South Africa record morale-boosting win
The least important match of the tournament produced the most excitement
Wisden Bulletin by S Rajesh
28-Jul-2005
The least important match of the tournament produced the most excitement,
but South Africa got over their early jitters and chased the target of 216
with five wickets and eight balls to spare. It avenged their humiliating
loss to India earlier in the tournament, and set up the prospect of a
fascinating final on Sunday.
It was the hottest day of the tournament, with temperatures reaching the
mid-40s (Celsius), but South Africa put in a disciplined performance in the
field after losing the toss to restrict India to 215. Then, they survived a
collapse at the start of their innings to romp home with plenty to spare.
The hero of the day was Neil McKenzie. Coming to the crease with South
Africa tottering at 42 for 3 and Harbhajan Singh on the rampage, he compiled
two partnerships - 63 with Jacques Rudolph, and 107 with Mark Boucher -
which snatched the match away from India. By the time McKenzie was out for
an excellent 80, South Africa were just five short of victory.
South Africa's run-chase encountered early roadblocks, in the form of India'
s opening bowlers. Avishkar Salvi's disconcerting bounce and Ajit Agarkar's
consistent line and awayswing asked plenty of questions of Graeme Smith and
Herschelle Gibbs. Smith succumbed early, nicking a drive off Avishkar Salvi
to the wicketkeeper for 2 (11 for 1). Gibbs got a lucky escape when he edged
a no-ball from Salvi to Virender Sehwag at slip, but the reprieve was
shortlived.
Harbhajan came into the attack in the 12th over and struck twice in his
first four balls. The second one sneaked between Boeta Dippenaar's bat and
pad and knocked back the bails (41 for 2), while two balls later, Gibbs
shouldered arms to an offspinner and was trapped plumb in front (42 for 2).
Rudolph and McKenzie began the fightback with a carefully constructed stand. Rudolph was especially impressive, with crisp drives down the ground
and through cover. McKenzie, on the other hand, plonked his front foot
outside off and swept whenever in doubt.
Virender Sehwag ended the partnership when Rudolph (37) edged a flick to
Mohammad Kaif at cover (105 for 4), but Boucher scotched any hopes of an
Indian fightback. Both he and McKenzie consolidated with plenty of well-run
singles, never allowing the asking rate to climb beyond six-and-a-half an
over.
Then, when South Africa were sufficiently close to the target, McKenzie and
Boucher stepped it up. The 41st over, bowled by Agarkar, went for 13, while
Sehwag was tonked for 12 in the 43rd. The asking rate came down to under
four-and-a-half, and from there the winner was never in doubt.
India's effort with the bat was characterised by plenty of batsmen getting
starts, but apart from Ganguly - who top-scored with 61 - none of them
topped 30. Mahkaya Ntini was the pick of the bowlers, bowling with plenty of
hostility on a pitch which had a sprinkling of live grass. His returns of 3
for 37 from 10 overs were richly deserved. Allan Dawson had a profitable day
too, picking up four scalps.
In a scorching opening spell, Ntini first had Gambhir edging to Andrew Hall
at first slip (7 for 1), and then dealt the Indian innings a huge blow,
striking Sehwag on his right forearm with a wicked short delivery and
forcing him to retire.
Ganguly was peppered by plenty of short stuff - especially by Ntini - but he
responded in style, pulling Ntini for a couple of fours and cracking him
though point when offered the width. His 64-run second-wicket stand with
Kaif was the best phase of the Indian innings. Kaif ran the ones and twos
with usual urgency, and laced a couple of gorgeous cover-drives when Dawson
pitched it up.
Dawson got his revenge, though, when Kaif, inside-edged a slower ball onto
his stumps for 30 (96 for 2). Ganguly kept the innings going, bringing up
his half-century off 74 balls, and then tonking Adams over his head for the
first six of the match.
A century seemed there for the taking, but Ganguly threw it away, hammering
a full-toss from Adams straight down Shaun Pollock's throat at long-off (124
for 3). The Indian innings unravelled after that, as six wickets fell for
just 68 runs.
Sehwag made a return to the crease at the fall of the fourth wicket after
x-rays revealed no broken bones, and even managed a rousing front-foot six
over point off Andrew Hall, but it was too good to last. Next ball, an
attempted across-the-line short-arm jab took the top edge and presented
Smith with a dolly (160 for 5).
Four wickets then fell in a heap, and it needed a 23-run last-wicket
partnership for India to top 200. For a brief period, it seemed sufficient.
Then, McKenzie got his act together.