November 20, 2002	Wednesday	Ramazan 14, 1423

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CENTURION (South Africa), Nov 19: South African captain Shaun Pollock admitted there were “a few butterflies flying around the change room” as South Africa scrambled to a tense three-wicket win over Sri Lanka on the fifth day of the second and final Test at Centurion Park Tuesday.

South Africa, set to make 121 to win, crashed to 44 for five before Neil McKenzie played a crucial innings of 39 to take his side to within nine runs of victory.

“He really put his hand up,” said Pollock.

On a dramatic day, 14 wickets fell for 189 runs. Sri Lanka lost seven wickets for 65 runs, collapsing from an overnight 180 for three to be dismissed for 245. Makhaya Ntini and Jacques Kallis both took four wickets.

Then it was the turn of Sri Lankan fast bowler Dilhara Fernando, who took four wickets in a devastating opening spell before McKenzie and Andrew Hall put on 29 for the sixth wicket. Wicket-keeper and vice-captain Mark Boucher helped McKenzie add 39 for the seventh wicket.

Marvan Atapattu, captaining Sri Lanka for the first time because of an injury to Sanath Jayasuriya, said the match was “one of the best Test matches I have played in.”

Atapattu showed leadership qualities as his side came hard at South Africa.

“We were playing positive cricket because they were one up in the series. In that situation you must put your foot forward. We were matching them and at times we were on top.”

As the tension mounted, Sri Lankan bowler Chamila Gamage received an official warning from umpire Daryl Harper for walking into McKenzie between overs.

Atapattu said: “When the tension is high, that sort of thing will happen.”

South Africa won the series 2-0. They won the first Test in Johannesburg by an innings and 64 runs. It was South Africa’s sixth win in seven Tests against Sri Lanka in South Africa.

South Africa took two wickets in the first 10 balls of the day to expose the Sri Lankan tail, sticking exactly to what Pollock had said would be the objective when he spoke to the media Monday evening.

Ntini struck with the first ball of the day when Mahela Jayawardena was given out leg before for 40 by umpire Russell Tiffin of Zimbabwe, although the batsman appeared to be outside the line of the stumps when the ball hit his pad.

Pollock completed a dismal series for Russel Arnold in the next over when Arnold was trapped on his crease and was another leg before victim. Arnold made six runs in four innings during the series.

Wickets fell rapidly before Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando added 36 for the ninth wicket to give the tourists a glimmer of hope.

South Africa lost Graeme Smith leg before to Vaas off the first ball of the innings before Fernando sent the home team crashing to 44 for five by dismissing Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Kallis and Ashwell Prince.

Andrew Hall, promoted from number nine, batted aggressively and scored 16 before he was caught at short leg off Muttiah Muralitharan.

South Africa still needed 48 to win when Boucher joined McKenzie but both batsmen played positively to take their side towards victory.

McKenzie was bowled when he went back to a ball from Muralitharan which skidded through. He scored 39 off 53 balls with four fours.

Pollock came in and hit the winning runs when, with the scores level, he went down the wicket and hit Muralitharan for four over mid-on.

Fernando finished with four for 49 while Muralitharan took two for 35.