Following the victory over Pakistan at Kingsmead on Friday night South Africa put together another polished fielding and bowling performance as they unceremoniously hauled down World Cup champions Sri Lanka's colours with an emphatic triumph by 57 runs in the Wanderers bullring yesterday.
Just the sort scenario Pollock, South Africa's selecton panel chief, was prepared to settle for after two consecutive victories in the opening games of the Standard Bank Triangular limited-overs tournament.
What was sweeter for Pollock and Co was that it came after rattling up 266 for eight to equal the highest ODI score at the Wanderers (scored against Pakistan four years ago) and then dismissing Sri Lanka for 209 in the 47th over.
And it was man of the match, Roger Telemachus, with four for 43, who supported the selectors theory. Brought back for a third spell which earned him two wickets with successive deliveries, he spliced open what slim chance the visitors had of rescuing their fading hopes. His two overs from the Corlett Drive end was the sort of bowling Hansie Cronje needed at a crucial stage of the innings.
Telemachus bowled tight and straight, just what is needed to restrict the normally free-flowing Sri Lankan lower-order.
``We were told we had too many old players in the side and that our reserve depth was suspect,'' Pollock commented.
``I think the results of the two games, in which it was said we were expected to battle proves the point that in spite of what has been said we do have the depth.''
It's a good point as Cronje, reduced to five bowlers after Jacques Kallis spiked his right hand when fielding and missed two-thirds of the innings, was short on options. He could have given Mike Rindel a run, or even Daryll Cullinan, but preferred to trust the bowlers he knew.
Not surprisingly he praised Steve Elworthy and Telemachus for the role they played in their opening spell, keeping it tight in atmosphere where the ball did not swing that much.
Yet for the tourists is was over as a contest as early as the start of the 27th over when Aravinda de Silva was brilliantly caught by Mike Rindel. It was the sort of effort which wins matches and to get rid of the pocket dynamo so easily and quickly.
While Sri Lanka, for some unfathomable reason changed their batting tactics, two of the alleged ``dad's army'' members of the South African side gave more than notable performances.
Mike Rindel put together the sort of limited-overs innings which he has done so often for Northerns in the domestic series. There were several cracking drives and a cut or two which caused problems for the Sri Lankans. He also pulled off a couple of smart catches, with the dimissal of Aravinda de Silva for 28 the sort of catch that rocked the Sri Lankan confidence.
Yet there is no hiding there were also a few problems for South Africa as their middle-order batting failed to deliver after an opening partnership of 67 between Rindel and Gary Kirsten. There were too many 20s and it was left to Jonty Rhodes, with help from Derek Crookes and Elworthy who fattened the lower innings run-rate with some smart rotating tactics.
As for Sri Lanka they broke up the successful Sanath Jayasuriya-Romesh Kaluwitharana first wicket partnership and there were no early batting fireworks to upset the fielding side's rhythm as they showed during the World Cup two years ago.