Skipper MS Dhoni says Pathan's super ton proves that Indians are ready to chase down any total in the last 10 overs at the World Cup
Skipperu00a0MS Dhoni says Pathan's super ton proves that Indians are ready to chase down any total in the last 10 overs at the World Cup
Sure, India will have to wait another four years to attempt a historic series-win in South Africa. Yet, they can proudly take back memories of a knock that will go down as one of the greatest ever, not just on South African soil or by an Indian, but in the 50-year history of one-day international cricket.
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In pursuit of 268 in a rain-curtailed 46-over fixture, with the scorecard reading 98-7, the Indian would have all but packed their bags, ready to catch a flight that was to leave in a few hours. However, Yusuf Pathan wasn't ready to leave, just yet. When he pulled out the long handle, it felt like a courtesy call. As the sixes kept pouring, India's target kept reducing, and they were suddenly back in business.
Pathan's knock of 105 included eight bombarding sixes.
"The biggest positive out of this game is that we can chase down any total in the last 10 overs at the World Cup. Yusuf has done superbly, got us really close to the target. He can clear most cricket fields in the world," India captain MS Dhoni said after the game.
"He's not my teammate any more (at Rajasthan Royals), but I know his potential. He showed it again. I think he threw the game away in the end. Once he gets on a roll, he clears the boundary consistently. We weren't as aggressive in our mindset. It was an incredible knock," South Africa captain Graeme Smith said of Pathan.
Ironically, the partnership that brought India back into the contest wouldn't have been possible in the days of analogue scorecards. Zaheer Khan, who added a record 100-run stand with Pathan for the ninth-wicket, had been caught-and-bowled off Man of the Series Morne Morkel (12-137 in five games) when the score read 139-8. However, the big screen indicated Morkel had overstepped, and thus began a partnership that will be etched in memory.
While Man of the Match Hashim Amla (116) made optimum use of the near-perfect batting conditions, scoring his seventh ton in just 42 games, India's batsmen, with the exception of Parthiv Patel (38) and Yusuf Pathan (105), didn't spend enough time in the middle to enjoy the featherbed surface.
"It was one of the best batting surfaces on this tour, our top-order batting has let us down in the series.
Controlling Amla can get difficult when he in full flow. He is in great nick at the moment," rued Dhoni.
India's top-order dismissals indicated the batsmen got carried away seeing the flat surface. Rohit Sharma (5), who began like a hurricane with a majestic cover-drive, played an expansive cover-drive off Lonwabo Tsotsobe, dragging the ball back to his stumps. Virat Kohli (2) drove circumspectly, edging one to the safe gloves of AB de Villiers. Two overs later, MS Dhoni tried to square cut a ball too close to his body, only to get a leading edge to second slip. Yuvraj Singh (8) played a half-hearted square cut, finding Duminy at point. His dismissal effectively signalled the end of India's challenge.
South African star batsman Hashim Amla's breezy ton took the hosts to a fighting 250-9 after India put them into bat.
When 'bunny' Graeme Smith (7) fell to Zaheer Khan early, it appeared like South Africa's top-order was ready to falter yet again, like it did in the previous three games. However, Morne van Wyk (56) added 97 with Amla to bring about the recovery. Dhoni continued to keep the faith in his part-timers, who enjoyed a decent outing.
Amla waited on the back foot and played India's long-list of part-time spinners and Harbhajan Singh so late, displaying flashes of the legendary Aravinda de Silva. It was best highlighted when he waited for a sharp turning delivery from Rohit Sharma, rocked back, and cut it for a four through third man.
When asked if it was a conscious effort to play spinners late, Amla said: "I wouldn't say conscious, but definitely playing cricket in the sub-continent has helped me play spin better. Hopefully, it will keep me in good stead at the World Cup. Speaking to Asian players has helped too, they have passed on a lot of knowledge."
Rain pain
Later, Duminy added a further 102 runs with Amla. Just five balls after South Africa took their Batting Powerplay, the downpour brought about an abrupt stop to proceedings.
The effervescent crowd cheered every five minutes as the covers kept coming on and off. It wasn't a heavy downpour but just enough to keep the ground staff on its toes. There was a louder cheer when the covers were completely off than when Amla brought up his ton!
Dhoni credited his bowlers for restricting South Africa from 231-3: "They are not express pace, but are incredibly skilful.
"They know how to control the death overs. That's another big positive going into the World Cup," he said.
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