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Smith full of praise after series win

11/08/2008

South African captain Graeme Smith has praised his team-mates' efforts following their 2-1 win over England.

The tourists lost the dead-rubber Test at the Brit Oval by six wickets today and Smith admitted his team had gone "slightly off the boil".

"We didn't bat as well as we have in the whole series," he said, referring to South Africa's under-par first-innings score of 194.

But he said in the series as a whole South Africa had won the "pressure moments" and added he believed the 2-1 margin of victory was fair.

"You have to give credit to England and their performances," Smith continued.

"I'm really proud of all the guys who are standing next to me because it's been a real collective effort and I'm proud of everybody."

The 27-year-old was handed the South African man of the series medal for his batting, which helped save the Lord's Test and see his side home in the Edgbaston fixture.

He said his unbeaten 154 in Birmingham was a "highlight of my life, not just of my career" and added he was looking forward to taking on Australia after winning back the Basil D'Oliveira trophy.

"That's a whole other challenge for us," Smith finished.

"We've waited a long time for this moment and we came here with a goal in mind to win this series and we're really happy to have done it."