CENTURION (South Africa), Oct 11: South Africa’s frailty against India’s spin attack was exposed as the home side suffered a top order collapse in the triangular series One-day International Wednesday (partly reported in Thursday’s edition).
After 25 overs, South Africa were 112 for seven, chasing a victory total of 234. Lance Klusener was not out on one, with Mark Boucher on five.
Earlier, South Africa captain Shaun Pollock starred with the ball, taking five for 37 as India were dismissed for 233 in the 49th over.
But on a pitch that is assisting the bowlers, the South Africans have been found wanting in the one area of their game that remains questionable.
Opener Herschelle Gibbs precipitated the collapse when he was caught in the slips by Virender Sehwag off the bowling of Ajit Agarkar for one.
Gary Kirsten was next to go when he was bowled for 12 by medium-pacer Javagal Srinath in the ninth over.
The next five South African wickets then fell to the Indian spin attack of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.
Kumble took the wicket of Neil McKenzie for 21 after he had hit Srinath for a four and six off the last two balls of the 11th over.
Kumble then had Jonty Rhodes caught in the slips by Rahul Dravid for eight two overs later.
Singh added the wicket of Jacques Kallis, stumped by wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta, for a modest 29 runs and Nicky Boje, who was trapped leg before wicket, for nine runs.
Pollock was also dismissed leg before wicket for 15 runs off the bowling of Singh.
INDIA:
S.C. Ganguly c Kallis b Pollock 24
S.R. Tendulkar c Nel b Ntini 38
S.S. Das c Klusener b Pollock 2
R.S. Dravid c Klusener b Pollock 54
Yuvraj Singh b Ntini 42
V. Shewag c Ntini b Nel 33
D. Dasgupta c Boucher b K’sener 8
A.B. Agarkar c Boucher b K’sener 1
Harbhajan Singh lbw b Pollock 15
A.R. Kumble not out 7
J. Srinath c McKenzie b Pollock 2
EXTRAS (LB-2, W-1, NB-4) 7
TOTAL (all out, 48.5 overs) 233
FALL OF WKTS: 1-44, 2-52, 3-75, 4-165, 5-167, 6-204, 7-208, 8-208, 9-231.
BOWLING: Pollock 9.5-1-37-5 (1nb, 1w); Nel 10-0-49-1; Kallis 9-0-42-0 (1nb); Ntini 10-0-42-2 (1nb); Klusener 7-0-30-2 (1nb); Boje 3-0-31-0.
SOUTH AFRICA:
G. Kirsten b Srinath 12
H.H. Gibbs c Sehwag b Agarkar 1
J.H. Kallis st Dasgupta b H’bhajan 29
N.D. McKenzie b Kumble 21
J.N. Rhodes c Dravid b Kumble 8
S.M. Pollock lbw b Harbhajan 15
N. Boje lbw b Harbhajan 9
L. Klusener c Yuvraj b Agarkar 44
M.V. Boucher c Agarkar b Sehwag 38
M. Ntini b Sehwag 1
A. Nel not out 0
EXTRAS (B-2, LB-4, W-5, NB-3) 14
TOTAL (all out, 46.2 overs) 192
FALL OF WKTS: 1-5, 2-38, 3-66, 4-76, 5-85, 6-101, 7-106, 8-183, 9-188.
BOWLING: Srinath 6-0-32-1 (3w); Agarkar 8.2-0-40-2 (2w); Kumble 10-0-42-2 (1nb); Harbajan Singh 10-0-27-3; Tendulkar 4-0-21-0; Sehwag 8-1-24-2 (2nb).
RESULT: India won by 41 runs.
UMPIRES: I.L. Howell and B.G. Jerling.
TV UMPIRE: S. Wadvalla.
MATCH REFEREE: A.M. Ebrahim (Zimbabwe)
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Harbhajan Singh.
NEXT MATCH: India v Kenya, Bloemfontein on Friday.—Reuters