GALLE. Srl Lanka. July 6 (AFP): Srl Lanka's legspinner Upul Ch-andana grabbed four quick wick-

ets to mastermind a sensational South African collapse which gave the hosts a 37-run victory in the Singer Cup here on Thursday.

The South Africans, chasing Srl Lanka's 249-7. appeared to be cruising home when openers Andrew Hall and Gary Kirsten put on 150 for the first wicket by the 32nd over

Oft-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan triggered the slide by bowling Kirsten for 59 as the South Africans, rusty from a two-month lay-off. lost all 10 wickets in the space of 62 runs.

South Africa ended on 212. giving Sri Lanka their second successive win in the tri-series following their five-wicket romp over Pakistan in Wednesday's opening match.

Muralitharan finished with two for 34 and fellow off-spin -ner Kumara Dharmasena 1-41 to complete South Africa's downfall in their first match abroad since the match-fixing scandal broke in April and caused the unceremonious exit of former captain Hansie Cronje.

Cronje's successor Shaun Pollock now has two wins and as many defeats In four matches as captain after leading South Africa to a creditable 2-1 win over world champions Australia at home in April.

Sri Lanka’s victory was set up by a superb 84 from their new batting find Kumar Sangakkara, who was named man-of-the-match. and 60 from Russell Arnold.

Sangakkara, a 22-year-old left-hander from Kandy Justified his inclusion ahead of veteran wicket-keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana with 11 boundaries off 1 15 balls in only his second match.

Sangakkara and Arnold put on 120 for the fifth wicket, following opener Avishka Gunawardena's 47, as Sri Lanka recovered from 35-3 to set a target of five runs an over.

Hall, who hit 81 in only his third one-dayer. and Kirsten made light of the slow wicket, till South Africa's march was halted by the spinners.

Kirsten’s wicket were dislodged under-edging a sweep off Muralitharan. while Hall, who hit two sixes and six boundaries. followed two overs later when he offered a tame return catch to Chandana.

That started a procession of wickets to justify Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya's faith in his spinners.

"I was not unduly worried despite their 150-run start, be- , cause the wicket was bound to turn and the spinners had lot of overs left, he said.

"The bowlers stuck to their task but 1 don't think the win would have been possible without useful contributions with the bat from Sangakkara and Arnold."

Pollock blamed the defeat on 24 wides and seven no-balls conceded by his bowlers in the first session.

"We gave away too many needless runs and the fact that

we had not played much since April showed in the end." Pollock said.

"Wc have only ourselves to blame and hopefully wc will learn from the mistakes in the later games."

Srl Lanka ended on a winning note after making a disastrous start, losing Jayasuriya off the second ball of the match, run out by a brilliant pick up and throw from square-leg by

Hall.

Gunawardena began the revival by adding 64 for tin fo u r t h wicket wit h Sangakkara.

Jacques Kallis finished with three for 40. but Mortantau Hayward proved expensive with 1 -47 from five overs.

SCO KE BO \KI)

Scoreboard of the second match of the Singer Cup tri-series between Sri Lanka and South Africa on Thursday:

SRI LANKA

Jayasuriya run out 0 Gunawardena c Boucher I) Ntlnl -17 Atapattu c Boucher b Haycward 3 Jayawardene c Boucher b Kallis 8 Sangakkara run out 84

Arnold not out 60 Chandana b Kallis 2 Dharmasena c Pollock b Kallis I

Vans not out 5 Extras: (nb-7, w-24. lb-5) 36

Total: (For seven wkts in 50 overs) 249

Fall of wickets: 1-0: 2-14; 3-35: 4-99: 5-219: 6-224; 7-240

Did not bat: Nuwan Zoysa.

Muttiah Murahtharan

Bowler OMR W

Pollock 10 1 34 0

Hayward 5 0 47 1

Kalils 10 0 42 3

Kluscncr 10 0 45 0

Mini 8 0 42 1

Bojc 7 0 34 0

SOUTH AFRICA

Kirsten I) Murahtharan 59

Hall c &b Chandnna 81

Kalils c Chnndann b Dhannasena 11

Cullinan c sub b Chandanu 14

Rohodcs c Sangakkara b

Chandnna 0

Kluscncr run out 20

Boucher run out 2

Pollock c Jaynwardenc b

Chandana 5

Buje b Murahtharan I

Hayward not out 3

Mini run out 0

Extras: (w-8, lb-4. b-4) 16

Total: (All out In 48 2 overs) 212

Fall of wickets: 1-150; 2-

157: 3-176: 4-176; 5-192; 6-

194. 7-206; 8-208: 9-21 1.

Bowler O M R W

Vans 6 0 27 0

Zoysa 7 1 27 0

Dharinascna 10 0 41 1

Murahtharan 10 0 3*1 2

Chandan# 10 o 14 i

Jayasuriya 2.2 0 15 0

Arnold 3 0 16 0

Result: Srl Lanka won by 37 runs.

Man-of-the-match: Kumar Sangakkara

Next match: Pakistan v South Africa, Colombo (D/N). Saturday.