South Africa vs India, 3rd Test at Cape Town, , Jan 02 2007 - Match Result

Handshakes and backslaps all around as the players go off. Very fitting that Prince hit the winning runs, as he's played well all series and was the top run-getter on either side. South Africa have come back very, very well to clinch the series 2-1. India shocked many by winning the first Test at Johannesburg inside four days, but the hosts, as expected, hit back hard at Durban with an arresting win. Come 2007, and they played aggressively again to take this win by five wickets after India put up 414 in their first innings.

This pitch came under fire for being flat and Indian-like, but South Africa's bowlers did very well in bowling India out for just 169 on day four - some will say it was just India being India in the second innings, I'm sure.

We saw exciting, tense cricket in stages throughout the series, but in the end, the better team won. India's management will have some questions that need answering - I wont get into that here - but all credit to South Africa. Graeme Smith must feel so, so proud of his team right now. He copped alot of flak from the local media after the first Test loss, but if the win at Durban wasn't good enough, he buckled down and played two gritty half-centuries here to make a statement. And how can we forget the efforts of that champion, Shaun Pollock, who bowled exceptionally and chipped in with the bat?

A team effort this, but all through the series there were contributions from Prince and Boucher, Nel and Ntini, and of course AB de Villiers, especially in the field. Paul Harris, the debutant left-arm spinner, will never forget this match. Morne Morkel, who debuted in the second Test, impressed with the ball and bat. Mickey Arthur, the coach, can take much pleasure from this series win.

For India, its back to the drawing board. They have a flight to catch, and it will be glum scenes. Plenty of problems, you can hear the Indian media sharpening their knives. Too much to even address in this space here.

Rahul Dravid murmurs the usual: "We didnt bat well enough...didnt do well yesterday...we should have gotten more runs...." There are words of encouragement for Sreesanth and Zaheer..."tours like this can really boost young pace bowlers"....then its looking to the future..."we have to address our one-day game...its a busy year with the World Cup..." And he rounds off by thanking Smith, the opposition, the SACB, and the crowds.

Smith comes forward to collect his Man-of-the-Match award. He has to wait for the winning speech, however.

Pollock picks up the Man-of-the-Series award. He's chuffed, and rightly so: "We showed alot of character after being down 1-0...the young lads showed character...it was a good effort by all the boys...." He's pleased with his batting, too, and was glad he could finish off the innings well. There are words of happiness at becoming the first South African to cross 400 Test wickets, of course, and he looks to the coming year with excitement.

Here comes Smith now, though he's not really beaming. Ah, there we have a smile. Good on you, Smith. "We took confidence into this game...the wicket didnt suit us as much as it did India....but we took alot from this game....its pleasing....we're moving forward, though we're used to winning at home, a win on this type of pitch was satisfying..." On his double fifties here, he is pleased and admits he "felt better" and hopes he can move into the series against Pakistan in the same vein. He thanks the Indians and the local support - to plenty of cheer - and rates this series win as very, very pleasing.

Thats all we have for you, folks, and I hope you've enjoyed our coverage all series. Its been a pleasure bringing you the action, and on behalf of Sajan Nair, George Binoy, Sriram Veera and Siddhartha Vaidyanathan, I'd like to say thank you for tuning in, logging on, and hitting us with those Matchvox comments. Until next time, this is Jamie Alter signing off with a hearty cheers!

This over should do it. One to win. Tendulkar to continue. Prince surveys the field.

Herschelle Gibbs comes out and takes guard. They crossed, so he wont face.

Anticlimatic for Kallis? It was there to be punished, but he didnt succeed in putting it away. Like it will have any effect on the match...Zaheer gets a fourth, however

Two runs to win. All of South Africa on their feet in the pavilion

Six runs to clinch the series.