Vaas brilliance ties down Proteas

Chaminda Vaas delivered a superb display of new-ball bowling to suffocate South Africa's hopes of setting a competitive total in today's ICC Champions Trophy clash.

The experienced left-arm seamer had been plagued by a no-ball and wide problem during their previous victory over New Zealand.

But he rediscovered his rhythm in Ahmedabad and delivered a superb spell of 10-3-16-2 with the new ball to frustrate South Africa's early stroke-makers and help restrict them to 219 for nine.

Knowing victory would all but secure their place in the semi-finals, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene had decided to bowl first to ensure prolific spinner Muttiah Muralitharan did not have to bowl with a ball soaked by the early-evening dew.

Captain Graeme Smith became Vaas' first victim when he pushed to Sanath Jayasuriya at short mid-wicket and Herschelle Gibbs fell three overs later, caught behind attempting to steer Lasith Malinga down to third man.

With opener Boeta Dippenaar falling in the next over, edging Vaas behind, South Africa had slumped to 30 for three and needed a partnership to prevent their innings from capitulating.

They got that partnership with Jacques Kallis teaming up with AB de Villiers in an 80-run stand, but neither batsman was able to score at a quick enough rate to propel their side to a decent total.

Their partnership took 23 overs and, by the time Kallis had charged down the pitch to Jayasuriya's left-arm spin and was stumped by some margin for 43, South Africa were running out of overs. Muralitharan ended de Villiers' battling 54 off 88 balls by getting him caught in the deep attempting to hit over the top.

Both big-hitting Justin Kemp and Mark Boucher perished without being able to increase the scoring rate.

It took the experience of Shaun Pollock and Robin Petersen to propel the Proteas over the 200-mark with a stunning 42-run partnership off only 4.3 overs, including 22 off the 48th over from Farveez Maharoof.