DURBAN, Oct 26: Opening batsman Gary Kirsten is steering South Africa to victory in the final of the triangular series against India in Durban on Friday.

After 25 overs, South Africa were 118 for one in reply to India’s total of 183. Kirsten was 69 not out with Jacques Kallis on 14.

The game could have been more evenly matched if India had not dropped two chances.

The first was when Kirsten, who was on 23 in the ninth over, was dropped when VVS Laxman dived in front of Virinder Sehwag at first slip, before Anil Kumble dropped a skied chance off Kallis when the score was 106 for one in the 23rd over.

Both chances were off paceman Javagal Srinath.

Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs shared 80 runs for the first wicket before Gibbs, who struggled against spinners Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, sent a simple return catch to Harbhajan to be dismissed for 21 in the 17th over.

Earlier Rahul Dravid had played a sheet-anchor role for India, top scoring with 77 off 102 balls.

The Indian number four featured in both major partnerships of the innings, putting on 60 for the third wicket with Sehwag, who scored 34, and 51 for the sixth with Reetinder Sodhi, who was dismissed for 22.

Sehwag and Dravid, who came together in the 12th over with India 31 for two, rebuilt the innings after openers Saurav Ganguly (nine) and Sachin Tendulkar (17) both failed to ignite the Indian batting.

Their partnership ended in the 26th over when Sehwag attempted to cut a delivery from Ntini and was caught by Mornantau Hayward at third man.

Laxman (five) and Yuvraj Singh (0) were then dismissed cheaply before Sodhi joined Dravid.

They were together until the 44th over, when Sodhi top edged a delivery from Hayward and was caught by substitute fielder Andre Nel running in from square leg.