SA quietly confident
SOURCE: unknown - 12/3/2002 (Thanks Sabina)

Despite Australia chasing down more than a third of the target in just one session, South African batsman Neil McKenzie is quietly confident that his bowlers can dismiss the visitors on day five of the second Test at Newlands.

However, he stressed that South Africa would have to be far more disciplined if they are to complete what will be a remarkable upset.

Australia, requiring 331 for victory and a series win, rushed to 131/1 at stumps on Monday, just 200 runs short of the win.

Earlier, South Africa showed admirable fighting spirit in making 473 on the back of several notable contributions, in particular McKenzie's 99.

"I think most of the guys in the camp believe we can bowl them out tomorrow," he said. "We won't blast them out, but if we bowl with patience and discipline we can definitely win this game."

McKenzie was run out from a direct Damien Martyn hit as he set off for the single that would have completed a gutsy century.

"Yesterday I would have taken 99," he responded. "I was actually more disappointed for the team than me. We were probably short by about 20 or 30 runs. That would've been a nice target."

Shane Warne, the Australian leg-spinner who gave McKenzie such a torrid time of it on Sunday evening, said he felt for the young batsman.

“He probably deserved a hundred," said Warne, who bowled a marathon 70 overs and captured six wickets in the South African second innings. "He could have been out four or five times in the first 40 runs he made, but by just hanging on like that, he deserved the century."

Warne agreed that South Africa still have a chance of squaring the series, but added that "someone has to do something special" for that to occur.