ALEXANDRA, New Zealand, Feb 13 (AFP) - South Africas cricketers opened their seven-week tour of New Zealand by dishing out a harsh lesson to the Academy Eleven in a one day match here Saturday.

Batting first at Molyneux Park, the tourists compiled 269 for six against the New Zealand Academy 11 in their opening cricket tour match.

Then the bowlers, led by captain for the day Shaun Pollock, blasted the Academy out for 72 in just 24 overs to give the tourists an emphatic 197-run win.

All the batsmen bar Daryll Cullinan got some useful time at the crease ahead of the Proteas first important match of the tour on Sunday where they take on New Zealand in a day-night match in the opening one-day international series against New Zealand in Dunedin tomorrow.

Openers Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs set the tone for the innings with a breezy 88-run first wicket stand.

Gibbs hit six fours and one six in his 96-ball 69 and Jacques Kallis hit a well-compiled 57.

Jonty Rhodes smashed 19 off just 11 balls including a sensational reverse sweep for six, and Pollock (18) and Dale Benkenstein (37 not out) kept the momentum going.