OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Sunday 11.30pm.
SHAUN POllock took five for 20 as South Africa fought back to win the rain-reduced triangular one-day series final, after suffering a batting collapse in their inngings leaving England needing to match a dismal 149 all out.
Skipper Hansie Cronje engineered a timely run of good form with a knock of 56 in a significant partnership with mark Boucher to restore the SA innings.
Pollock tore through the England top order, followed by two each for Lance Klusener and Jacques Kallis leaving Henry Willaims to claim the last wicket on Nelson, 111, nine overs less than the reduced 45 overs. After the 20 minute supper break, Pollock sent first England Skipper, Nick Knight and then Darren Maddy back to the pavillion.
However, Knight’s dismissal will cause controversy for a long time, after he was caught behind off what the umpire was about to signal as a wide.
After rain delayed the start of Sunday’s final, South Africa’s top order collapsed: at one time 12/3. In the space of four deliveries, Darren Gough caught the two wickets — Herscehlle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis — before Andrew Caddick caught Neil McKensie.
With Kallis and Pollock goen for a duck while Jonty Rhodes and Lance Klusener were dispatched, it seemed as if South Africa had forfeited a crucial morale boosting series win ahead of the two-Test, five one-dayers tour of India.
However, Cronje struck his form at just the right time, and his partnership with the ever-relaiable wicketkeeper Boucher was the impetus for the SA fightback.