Shaun Pollock paid tribute to Australia after they completed the highest run-chase in the history of one-day international cricket. Australia made a massive 330 for 7 after South Africa had earlier posted 326 for 3 in their 50 overs.

"It's an awesome effort, you have to give credit to the Aussies," Pollock told the SAPA news agency after his side's three-wicket defeat.

"We knew they'd come out guns blazing. We'd spoken about it but there's not too much you can do in the first 15 overs with the fielding restrictions.

"You just have to hang in and hope for a breakthrough and then apply pressure. It just didn't happen," said Pollock.

But Pollock still believed Australia, the world champions, could be beaten.

"I don't believe they are unbeatable. If things are running for you, as they can in cricket, we can beat them," Pollock said after the match.

South Africa had given themselves a terrific chance of victory after posting the highest score ever made against Australia. Jonty Rhodes and Jacques Kallis went on the rampage in the last ten overs, adding 132 runs in 92 balls.

But Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden smashed 81 in 55 balls before Ricky Ponting (92) and Darren Lehmann (91) guided Australia to the brink of victory.

"I think we tried as much as we could," explained Pollock. "It's questionable whether any tactics would have worked today."

Despite the win, Ponting said he was disappointed that his bowling attack disintegrated in the final ten overs.

"I'd be lying to say that I was confident of winning when I walked off the field after South Africa had batted," Ponting admitted.

"But the way we approached it was outstanding. We had nothing to lose and we threw caution to the wind. It's the best chase I've ever been involved in."

Ponting paid tribute to his team and said he was confident that even without Steve and Mark Waugh, discarded for this series, they could retain their World Cup crown next year.

"Every time we've got ourselves into trouble, we've been good enough to get out of it. That's the mark of a great team. We've had a chance to play under all conditions here and we've played on all the major grounds.

"This ground [St George's Park] will host one of the World Cup semi-finals in 2003. It will all hold us in good stead for the World Cup, there's no doubt about that."

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd