Gibbs powers South Africa home

South Africa yesterday wrapped up a comprehensive 10-wicket victory within an hour of play in the first Test here at Kingsmead to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

The Proteas finished off Pakistan's second innings early on, as the visitors could only add 32 runs to their overnight total of 218 for 8 to set the home side an easy target of 44. The South African openers Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith did that with ease, reaching the target in the fifth over with Gibbs hitting consecutive fours. Gibbs ended the match unbeaten on 25 in an innings which included a massive six off Saqlain Mushtaq, while Smith finished with 13.

The victory was South Africa's sixth consecutive Test win, giving Shaun Pollock's side the honour of having the best winning record in their country's history. If South Africa can obtain their seventh successive victory when the second Test starts at Newlands in Cape Town on Thursday, they will pass Australia and claim top place in the World Test rankings, despite the fact the Australians beat them 5-1 when the sides met over the last festive period.

Pakistan's hopes of making the South Africans chase a target were short-lived as the wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal fell to Makhaya Ntini when he edged to Mark Boucher behind the stumps. Captain Waqar Younis and Mohammad Sami added a gritty 24 for the last wicket before the visiting captain was caught at midwicket by Gary Kirsten off Pollock.

Looking ahead to the World Cup, the fast bowler Monde Zondeki has won a place in South Africa's squad for next year's event as the United Cricket Board fulfilled a promise that at least five of the 15-man squad would be black or mixed race. Apart from Zondeki, the UCB also named the opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs, the pace bowlers Charl Langeveldt and Makhaya Ntini and the left arm spinner Robin Peterson.

Zondeki, 20, has played just 13 first-class matches and made his international debut in the fifth one-day international against Sri Lanka in Bloemfontein this month.

Fourth day; Pakistan won toss

SOUTH AFRICA – First innings 368 (J H Kallis 105, G Kirsten 56, M V Boucher 55; Saqlain Mushtaq 4-119).

PAKISTAN – First innings 161 (M Hayward 5-56).

Second Innings (Overnight 218 for 8)
ÝKamran Akmal c Boucher b Ntini 29
Waqar Younis c Kirsten b Pollock 15
Mohammad Sami not out 11
Extras (lb2 w1 nb7) 10
Total (87.3 overs) 250

Fall (cont): 9-226.

Bowling: Ntini 21-2-73-2 (nb4 w1); Pollock 17.3-4-29-2 (nb2); Kallis 17-5-30-2; Hayward 13-1-63-2 (nb1); Boje 19-2-53-2.

SOUTH AFRICA – Second Innings
G Smith not out 13
H H Gibbs not out 25
Extras (lb1 nb6) 7
Total (for 0, 9 overs) 45

Did not bat: G Kirsten, J H Kallis, N D McKenzie, H H Dippenaar, ÝM V Boucher, S M Pollock, N Boje, M Ntini, M Hayward.

Bowling: Mohammad Sami 5-0-36-0 (nb5); Saqlain Mushtaq 4-2-8-0 (nb1).

Umpires: S A Bucknor (WI) and S Venkataraghavan (Ind).

* The former West Indies batsman Gus Logie will coach Canada at the World Cup, the Canadian Cricket Association has announced.