OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Sunday 11.30pm.
SUPERB fast bowling by Shaun Pollock enabled South Africa to turn potential defeat into a stunning 38-run victory over England in the triangular series final on Sunday.
Pollock, named man-of-the series and man-of-the-match, took five for 20 as England fell for 111; after South Africa, deep in trouble at 21 for five, had totalled a dismal 149.
The red-haired paceman removed the England top five — all via catches in the arc behind the stumps — with a lethal combination of steepling bounce and movement off the seam.
Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher made a one-day record-equalling five dismissals.
England’s hopes were dashed in the 15th over when Graeme Hick, on 12, edged a ball from Pollock to second slip, where Jacques Kallis dived forward and to his right to take a stunning one-handed catch.
That reduced England to 45 for five, and any thoughts they had of mounting a recovery ended 11 overs later when Craig White was out for 16 and the total 72 for seven.
South Africa reached three figures in their innings largely due to a stand of 74 between Hansie Cronje and Boucher, a record for the South African sixth wicket against England.
Captain Cronje, batting at number four, held the innings together with 56. Boucher scored 36.
England captain Nasser Hussain’s decision to field was emphatically vindicated as South Africa lost their first five wickets inside 10 overs.
The pitch, prepared in torrential rain which saw the match postponed on Saturday, did the batsmen no favours.
Andy Caddick and Darren Gough, beat the bat regularly. Caddick finished with four for 19 and Gough took three for 18.
Their efforts began to pay dividends in the sixth over, when Gough induced Herschelle Gibbs to slash at a wide delivery which was caught by Nick Knight at first slip.
Gough’s next ball nailed the top of Kallis’ off-stump, and South Africa lost their third wicket in four deliveries when opener Neil McKenzie edged a ball from Caddick on to his stumps.
Jonty Rhodes also went cheaply in the ninth over when he was caught by Hick at second slip off Caddick. Five balls later, the hosts were 21 for five after Pollock steered the last delivery of Caddick’s over to Craig White at point.
Cronje and Boucher then swung the momentum back South Africa’s way until Boucher’s leading edge off medium pacer Mark Alleyne flew to Hick at deep square leg.
Cronje said: “We didn’t have the ideal start, but it was obvious the conditions were bowler friendly. We just had to get a partnership going.
“Once the newness went off the ball we thought it would be easier to score, but we also thought 160 was par for that pitch.”
Pollock said: “You have to cash in on days like this. I’ve tried to contribute as much as I can, and I battled in the middle of the series but came good at the end.”