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Shaun Pollock takes 10th five-wicket haul

Shaun Pollock claimed his 10th five-wicket haul in Test cricket as South Africa dominated the opening day of the first Test against Zimbabwe yesterday.

Pollock took five for 39 as Zimbabwe were shot out for 192 on a pitch of steep but consistent bounce. South Africa reached 29 without loss in reply in the 13 overs they faced before the close.

The paceman was on target from his first ball of the match, and trapped Grant Flower in front for a duck with his second delivery.

Pollock's performance put him ahead of his fast bowling father Peter, who took nine five-wicket hauls for South Africa in 28 Test matches.

However, Pollock junior is playing his 34th Test.

''He played fewer matches than me, so that's what he'll say if I ever bring it up,'' Pollock said after the close.

Pollock went into the match with a hamstring strain, the legacy of playing a club match in wet conditions in Durban at the weekend, but said he felt no ill effects from the injury today.

Zimbabwe slumped to 47-3 at lunch and 121-7 at tea, but Guy Whittall prolonged the innings with a defiant 85 in which he was at the crease for 148 minutes, faced 114 balls and hit 14 boundaries.

Three of Whittall's fours were blazed on the up off one over by paceman Allan Donald.

Henry Olonga, yorked for one by Jacques Kallis, lent Whittall valuable support in his 47 minutes at the crease in which he shared in a ninth-wicket stand worth 43 runs.

The best of Zimbabwe's mournful top order batting came from the captain, Alistair Campbell, who stayed for 130 minutes for his gritty 27.

The South African openers, debutant Boeta Dippenaar and Adam Bacher, were rather less troubled in scoring 17 and nine not out. Dippenaar celebrated his elevation to the game's highest level by stroking four boundaries.

UNI