BOMBAY, Tuesday - India will rely on skipper Sachin Tendulkar to pull off an unlikely victory against South Africa's one-day masters in the final of a triangular tournament here Wednesday -with either bat or ball.
Tendulkar's coolness under fire in Sunday's crucial game against Australia -- he opted to bowl the final over of the match, with Mark Taylor's final pair needing just six for victory -- earned his side the chance of a fourth crack at the unbeaten South Africans.
TOP ORDER
India's skipper, who launched Sunday's victory with 62 runs, said his top order would hold the key during Wednesday's day-night finale.
``Basically, we have to get more runs. We have world-class batsmen -- the top six -- and if they play up to their capabilities, we stand a very good chance,'' he said.
South Africa, however, with seamer Fannie De Villiers fit again, will begin as huge favourites after whitewashing both India and Australia during the one-day tournament.
De Villiers, who has recovered from hamstring trouble, is South Africa's most economical bowler and is the only man to manage to shackle Tendulkar during the tournament.
WOOLMER'S STRATEGIES
Captain Hansie Cronje said coach Bob Woolmer's strategies had been a crucial part of the team's success, adding: ``We'll be treating this game just like the first one.
``Our spinners, Nicky Boje and Pat Symcox, have made us a real force that will also pay off in the tests against India.
Hansie Cronje's men, with six wins in a row, have defeated India by 27 runs, by 47 runs and by five wickets in their three encounters so far.
Crucially -- and bearing out Tendulkar's concerns -- the home side have only managed totals of 185, 214 and 222 during those three defeats.
To make matters worse India start Wednesday's game without opening batsman Navjot.
MANJREKAR IN
Sidhu, who has only just been recalled following a 50-day ban for walking out of India's tour to England earlier this year following a row with then-skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, was injured against Australia on Wednesday and has been replaced by Sanjay Manjrekar.