South Africa fast bowler Shaun Pollock may not have a five-wicket haul in the World Cup so far, but is silently setting up his team's victories with his discipline.
So far he has taken seven wickets in nine matches, but his captain Graeme Smith is not complaining because the paceman has been doing with the new ball what is expected of him.
Pollock creates pressure with his probing line and length and his teammates exploit it when batsmen try to take liberties against them in a bid to step up the run-rate.
PHOTO: AFP
Pacemen Andre Nel, Andrew Hall and Charl Langeveldt each had a five-wicket haul, but Pollock is the most economical of all as he has conceded just 3.54 runs in an over.
Pollock has had two expensive wicketless matches in the tournament when he gave away 83 runs in 10 overs against defending champions Australia and 46 in eight against Sri Lanka, but soon bounced back.
He will be keen to settle a score or two with Australia in the semi-final at St Lucia on Wednesday, especially after having done well in his last five Super Eights games.
Pollock has shed much of his pace of late, but not the ability to test batsmen with subtle variations. He is the most difficult bowler to score off in the powerplays with fielding restrictions.
The 33-year-old has plenty of reasons to deliver this time.
Pollock was the captain of the South African side which failed to qualify for the Super Six stage at home in the 2003 World Cup and this will be last chance to be part of the Cup-winning squad.
The fast bowler believes his team can win the Cup for the first time.
"I believe we have the ability. If we get it right on the day, we have shown we can beat anyone," he said recently. "I believe there is something special about this one. And it will be extra special for me because it will be my last one."
Pollock lost his captaincy after his team's doomed Cup campaign at home, but it turned to be a blessing in disguise as he has been performing with freedom in recent years.
Many captains have faded away from the scene after their teams' failures in the World Cup, but Pollock is one of the few skippers who are still enjoying the game as players.
The ongoing tournament has already seen the retirements of Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and his West Indian counterpart Brian Lara following their teams' failures to qualify for the semi-finals.
But Pollock, the first South African to bag 400 Test wickets, and Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya are the two who led their sides in 2003 but are still playing here as players and delivering.
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