India's bowling at the ‘death' stood exposed once again in a gut-wrenching duel at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium here on Sunday. The first ODI twisted and turned before concluding in an explosive manner.
Defending 298, India clinched a thriller by one run off the last ball after India skipper and 'keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni collected a widish throw from S. Sreesanth at third man and whipped the bails off before Wayne Parnell could complete a second run.
The arena was a sea of emotions as the Indians celebrated. Soon, the ground was swarmed by plain-clothed security personnel.
The spirited South African tail scripted a dramatic comeback under the lights after the side was reeling at 225 for eight in the 43rd over.
Parnell (49, 47b, 4x4, 1x6) and Dale Steyn (35, 19b, 1x4, 3x6) gave India a fright under the lights with an audacious 65-run partnership for the ninth wicket in only 38 balls. Pacemen S. Sreesanth and Ashish Nehra and Sureh Raina's off-spin came under the hammer. South Africa required 10 runs at the start of the final over, bowled by swing bowler Praveen Kumar. Parnell took a single off the first ball but Praveen castled Steyn with a clever change of pace off the second. The next two deliveries produced a run each.
Last man Charl Langveldt pulled the fifth delivery to fine leg where Sachin Tendulkar made a diving stop but the batsmen completed three runs. But had the ball or Tendulkar's hand touched the rope? The decision was referred to the third umpire, who after an agonising wait, declared it not a boundary and three runs accrued. The South African camp was unhappy.
Emotions ran high on the field. The left-handed Parnell missed the next delivery — the final ball — but the umpire declared it a wide. The Indians celebrated prematurely.
They had to gather themselves again. Three runs were required off the final ball. Then Dhoni came up with a last act of the match. The Indians were home but only just.
Earlier, Sreesanth and Nehra had disappointed in the end overs as Parnell and Steyn cleared the ropes or found the gaps. Twenty six runs were required off the last two overs and India conceded 16 runs, including two sixes, in the penultimate over by Nehra. It was a dramatic turn-around.
The ground staff worked hard during the intervals and the dew was not a major factor. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja consistently spun the ball away from the right-hander. He was adjudged the Man of the Match.
The South Africans, though, blundered by leaving out the prolific Hashim Amla. Skipper Jacques Kallis was all balance and poise but lacked support from a frontline batsman.
for further details: http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/22/stories/2010022261771900.htm
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