The Proteas should not fool themselves that winning today's fifth one-day international against Sri Lanka in Colombo would be meaningful.

Far rather they disregard the result and instead use the chance to rest the workhorses, and take steps towards banishing their reckless strokeplay and drying up the deluge of wides they have bowled.

That's what Makhaya Ntini would have South Africa do in the last match of a series that was decided on Sunday when Sri Lanka took an unassailable 3-1 lead.

"A 3-2 result does not matter; the series is over," Ntini said bluntly yesterday.

Asked what had disappointed him about the Protea's performance in the rubber, Ntini said his answer would "take me the whole day". But he picked two areas of particular concern.

"The shot selection has been very poor. Besides (Hashim) Amla in the last game (when Amla scored 77), they are not trying to build an innings. The attitude seems to be, 'If I get out, so what?'."

Ntini was aghast that SA had sent down 58 wides in the four matches. "That's ridiculous. Besides the extra runs that's almost 10 overs that they shouldn't have had to bowl."