from supercricket.co.za April 03 2002 (thanks Jenny)
South African cricket captain Shaun Pollock felt that a dropped catch early
in the Australian innings may have altered the course of the game that South
Africa ultimately lost at Kingsmead on Wednesday. Australia romped to an eight
wicket win to wrap up the seven match series 4-0 with two games still to be
played.
Their successful run chase in pursuit of South Africa's 267 for six was founded
on Adam Gilchrist's 105 from 104 balls.
On 11, though, Gilchrist was dropped by Jacques Kallis at slip and went on to
put on 170 for the first wicket with Matthew Hayden.
"You can't afford to give a person like Gilchrist a chance," said
Pollock.
"Had we taken that chance it could've been a different game. Nobody drops
catches on purpose, but it is unfortunate."
Apart from the dropped catch, though, South Africa was undone by some
particularly poor bowling. Only Pollock, really, bowled with consistent
discipline.
"It's difficult to set fields when you bowl both sides of the wicket,"
pointed out Pollock.
"The wicket was playing well so if you bowled a poor line it was quite easy
to score." Ponting proved that sentiment beyond doubt in scoring his first
century since making 128 against New Zealand at Christchurch in 2000.
"The gap in centuries was actually playing on my mind," admitted
Gilchrist. "Not many people know that but it was very satisfying getting
that monkey off my bat.
"My first 50 was one of the luckiest I have ever seen but after that I
managed to get it together." In making that ton, Gilchrist ensured that
Ricky Ponting won his first series since taking over from Steve Waugh in
February.
"The hardest thing was to keep going what Steve had begun five years ago.
It was a sensational effort."