South Africa spinner Paul Harris, one of the Proteas' heroes after winning the series over England on Saturday, said he was always confident of the victory.

Skipper Graeme Smith made an unbeaten 154 on the fourth day of the third Test, which had been a gripping match, to steer his team to their first series win in England since 1965.

"We were always confident we would chase down the runs, even as many as 280," Harris told Bigstarcricket. "We know we have a strong batting line-up but we also had the knowledge that we had chased down testing totals against India and Pakistan 18 months ago at Newlands, so we had proved we could chase under pressure.

"We were quite nervous at times during the run-chase, though, especially when we were 90-odd for four. Fortunately AB de Villiers steadied the ship with Graeme and then Mark Boucher came in to finish it off.

"I'm sure Bouch has never played a better 45 not out than that innings. But obviously Graeme was our real match-winner. What guts and determination to see us through the way he did. He showed what a great leader he is.

"Personally, it was enjoyable to get (Kevin) Pietersen and (Andrew) Flintoff out in the same over during their second innings. The wicket started to turn a bit as it always does later in the game at Edgbaston, and I was happy to have made a contribution."