EAST LONDON (South Africa), Dec 15: Veteran South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock sent the West Indians crashing to a narrow defeat against a Makhaya Ntini Invitation XI in a rain-affected opening match of their tour at Buffalo Park on Friday.

Pollock top-scored 54 off 40 balls and took one for five in three overs as the Ntini XI won by five runs on the Duckworth/Lewis method. He also contributed a direct-hit run-out.

The invitation team scored 176 for nine in the 25-overs-a-side match to mark the benefit season of South African fast bowler Ntini. The West Indians were 110 for five after 16.2 overs when rain brought the match to an early end.

Pollock will lead South Africa in a Twenty20 international in Port Elizabeth Sunday, with regular captain Graeme Smith ruled out because of a virus.

Earlier, the Ntini XI were struggling at 106 for seven before Pollock and Ntini shared a 52-run stand for the eighth wicket. Pollock hit two fours and three sixes before he was caught in the deep.

Jacques Kallis looked in good form, hitting two sixes in an over off Pedro Collins before being caught behind off stand-in captain Dwayne Bravo for 27 off 20 balls. Jonty Rhodes made 25 off 23 balls.

Pollock plunged the tourists into early trouble when Brenton Parchment was leg before and Devon Smith was run out after a smart piece of fielding by Pollock off his own bowling.

Summarised scores:

MAKHAYA NTINI XI 176-9 in 25 overs (Shaun Pollock 54, Jacques Kallis 27, Jonty Rhodes 25; Edwards 2-23, Sammy 2-25); WEST INDIANS 110-5 in 16.2 overs (Shivnarine Chanderpaul 44; Pollock 1-5, Henderson 1-7).

Opinion

Editorial

A dying light
Updated 23 Jan, 2025

A dying light

Objections to the 26th Amendment must be settled quickly for the Supreme Court's sake.
Controversial canals
23 Jan, 2025

Controversial canals

THE Punjab government’s contentious plans to build new canals to facilitate corporate farming in the province ...
Killjoys
23 Jan, 2025

Killjoys

THE skies over Lahore have fallen silent. Punjab’s latest legislation banning kite flying represents a troubling...
Errant ECP
Updated 22 Jan, 2025

Errant ECP

THE ECP has once again earned a detailed reprimand from the Supreme Court. That it still refuses to correct course is ominous
Fast-tracking M6
Updated 22 Jan, 2025

Fast-tracking M6

GRAND infrastructure projects in Pakistan often progress at the pace of a bullock cart rather than a bullet train....
Gwadar airport
Updated 22 Jan, 2025

Gwadar airport

THE air connectivity established by the inauguration of PIA flights between Karachi and Gwadar is a major step...