August 16  
Sri Lanka stun South Africa in Morocco Cup 

TANGIERS: Veteran Aravinda De Silva hit an unbeaten 73 to inspire Sri Lanka to a shock 93-run win over South Africa in the Morocco Cup here on Thursday. 

The 37-year-old hero of Sri Lanka's World Cup triumph in 1996 smashed his 58th half-century to steer the islanders to 267-7 from 50 overs after they elected to bat first. 

The total proved beyond the reach of the spin-wary South Africans, who were shot out for 174 in 45 overs with the Sri Lankan slow bowlers sharing six wickets. 

Captain Sanath Jayasuriya polished off the tail with 3-23, leggie Upul Chandana claimed 2-40 while off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan took 1-12 from eight overs. 

The emphatic win, which gained Jayasuriya's men a bonus point, left Sri Lanka, South Africa and Pakistan level with one victory each after the first round of the preliminary league. 

The second round starts on Saturday after a day's rest, promising a keen struggle in the race for the final on August 21. De Silva hit just four boundaries in his 84-ball knock, but his substantial contribution with well-placed singles and twos enabled Sri Lanka to put up a fighting score. 

"Aravinda showed his vast experience," Jayasuriya said. "We needed someone to stay there and get the runs and he did it for us. "This win sets up the tournament nicely. We are lucky to have the advantage of having won a bonus point today. 

"But a place in the final is not certain. Any of the three teams can make it." South African captain Shaun Pollock blamed the defeat on the soft dismissals of Jacques Kallis and Gary Kirsten, but also took a dig at the slow wicket. 

"Its easier scoring runs batting first because the wicket gets very slow in the afternoon," he said. "The toss will prove very crucial in the remaining games. You win the toss, you bat, that's the bottomline. 

"But there is a lot of cricket ahead in the tournament. We've got to pick up." South Africa were reduced to 79-3 by the 16th over, triggered by the reckless dismissal of Herschelle Gibbs who was bowled attempting to heave Pulasthi Gunaratne out of the ground. Gibbs, century-maker against Pakistan on Monday, made just 11. Fast bowler Dilhara Fernando struck two crucial blows in successive overs when both Nicky Boje and Jacques Kallis were caught at mid-wicket by Russel Arnold. 

Justin Ontong helped Gary Kirsten take the score to 103-3 by the 23rd when Sri Lanka removed the pair off consecutive deliveries. Ontong, clearly uncomfortable against the leg-spin of Chandana, groped to nine when he misread the line and was bowled. 

Next ball, Kirsten was run out for 55, failing to beat a throw from the third man fence by Mahela Jayawardena while attempting a third run with new partner Jonty Rhodes.

It soon became 131-7 in the 32nd as Mark Boucher gloved a sweep off Chandana to the wicket-keeper and Rhodes was bowled by Muralitharan. 

Jayasuriya ended the match with three quick wickets, leaving Lance Klusener unbeaten on 32 off 38 balls. 

Jayasuriya had on Wednesday blamed the 28-run defeat to Pakistan on his batsmen's inability to get big scores after settling in. 

The lessons were not learnt by the top order as the captain himself went for 49, Marvan Atapattu for 35, Kumar Sangakkara for 41 and Jayawardena for 32. But De Silva turned the game Sri Lanka's way with his sound batting.