In a battle of the potential Group 'B' leaders, India and South Africa exchanged some severe blows before an unbeaten partnership of 21 runs between Faf du Plessis (25 not out) and Robin Peterson (18 not out) steered the Proteas to a thrilling three-wicket victory here at Jamtha on Saturday
In a battle of the potential Group 'B' leaders, India and South Africa exchanged some severe blows before an unbeaten partnership of 21 runs between Faf du Plessis (25 not out) and Robin Peterson (18 not out) steered the Proteas to a thrilling three-wicket victory here at Jamtha on Saturday.
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Technically, India are yet to qualify for the quarterfinal stages of the World Cup.
Chasing 297, South Africa had the match all but won, but some amateurish strokeplay by the latter's middle-order took the game down to the wire.
However, du Plessis held his nerve, and showed the way. Then, needing 13 runs to win off the last over, South Africa got home with two balls to spare as Peterson hit Ashish Nehra (0-65) for two fours and a six.
Sachin Tendulkar's 48th century was undone by a batting collapse that saw nine wickets fall for just 29 runs. From 267 for one, India were all out for 296 with eight balls remaining in their innings.
In a rather unconventional move, MS Dhoni refrained from introducing spin options until the 17th over when Yusuf Pathan was brought on. He kept the faith in his three seamers - Zaheer, Munaf Patel and Ashish Nehra - while South Africa's top-order took calculated risks. Both Nehra and Patel would have gone for a lot more if not for a restrained approach from the batsmen, Zaheer bowled with venom - clocking over 140 kpmh on a few
occasions - keeping SA on toes.
It was contrasting to see Graeme Smith struggling to time the ball at one end, and Hashim Amla making batting look easy at the other, with some glorious strokes.
In the second ball of the ninth over, Smith finally broke the shackles by stepping down the track to Zaheer to clear the long-on fence. The very next ball saw the South African skipper hole out to Sachin Tendulkar at mid-on.
Thereafter, Amla and Jacques Kallis added 86 runs for the second-wicket to consolidate.
For the first ten overs of India's batting innings, it felt like a contest between two heavyweight boxers going at it with a pinch of fury.
The two openers soon realised that they were playing in their own backyard - began to shuffle in the crease, to use the pace and bounce to their advantage.
India raced along to 87-0 in 10 overs.
South Africa tried to stop the pace of the match by coming even harder, but it backfired miserably. To Smith's credit, he constantly tried to innovate.
He had packed off-side fields and asked bowlers to bowl an off-stump line, asked Johan Botha to rush through his overs with fast darters, brought Steyn back in short spells - at over number 28, and 35, before finishing him off in the end.
He never allowed Indians to get used to a one-dimensional attack. In the end, it worked in his favour.
A fascinating battle between Botha, from an around-the-wicket line, to Gambhir was the focal point in the middle overs.
Initially, Gambhir struggled to negotiate the ball turning away from his bat. As he grew in confidence, he stepped down the track, made room, and pierced the off-side with ease.
Gambhir followed the same tactics against Morkel's rising deliveries. It was a treat to watch.
Before anyone reaslied, Tendulkar was batting on 97, and Smith brought in all his fielders. Some anxious overs passed before the little master brought up his 48th ODI hundred to draw massive cheers from the 45,000 odd spectators.
Then came the turning point. Tendulkar and Gambhir, who had 111 runs for the second-wicket, opted for the Batting Powerplay in the 39th over.
The maestro was snapped by Morkel in the 40th - the score read 267-2 - and in walked Yusuf Pathan. At that stage, there were murmurs of a minimum total of 380.
India then lost nine wickets for 29 runs.
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