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Hyderabad: South Africa stretched their winning streak to twenty when the touring side beat India by five wickets here today to take 1-0 lead in the five-match one-day series. Chasing the target of 250, South Africa achieved the feat with seven balls to spare with allrounder Jacques Kallis (68 not out) and Justin Kemp (46 not out) sharing a stand of 84 runs. Earlier in their innings, the chase began with a flurry of fours by captain Graeme Smith, who had averaged 2.33 against India in last four one-dayers, but went on to score 44 before being bowled by RP Singh. However, after losing two quick wickets on the score of 76, South Africa did give a chance to the Indians, but the fifth wicket stand of 84 run between Kallis and Kemp denied the hosts a lead in the series. Earlier in the morning, South Africa won the toss and put India into bat. The Indian batting was gasping at 35 for five in the face of some aggressive fast bowling by Mkaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock and Andre Nel, when Yuvraj (103) took it upon himself to steady the rocking boat and take the team score to a total that at one time seemed out of reach. But with Indian middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh took his return to form, slamming a superb century to take Team India to a competitive 249 for nine. He was helped along the way by Irfan Pathan (46 off 63 balls) and Harbhajan Singh who struck a cameo 37 off 17 balls with four fours and two sixes. Yuvraj, whose 103-run knock came off 122 balls and contained 10 fours and three sixes, put on 75 valuable runs for the sixth wicket with Pathan and held fort at one end stoutly. The efforts by these batsmen ensured the 30,000-odd crowd at the newly built Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium was not entirely disappointed. The conditions, coupled with some genuinely quick bowling, saw India losing their openers by the second over and being reduced to a miserable five for three in the fifth over. Virender Sehwag (1) was the first to go when his slash off an outswinger by Mkhaya Ntini was spectacularly picked by Ashwell Prince off the first ball of the second over. Mohammad Kaif, promoted to the experimental number three spot this time, followed Sehwag in to the pavilion soon after for one, trapped leg before wicket by Shaun Pollock, who emerged as the most impressive bowler with figures of 10-1-37-2. However, a bigger blow was in store for India as Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed for two, adjudged caught behind off Pollock, the scoreboard reading three for five. Skipper Rahul Dravid (8) tried to stem the rot but in vain as he was clean bowled by Andre Nel, who also picked two wickets, to leave India in shambles at 34 for four. Gautam Gambhir, brought on as a Supersub in place of Murali Kartik, also failed to click as the Delhi batsman was caught behind, India losing their fifth wicket with the addition of just one run to the total. Yuvraj was given the Man of the Match award. The next match will be played under lights at Bangalore on November 19. |
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