BEFORE yesterday, Vernon Philander and Imran Tahir had had a forgettable test series in Sri Lanka.

But in the last 27 minutes of the second test at Sinhalese Sports Club, they became heroes of South Africa's return to the number one ranking.

The Proteas hung on with eight wickets down to draw the match and, on the back of their victory in the first test in Galle, clinch the series 1-0. That snatched back the number one test ranking that the Aussies took by beating SA 2-1 in March.

It also made this SA side the first from the country to win a test series and a one-day rubber in Sri Lanka on the same tour. SA last claimed a test series here in 1993.

"Our goal was not to get back to number one," SA captain Hashim Amla said. "It was to find a winning formula with a newish team. We're certainly heading in that direction. This is a South African team who are very proud and passionate in the way we represent our country. We always want to go down fighting."

In Galle, Philander and Tahir took just one wicket between them. Worse, Philander was convicted of ball-tampering.

But when Tahir joined Philander in the middle yesterday, the match was in the balance. SA were 148/8 and 8.1 more overs would be bowled before stumps were drawn. The Lankans, meanwhile, were pushing hard to win.

With Morne Morkel - he of the golden duck in the first innings - the lone ranger left in SA's shed, Philander and Tahir would have to get the job done. They did, dealing with the 49 deliveries they faced with calm aplomb and even the odd shot in anger.

Rain limited the morning session to seven overs. But, with four spinners in operation, the Lankans zipped through 47 overs in the lengthened second session.