Impressive Boje slows Sri Lankan momentum

The left-arm spinner Nicky Boje snapped up three wickets for nine runs to cut short a flying start by Sri Lanka after South Africa were dismissed for 279 in the third and final Test here yesterday.

The left-arm spinner Nicky Boje snapped up three wickets for nine runs to cut short a flying start by Sri Lanka after South Africa were dismissed for 279 in the third and final Test here yesterday.

Boje's spell reduced Sri Lanka from a comfortable 122 for 1 to 138 for 4 at the close on the second day in the deciding match of the series.

Sri Lanka, despite losing Marvan Atapattu for 10 when he was bowled off his pads by Mornantau Hayward, were flourishing during a second-wicket partnership of 103 between Sanath Jayasuriya and Russel Arnold. Boje then shifted the balance with his triple strike.

He first had Arnold (28) caught by Lance Klusener at mid-off and then Aravinda de Silva (2) was his next victim, stumped by Mark Boucher. Boje finished with 3 for 21 from 10 overs after claiming Jayasuriya for 85, a top-edged sweep going straight to Gary Kirsten at backward square leg.

Earlier, Klusener struck an unbeaten 95 to complete a fine recovery by South Africa after they had slumped to 117 for 6 on the first day. The left-hander frustrated the Sri Lankans as he sustained the form that brought him an unbeaten century in his side's series-levelling victory in the second Test.

Sri Lanka's only success in the morning session was the removal of Boje, caught behind off Chaminda Vaas, who finished with 4 for 85.

Second day; Sri Lanka won toss

SOUTH AFRICA - First Innings (Overnight: 194-7)

L Klusener not out 95 N Boje c Sangakkara b Vaas 21 P R Adams lbw b Muralitharan 15 M Hayward c De Silva b Chandana 0 Extras (b2 lb8 nb12) 22 Total 279

Fall: 1-0, 2-23, 3-57, 4-89, 5-103, 6-117, 7-186, 8-240, 9-278.

Bowling: Vaas 36-9-85-4 (1nb); Perera 18-3-60-2 (3nb); De Silva 5-2-16-0 (2nb); Muralitharan 39-14-70-3 (4nb); Chandana 4.2-0-26-1 (2nb); Jayasuriya 3-0-9-0; Arnold 3-1-3-0.

SRI LANKA - First Innings

M S Atapattu b Hayward 10 *S T Jayasuriya c Kirsten b Boje 85 R P Arnold c Klusener b Boje 28 P A de Silva st Boucher b Boje 2 D P M Jayewardene not out 4 W P U J C Vaas not out 1 Extras (b1 lb1 w1 nb5) 8 Total (for 4) 138

Falls: 1-19, 2-122, 3-130, 4-135.

To bat: A Ranatunga, ÿK Sangakkara, U D U Chandana, M Muralitharan, P D R L Perera.

Bowling: Pollock 11-4-22-0; Hayward 11-2-32-1 (1w, 2nb); Kallis 8-1-38-0 (1nb); Klusener 4-0-23-0 (2nb); Boje 10-3-21-3.