Centurion: 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 on 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.

South Africa won the series 2-0. It 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. On a dramatic day, 14 wickets fell for 189 runs.

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

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

Sri Lanka lost seven wickets for 65 runs Tuesday, collapsing from an overnight 180 for three to be dismissed for 245. Makhaya Ntini and Jacques Kallis both took four wickets.

South Africa took two wickets in the first ten balls of the day to expose the Sri Lankan tail, exactly as South African captain Shaun Pollock had said would be the objective when he spoke to the media on Monday evening.

Ntini struck with the first ball of the day when Mahela Jayawardene was given out leg before for 40 by umpire Russell Tiffin, 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.

Ntini took his fourth wicket of the innings and his eighth of the match when Hasantha Fernando hooked him to deep backward square leg. Ntini finished with four for 52.

Kallis took two wickets off successive balls in his first over of the day. He had first innings century-maker Hashan Tillekeratne caught behind off an inside edge after making six runs in 79 minutes, then had Chamila Gamage caught at first slip.

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 Muthiah 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.

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
Sangakkara saves 4th day blushes, SL 55 runs ahead
Match referee Vishwanath resolves row without fine