score of 253.

Then with the darkness slowly descending, the Sri Lankan openers negotiated the seven overs to the close, without losing a wicket. Not without the odd scare it must be said. In the very first over Sanath Jayasuriya looked lucky to have survived a raucous appeal from Shaun Pollock.

The real value of such a score is not yet clear. When the clouds hug the lush hillsides that surround Asgirya Stadium, the ball can swing and with the pitch already turning sharply, there should be enough assistance for the South African bowlers, if of course they bowl well. A rather big if, given the form of the bowlers so far on the tour.

Sanath Jayasuriya was sufficiently suspicious of the surface to opt to field when he won the toss for the fifth test match in succession. For some the decision reeked of cowardice against the moving ball. In defense the pitch had sweated overnight and was likely to assist the seam bowlers for the first two hours.

Jayasuriya's decision may also have been influenced by the fate of Australia last year on the same ground. Steve Waugh opted to bat in similar conditions but saw his side collapse to 67-7 at lunch. When one throws into the soup the fact that Muttiah Muralitharan bowls 40% of Sri Lanka's overs, and thus an innings rest would greatly appreciated, the decision was sound.

If it wasn't for the savage blade of Lance Klusner Sri Lanka would have the series safely in the bag after just the first day. He strode to the crease with South Africa in dire trouble, and in partnership with the businesslike Boucher, restored some respect to a team starved of success so far.

Batting for a total of 243 minutes and 219 balls, he hit 13 boundaries and 2 sixes. Most of the boundaries were hit straight with that characteristic lumberjack swing of his. He played positive throughout but not with the gay abandon that he is normally associated with.

Perhaps most impressively he scored the century, the third of his career, on a wicket that turned sharply from the first session, against quality spin bowlers. He played Muralitharan well, looking to attack him whenever the opportunity arose, but also tempering his aggression when the odds were not in his favour.

Speaking afterwards he was delighted to have proved that he can play spin, "I have proved to myself that I can score runs on turning wickets and for me it is something that I can look back on, and draw on, when I have to again."

"Coming into this test match I was looking to play with a straight bat. If it turns and bounces you just have to hope that it misses everything." Asked as to whether he was looking to adopt a more aggressive approach against Muralitharan he replied, "I think so, if you hang around in these kind of situations you are going to get caught bat pad. When I got a half bad ball I looked to hit it straight back over his head. You can't just sit back and let him bowl."

The role of Mark Boucher too should not go unrecognised. For most of the 124 run partnership he had dominated. Eager to sweep Muralitharan whenever possible he was prepared to use his feet against the other spinners, doing so to good effect, hitting eight boundaries in his 111 ball 60.

The two middle order batsmen had successfully wrestled the initiative back from Sri Lanka, to such an extent that the Sri Lankans frustration was becoming clearly visible. Then, with the bowling now looking innocuous, Lance Klusner gifted the Sri Lankans with a wicket when he ran out his partner.

Pushing the ball into the on-side he called for a run when there was none. Boucher, understandably reluctant to run, was more concerned with the whereabouts of the ball, and didn't see Klusner charging towards the non-strikers end. When he did set off it was far too late and Muralitharan's throw beat him easily.

The heroics of Boucher and Klusner were required because of a top order collapse in the first hour and a half of play. Gary Kirsten (0) should have been given out LBW off his 3rd ball but was then bizarrely adjudged LBW off his fifth. The fact that the majority of those present were assured that he had been given out caught behind, speaking volumes for the quality of the decision.

Neil NcKenzie (0) then tamely popped up a simple catch to Mahela Jayawardene at short leg in Nuwan Zoysa's first over, to leave South Africa two down without a single run on the board.

Darryl Cullinan (2) batted for 38 minutes for his 2 runs before being bowled by Kumar Dharmasena. Jonty Rhodes (12) was also bowled by the same bowling whilst attempting to pull and Jacques Kallis (16) was trapped in front in Murali's second over of the day.

When Mark Boucher was run out Shaun Pollock (5) and Nico Boje (0) were quickly snaffled by Upul Chandana before Paul Adams (6) and Mornantau Hayward (13) kept their teams hopes alive by adding 80 runs for the last two wickets.