Pollock praises McKenzie's match-winning knock

Captain Shaun Pollock admitted to a few nervous moments but credited Neil McKenzie with the match-winning role after South Africa beat Sri Lanka by three wickets in the second Test on Tuesday.

South Africa needed just 121 runs for victory after dismissing Sri Lanka for 245 but collapsed to 44 for five before McKenzie steadied things with a responsible innings of 39.

Although McKenzie was bowled by Muttiah Muralitharan with nine runs still required, his job was largely done.

"There were a few butterflies flying around," Pollock said afterwards. "But Neil McKenzie really got stuck in and took on the responsibility of getting us there and in those situations you just need one good partnership and you're just about there.

"Our batting wasn't ideal, there's no hiding from that. Chasing 121 we would have wanted to have knocked it off comfortably. But they (Sri Lanka) got off to a good start and I thought they bowled pretty well."

Sri Lanka's last eight wickets added just 66 runs after Makhaya Ntini broke the 119-run partnership between Kumar Sangakkara and Mahele Jayawardene shortly before bad light brought an early close to day four.

DELIGHTED

Pollock was delighted with the way his side wrapped up the Sri Lankan innings.

"It was very good this morning. Getting the wicket last night and then the other part of the partnership first ball was vital. We did exactly what we wanted to do as far as the game plans we discussed were concerned. To only have to chase 120-odd was ideal, even if we didn't bat as well as I would have liked."

Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu, standing in for the injured Sanath Jayasuriya, said thoughts of trying to bat out the final day for a draw had never entered his mind.

"This morning our plan was to bat until lunch," Atapattu said. "Had that happened I would have had other ideas, but we were bowled out. We were definitely looking to set a target. We had nothing to lose with them one-up in the series.

"This is one of the best Test matches I've ever played in 60 Tests. I enjoyed being captain at the end -- I thought I was handling the pressure. But at the start it wasn't good seeing Sanath (Jayasuriya) out of the side."

It was also hard for Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore to criticise his side after seeing them go so close to causing an upset.

"I thought we could have got a few more runs in the first innings and I thought South Africa could have been bowled out for a lesser amount in their first innings.

"But at the end of the day we had 121 to defend and I thought the boys gave 100 percent effort and whilst that's happening we can't ask for anything more," Watmore said.

Mail Cricket Editor