GEORGETOWN, Guyana, (Reuters):
CONFIDENT captain Shaun Pollock declared South Africa ready for the opening Test against West Indies after their drawn warm-up against a Busta Cup XI yesterday.
"All the batsmen had a decent knock in the middle, the bowlers worked hard on a pretty ordinary wicket that should resemble the Test strip and we played against good opposition, so I'm happy," he said.
The Busta XI were set an unlikely target of 365 in a maximum 50 overs and were 155 for four when play on the third and final day was ended six overs early.
Busta skipper Sherwin Campbell blasted 86 in an opening stand of 95 with Daren Ganga (35) but Pollock had put the game beyond the hosts by extending South Africa's second innings from an overnight 124 for three to 289 for seven.
Mark Boucher slammed 48 from 49 balls to add to his first innings half-century and Lance Klusener hit four sixes and six fours in his 60 off 75 balls.
Barbados left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn finished with a hard-earned four for 111 from 25 overs with his unorthodox left-arm spin.
Pollock said he was not worried that only one game was played ahead of Friday's start to the Georgetown Test.
"We've all played a lot of cricket this (southern) summer and everyone has stayed fit and in form. I don't think we're underdone - we're ready."
SCOREBOARD
South Africa first innings 271-9 dec.
Busta Cup XI first innings 196
South Africa second innings
(Resumed at 24-3)
D. Cullinan c Willett b Benn 24
N. McKenzie c Willett b Christopher 16
M. Boucher c sub b Benn 48
L. Klusener c Joseph b Benn 60
N. Boje not out 30
S. Pollock not out 2
Extras (b-8 lb-4 w-2 nb-8) 22
Total (for seven wickets dec.) 289
Fall: 1-61 2-78 3-114 4-125 5-181 6-191 7-282
Bowling: Dillon 11-2-27-0, Christopher 9-2-39-1 (w-1, nb-2), Hinds 17-4-38-1 (nb-4), Jeremy 9-2-43-1 (w-1), Benn 25-4-111-4 (nb-2), Ganga 1-0-1-0, Joseph 5-1-18-0.
Busta Cup XI second innings
D. Ganga c Boucher b Klusener 35
S. Campbell c Boje b Klusener 86
S. Joseph run out (Pollock) 8
T. Willett not out 7
M. Dillon c Ntini b Cullinan 2
K. Jeremy not out 8
Extras (b-1 lb-6 nb-2) 9
Total (for four wickets) 155
Fall: 1-95 2-130 3-139 4-141
Bowling: Donald 6-1-36-0, Pollock 5-1-14-0 (2nb), Ntini 6-0-45-0, Kallis 4-1-10-0, Boje 9-2-30-0, Klusener 8-4-5-2, Cullinan 6-3-8-1.
Result: Match drawn.
