Nothing could save Sri Lanka from the South African express train led by Shaun Pollock, as the visitors were hustled out of town in under three days, with little resistance.

By the end of the first day, the home side were already 35 ahead with eight wickets remaining, as Pollock ripped the heart out of the Sri Lankan batting, with only three players made double-figures.

The South African middle-order - in particular Daryll Cullinan with his 12th Test hundred - hammered home the advantage on days two and three, declaring at 504-7, with only the returning Herschelle Gibbs missed out, lamely pushing at a ball from Chaminda Vaas.

As the third and last day dawned, Sri Lanka were facing a huge struggle for survival, a mountainous 409 runs were needed just to draw level with their hosts. They made more of a fight than their first innings, Jayawardene striking 45 in 65 balls, and Vaas hitting a whirlwind 38 from 26 balls being the highlights. But it was merely delaying the inevitable, as a heavy defeat arrived courtesy of the lively Ngam and the improving Boje.
Richard Kendall