from supercricket.co.za September 13, 2002 (thanks Jenny)
Shaun Pollock was relieved man after South Africa's thrilling, last ball triumph
over the West Indies in their ICC Champions Trophy match in Colombo on Friday but was the
first to admit that his team had not played to their potential.
"We didn't play as well as we could have, there's no hiding from that.
There were certain things that were disappointing but there were other times when we
strung things together very well, like Jonty and Boeta's partnership. The other way to
look at it is that it's always a good sign when you can squeek a win when you're not at
your best," Pollock said after the match.
"If a team wants to be successful then you have to learn to win from all positions
and in all circumstances, and we managed to do that today," Pollock said.
When Alan Dawson walked to the wicket for what should have been the final ball and South
Africa two runs short of the West Indies's total, the team faced the prospect of an early
elimination from the tournament unless Nicky Boje could hit two runs for a tie - or three
for a win.
"Believe it or not I didn't say a word to Dawsy because he was only going out there
as the rabbit - he wasn't going to face a ball.
Nobody even realised the last ball was a wide, Nicky just trotted through for the hell of
it, but it turned out to be vital," Pollock said with the wide and the run tieing the
scores with another ball to come.
The match might have been won so much more easily, of course, if Lance Klusener had been
able to find the middle of his bat but time and time again he mistimed the ball attempting
to score the boundaries that would have secured victory.
"Lance is a little frustrated by the way things went but he just wasn't able to hit
the ball out of the ground like he usually does. At least he proved that he is human
afterall. As long as he finds form later in the tournament, maybe in the semi finals if we
get there, then that will be perfect," Pollock smiled