South Africa captain Graeme Smith said his side's agonising failure to beat England in the third Test in Cape Town would take some time to sink in.

For the second time in the series England's last-wicket pair defied the South African attack and they will take a 1-0 lead into the final Test.

"I think it'll probably take a day or two to sum up the way we feel in that dressing room," said Smith.

"We fought hard but we just weren't good enough to throw the final punch."

Smith, who was named Man of the Match after his 183 in the second innings at Newlands, could only watch in frustration as his bowlers narrowly failed to secure victory on Thursday.

At one stage, with Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell set fair, it looked as though England would easily hold out for a draw.

606: DEBATE Once again, SA have let England off the hook by not wrapping the Test from a winning position. This is the 2nd time this has happened in the series. They should be 2-1 up, but they lack the killer instinct. lethal_clarke

But a late clatter of wickets meant the last wicket pair of Graeme Swann and Graham Onions had to survive 17 balls to maintain England's 1-0 series lead.

In the first Test, at Centurion, Onions had teamed up with Collingwood to hold out for 19 balls to deny South Africa victory, and the England number 11 was once again up to the task at Newlands.

"Credit to Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell for the way they batted," said Smith.

"It was a great Test but we just never had the knockout blow. Our bowlers gave 100% the whole time and hopefully at the Wanderers we can go all the way."

The fourth and final Test of the series takes place in Johannesburg from 14-18 January.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version