ST. JOHN'S, Antigua (Reuters):

EVEN IF he had not created cricket history, Lasith Malinga would have turned heads at the Cricket World Cup. His bleached, straw-coloured hair, blown like a lion's mane, would have made sure of that.

However, the Sri Lankan fast bowler had already been drawing attention on the pitch from batsmen wary of his unusual, low-slung action.

On Wednesday, he wrote his name into the record books by becoming the first player to capture four wickets off four balls in an international match.

South Africa looked to be heading towards a comfortable win in the 45th over of their Super Eight clash until Malinga removed Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis and Makhaya Ntini with successive deliveries to set up a dramatic finish.

Malinga took four for 54 from 9.2 overs before South Africa squeaked through, finishing on 212 for nine with 10 balls to spare in the game in Georgetown, Guyana.

Malinga, 23, is quick, bowling at around 90 mph, which makes it tough even for established batsmen to pick him, something his four victims on Wednesday would vouch for.

His feat comes days after Herschelle Gibbs, the player on the opposing side on Wednesday, hit six sixes in one over against Netherlands, becoming the first batsman to achieve that in international cricket.

At this World Cup, Malinga claimed three wickets to lead his team to a 243-run victory over debutants Bermuda in Group B.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene chose Malinga to share the new ball with 33-year-old left-arm Chaminda Vaas, leaving out the struggling Dilhara Fernando from the line-up. He took 3-10.

Jayawardene had tipped Malinga for special things after saying he provided the third dimension alongside Vaas and spinner Muttiah Muralitharan in the tournament, which ends with the final in Barbados on April 28.

Attacking options

"The last six months have been exciting for us with Lasith," he said. "He has given us more attacking options."

Although he was consistently quick against Bermuda, Jayawardene said Malinga had held back a bit on his tournament debut. He was proved right on Wednesday even though Malinga's effort could not stop South Africa.

"He showed a lot of aggression but bowled within himself," Jayawardene said. "The wicket suited his bowling."

Malinga's action caused consternation in New Zealand in 2005 when the home team asked umpires to change their trousers and push their ties over their shoulders to help spot the ball. Hailing from the southern coastal town of Galle, Malinga grew up swimming and climbing coconut trees, not picking up a cricket ball until he was 17.

"With his action and the pace he generates, he is always asking questions," Jayawardene said.

Age: 23 (born Aug. 28, 1983 in Galle, Sri Lanka)

One-day debut: v United Arab Emirates, Dambulla, Sri Lanka, July, 2004. 32 matches, 50 wickets 23.64. Personal best 4-44.

Test debut: v Australia, Darwin, July 2004. 21 matches,

71 wickets 31.57. Best innings 5/68, best in match 9/210.

Genuinely quick bowler with an unusual low-slung action which makes it tough even for top batsmen to pick up.

Grew up climbing coconut trees and swimming in his seaside home town of Galle until he picked up a cricket ball aged 17.

Was regarded among the fastest on the domestic circuit before being picked for the 2004 tour of Australia.

Dismissed left-handers Darren Lehmann and Adam Gilchrist in one over on his Test debut in Darwin in 2004.

His action caused such problems to New Zealand batsmen that the umpires were asked to change their dark trousers and push their ties over their shoulders so they could see the ball coming towards them.

Became the first bowler in international cricket on Wednesday to claim four wickets off successive balls in the World Cup Super Eights defeat against South Africa at Georgetown, Guyana. Joint leading wicket-taker in the tournament after 16 days, with Australian spinner Brad Hogg. Both have 11 wickets.