Daily Cricket News

India win 1-run thriller against South Africa

Johannesburg: Munaf Patel capped a stunning late charge from India with two wickets in four balls for a thrilling one-run win over South Africa in the second one-day international at the Wanderers on Saturday.

Patel removed Morne Morkel and Wayne Parnell as India took 6-37 in a dramatic finish to deny the Proteas what appeared to be a straightforward victory.

South Africa collapsed from 152-4 to 189 all out in 10.5 frantic overs to fall just short of India's 190 all out, leaving the five-match series level at 1-1 with three to play.

It was only India's fourth ODI victory in South Africa and first in 10 years.

In his record-breaking 139th match as Proteas one-day captain, Graeme Smith's 77 guided his team to within 39 runs of victory, with a comfortable six wickets in hand and 28 overs left.

But Smith's dismissal to Patel, who finished with a man-of-the-match 4-29 off eight overs, began the home team's sudden slide.

Tailenders Morkel and Parnell then dragged South Africa to within three runs of victory before Morkel was caught at backward point and Parnell fell for 12 to an almost identical shot moments later, caught by Yuvraj Singh, to seal India's incredible comeback.

"It was a big win for us," captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said. "We were short of runs but it was a terrific performance from the bowlers. They put a lot of pressure on the South Africans.

"Overall I'm really happy with the performance. It makes the series interesting now."

Zaheer Khan backed up Patel with 2-37 for India, including the crucial middle-order wickets of David Miller (27) and Johan Botha (4).

Smith took South Africa to a position of strength, and almost certain victory, with his 43rd ODI half-century while overtaking the late Hansie Cronje's record as one-day captain.

The left-handed opener hit eight fours and shared a 59-run partnership with Colin Ingram, who made 25, and then a 43-run stand with JP Duminy (13) as the Proteas cruised toward a 2-0 series lead.

But Duminy lost his head against part-time spinner Rohit Sharma to hole out in the deep and South Africa's batsmen suddenly became nervous.

Smith was bowled by a clever slower ball from Patel, Miller fell when he top-edged a pull shot, and Dale Steyn ran himself out to leave South Africa 177-8 — and the tailenders couldn't take them home.

"Credit to MS (Dhoni) and his team, they held their nerve at the end," Smith said. "Some of our decision-making was not good enough and we need to be honest about that and regroup. But you can't take it away from India."

India struggled early on.

Having chosen to bat first, it also collapsed in its innings, losing 6-21 to be bowled out for a below-par 190 in 47.2 overs.

Sachin Tendulkar, in his record-equaling 444th one-day international, made a sluggish 24 from 44 balls, Dhoni had 38 and only Yuvraj, with his 53, kept India from an undefendable target.

Lonwabo Tsotsobe claimed a career-best 4-22 for South Africa, a likely man-of-the-match performance, before Patel's crucial late intervention claimed the honor.

The seamer, who was a replacement for the injured Praveen Kumar in the first game, removed Hashim Amla early on, tricked Smith with a slower ball and then held his nerve to keep Morkel and Parnell out in his match-winning over. He used his clever change of pace for both wickets when a mistake would have meant defeat.

"All I was thinking about was line and length," Patel said, "and of course the slower ball helped a lot."