Pollock all smiles after back-to-back victories

South Africa captain Shaun Pollock was all smiles after his team secured their second victory in two days, beating West Indies by eight wickets in the fourth one-day international to take a 3-1 lead in the series.

South Africa dismissed their hosts for 200 before reaching their target with 23 balls to spare, Gary Kirsten top-scoring with 72 and Boeta Dippenaar making an unbeaten 62 in his first international innings in over two months on tour.

"We discussed the importance of the weekend," Pollock said. "Two wins back-to-back can have a big impact on the series. We're really proud of ourselves and the way we've played to have won both and the two wins stand us in good stead."

South Africa won the two games emphatically and in contrasting styles, amassing an imposing total on Saturday and then chasing comfortably on Sunday.

"It's good to have won batting first and then fielding first. Obviously the toss is only there to start the game and it's good to know that we can win under all circumstances.

"It's also important for us as a team to see Boeta (Dippenaar) come in and bat at three and get some runs. We need to have as much depth as we can and the guys have got to keep realising that they're all good enough and when they get the opportunity they must take it," Pollock said.

POLLOCK SHINES
The South African captain backed his decision to bowl first with a superb bowling performance, taking 1-16 from his ten overs.

"Having won the toss and elected to bowl I think the fourth or fifth ball went through the top so I though 'Oh dear, we've made the wrong decision here'. But there was only the one patch which tended to explode and it wasn't really on a length which bothered our right-handers," he said.

Man-of-the-match Allan Donald finished with 4-38 from his ten overs, despite seeing his first three balls clattered to the boundary by Brian Lara. His first over cost 14 runs.

"I could understand the first delivery going for four because it was a rank long-hop, the second one made me sit up and take notice and the third one forced me to wonder whether I was going to finish the over, it was that bad," Donald said with a smile.

"I think in situations like that you've got to keep positive, keep varying the pace. At that stage I thought he (Lara) was going to try and take me out of the attack but I just had to stay patient. Ten overs for 38, I'll take that."

HOOPER DOWNCAST
West Indies captain Carl Hooper struggled to find positives after a bleak weekend for his side in front of two full houses at Queen's Park stadium.

"I think we've had a poor two days," Hooper said. "We didn't bowl well yesterday and today we didn't bat well. We've got to pick ourselves up now and go to Barbados for the next game.

"We've now put ourselves in a position where we need to win three games to win the one-day series, which is a big ask. We've got to stay positive and keep preparing ourselves well and hopefully turn things around."

Mail Cricket Editor