Pollock signs off in style

3 February 2008

Shaun Pollock is mobbed by young fans in his last game for South Africa © Getty Images

Shaun Pollock’s last act in international cricket was to hit the winning runs as South Africa sealed a series whitewash over West Indies with an eight-wicket victory in a rain affected one-day international at the Wanderers.

The shot itself - a two sliced down to third man - was nothing special, but the crowd rose as the curtain fell on a glorious career from one of the greatest players South Africa has produced.

The tourists made life difficult for the Proteas, posting a highly competitive 295 for seven, and when the Johannesburg rain came with South Africa on 34 for one, it seemed Pollock was to be denied a fairytale ending.

However, play resumed and a swashbuckling century from Herschelle Gibbs took them close to their revised target of 211 from 31 overs and allowed Pollock to hit the winning runs.

Captain Graeme Smith was the only South African to perish before the rain, bowled by Daren Powell for five in the third over.

Gibbs and Jacques Kallis were in situ when the heavens opened on 10 and 15 respectively, but they did not let the break affect them and were in imperious form when play finally resumed to extend their partnership to 175.

South African spectators pay tribute to a cricket legend

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Each reached their half-century in 47 balls, before Gibbs took over. He needed just another 33 balls to reach three figures, smashing three sixes before chipping Powell straight to Shivnarine Chanderpaul at cover to fall for 102.

That brought Pollock to the middle and he watched Kallis, who ended on 74 not out, play some sublime strokes before enjoying his moment in the spotlight.

A textbook drive from the retiring all-rounder brought the Proteas to within two runs of victory and they duly arrived from Pollock’s bat, sparking scenes of celebration.

West Indies’ total was based around a brilliant 91 from 76 balls by Devon Smith, who shared a 137-run stand for the second wicket with Chanderpaul (51), while Patrick Browne contributed an unbeaten 49 in only his third ODI.

Pollock took the first wicket when Brenton Parchment was snapped up by AB de Villiers at point, but that brought Smith and Chanderpaul together.

Both were dismissed in successive Charl Langeveldt overs before Browne and Dwayne Bravo put on 55 for the fourth wicket.

The latter chipped Dale Steyn to Graeme Smith at mid-on to depart for 40, and Runako Morton, Denesh Ramdin and Darren Sammy fell in quick succession before Rawl Lewis’ unbeaten 28 helped carry the Windies to a challenging total.