South Africa Defeat India

India's run of successive wins in the TVS Cup was ended today by the Proteas, who put together a very disciplined and solid effort to give South Africa a morale boosting victory against the favorites going into the final.

Sourav Ganguly was back at the helm once more, as he won the toss and elected to bat on another slow subcontinent pitch. Surprisingly Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan were left out once more, but it seemed a logical move to rest them for the big final.

Gambhir was immediately dismissed for a paltry 2 by Makhaya Ntini, Gambhir giving Hall the catch. Captain Sourav Ganguly continued his good run of form with some superb shots all around the wicket. Virender Sehwag while on 14 recieved a nasty blow which caused him to retire hurt.

This bought the ever solid Mohammad Kaif to the crease, as he pushed the balls into the gaps and punished the bad balls to the boundary. Kaif soon though was dismissed for a good score of 30, as he was cleaned up by Alan Dawson.

Sourav Ganguly soon registered his half century, as India were starting to slow a little. Dinesh Mongia, who's future is extremely uncertain in this Indian lineup continued to just push the ones and two's before his partner Ganguly fell to the bowling of left arm spinner Paul Adams for 61.

As Ganguly departed, Sanjay Bangar came to the crease with not much impact. Bangar is another man who's future is extremely uncertain, and once more he didn't impress with a slow and painstaking 9 runs.

Virender Sehwag came back and played some trademark shots. After playing like a millionaire, Sehwag once more gave his innings away when India needed him to fire. Sehwag dismissed for 25. Dinesh Mongia fell later when the score was 182 for 29.

Ajit Agarkar and Sarandeep Singh finished things off to take India to a meagre first innings total of 215 all out in the 50th over, a score South Africa could chase down very easily.

India struck first blow however when rookie paceman Aavishkar Salvi got a faint edge from rookie skipper Greame Smith as he was dismissed for 2 caught by wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel. Herschelle Gibbs began to punish anything short or of bad line as he reminded the Indian's why he is so dangerous.

Boeta Dippenaar however fell for 11, cleaned up by a good delivery from Harbhajan Singh. When Gibbs fell for 25 of Harbhajan Singh, India were right back in the game. However the joy was to be shortlived as Neil McKenzie and Jacques Rudolph put on a 63 run partnership which took the game away from the Indians.

Rudolph was dismissed on 37 off part timer Virender Sehwag's off spinners. But the damage was already done, Neil McKenzie playing a magnificent knock of 80 off 107 balls which guided South Africa to a morale boosting victory over the tournament favorites ahead of the final.


Brief Score Summary:

India: 215 All Out (Ganguly 61, Kaif 30, Dawson 4/49, Ntini 3/37)

South Africa: 216/5 (McKenzie 80, Boucher 44*, Harbhajan 3/43, Salvi 1/31)

CricketWeb Player of The Match: Neil McKenzie (South Africa)





Posted by Sangrah