The most keenly awaited game of the World Cup, between these two teams, produced a thrilling contest. On a road like surface India threatened to break free but South Africa clawed back in style to thwart Indian challenge in both batting and bowling. With the ‘C’ word lurking whenever they play a crucial game, the Proteas were up to the task this time. They matched India man by man, ball by ball and stroke by stroke.
South Africa rested Imran Tahir to help him recover from injury and played Johan Botha instead. While India played with three seamers leaving Chawla out. Dhoni had no hesitation in deciding to bat first after winning the toss.
On a wicket with average score of 290 while batting first, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar put South African attack to the sword from the word go. Sehwag was given a lucky reprieve by the keeper Morne van Wyk who did not move to catch a regulation edge on his right in the second over from Morne Morkel. Sehwag made South Africa pay the slip dearly as he started murdering the bowling. He was especially severe on Morkel whom he carted for 3 boundaries in one over. Kallis replaced Steyn who was proving expensive, but he too was not spared by these two.
Steyn returned to try his luck from the other end but Tendulkar greeted him with a powerful six over backward square leg. India were rollicking along after 10 overs having scored 87 runs, a tournament record thus far. Hundred was brought on in the 12th over as South Africa brought their spinners on from both ends. Van Wyk gave Sehwag another let off on 70 when he grassed a difficult chance off Botha. There was no respite for South Africa as both the batsmen continued to march on unabated and mercilessly.
Graeme Smith turned to Faf du Plessis in desperation more than expectation. Thankfully he did not add to his captain’s frustration as he got the prized scalp of Sehwag. He ended 142 run partnership by bowling Sehwag for a whirlwind 73 (66 balls, 12 fours). Gambhir took some time to settle in as India were scoring at more than 8 an over. At the half-way stage India were happily placed at 174 for 1 and a total in excess of 350 was on cards.
As Tendulkar neared his hundred, Gambhir upped the ante by improvising as well as using the long handle. Tendulkar completed his magnificent hundred, his 48th over-all and 6th in all world cups, off 92 balls that included 7 fours and 3 sparkling sixes. India took the batting powerplay after 38 overs with the score on 253/1. This was the moment when the game changed.
In a quest for quick scoring, Tendulkar lost his wicket to Morkel as he miscued an attempted loft to backward point where Duminy held on to the chance with both hands. He made 111 (101 balls 8 fours, 3 sixes). It opened a window of opportunity for South Africa which they took with both hands.
Sensing the opening, Smith brought back his main striker, Dale Steyn and got the reward immediately. Gambhir could not read a slower one and was caught at mid-off by Kallis. He made a useful 69 off 75 balls. India at this stage had two new batsmen at the crease, Yusuf Pathan and Yuvraj Singh, both on naught. They were the ideal men to make use of the batting powerplay, especially Pathan who was promoted to number 4.
As much as the power, the powerplay also demands some sense and planning. India shot on the foot as they continued to play in one gear without reassessing the situation. The pitch had slowed a bit and started turning but the Indian batsmen tried to blast their way from the outset. In doing so they fell in the trap laid for them by Smith as he placed his fielders perfectly where his bowlers bowled. Pathan was caught in the covers off Steyn, while Yuvraj holed out in the deep as he hit a full toss from Kallis straight to Botha.
Dhoni needed to take the things in his hand amid all this debacle but he was left stranded as wickets tumbled at the other end. Steyn and Peterson polished off the tail as India folded in spectacular fashion. They were all out for 296 in 48.4 overs losing last 9 wickets for just 29 runs. It was a frantic display of batting by India evening out the contest which had started with total Indian dominance.
For South Africa, Steyn was the pick of the bowlers with 5 for 50 while Peterson took 2 for 52. Dhoni remained not out for 12 off 21 balls while four of the Indian batsmen got out without scoring. South Africa were elated and relieved at having restricted India below 300 after they were on course for 400 at one stage. Indians, on the other hand, were although devastated but fancied their chances on a wicket which had started to turn and had slowed down considerably.
South Africa chose the safer route when they came out to chase. Smith and Hashim Amla took the score to 41 in the 9th over when Smith once again got out to his nemesis Zaheer Khan. Amla who was playing fluently was joined by Jacques Kallis and both put on 86 runs for the second wicket. After 25 overs, South Africa needed 182 at 7.3 runs per over.
Amla was dropped by Yuvraj off the bowling of Harbhajan Singh but he could not cash on it and departed in his next over smartly caught by Dhoni. He made classy 61 runs (72 balls, 5 fours). AB de Villiers did not waste any time and got on with the things at pace. He used his feet brilliantly against the spinners who had threatened to squeeze the Proteas for a short while. Kallis too picked the tempo and swept Harbhajan for two consecutive fours. After surviving an LBW review off Zaheer, he was brilliantly run out by Harbhajan from the deep. His innings of 69 off 88 balls was good but he got out at the wrong time for South Africa.
South Africa took the powerplay at the end of 36 overs with the score on 173/3 and asking run rate approaching 9. Duminy and de Villiers batted cunningly and kept their team in the hunt by getting boundaries and not letting the asking rate go up. Harbhajan got rid of de Villiers through a diving catch by Kohli on the leg side in the deep. He made a quick-fire 52 off 39 balls with 6 fours and a six. Faf Du Plessis showed his intents by hitting Yuvraj for a six but lost Duminy who was clumsily stumped by Dhoni. The bowler again was Harbhajan who was pumped up and rightly so as it was a telling blow for South Africa.
Things got interesting when van Wyk was given out LBW off a review after he was dropped by Gambhir in the deep. India were ahead and sensing victory at this stage but the game turned once again. Johan Botha was the game changer this time for South Africa. He played few good shots and brought his team closer to victory. Munaf, after being hit for a four and a six by Botha, turned the match in India’s favor by getting him out in the 47th over. South Africa needed 17 runs from 2 overs with 3 wickets in hand but Zaheer bowled a stunning penultimate over to keep them at bay.
With 13 needed off the last over, Robin Peterson hit Nehra for 4, 6, 2 and 4 to win the game for South Africa in dramatic fashion. South Africa won by 3 wickets and for once they liberate themselves of the choking tag. Harbhajan took 3 for 53 while Munaf Patel gave away 65 runs for his 2 wickets. Dale Steyn was named man of the match for his brilliant bowling display.
The World cup continued to prove a good advertisement for the ODIs with another thrilling encounter. It was an engrossing contest between two evenly matched teams but South Africa held their nerves and came on top.
Match Result: South Africa 300/7 in 49.4 overs (Kallis 69, Amla 61; Harbhajan 3/53) beat India 296/10 in 48.4 overs (Tendulkar 111, Sehwag 73; Steyn 5/50) by 3 wickets
Man of the match: Dale Steyn
Published in SportPulse.net
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Wait for the knockout stage, Saffas will choke there...
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