At Nagpur, March 19. South Africa won by ten runs. Toss: India. International debut: S. Sriram.

Klusener bludgeoned 75 of the 115 runs that came from South Africa's final 17.3 overs to set India a target no country had achieved to win a one-day international. He hit three sixes and eight fours in 58 balls, having gone half of those before hitting his first boundary. Later, when India were threatening victory, he shut them out by removing Karim and Robin Singh in four balls. With Gibbs hitting 13 fours and a six, South Africa had raced to 160 for four off 20 overs, but the Indian spinners pegged them back to 72 off the next 20. Klusener's return to form was vital. That India came so near to winning owed everything to a rollicking partnership of 180 in 24 overs between Tendulkar and Dravid, feeding off Cronje's decision to put off-spinner Crookes first-up in the firing line. South Africa's other opener, Williams, failed to complete his second over after aggravating a shoulder injury suffered before the second one-day international. Delhi police accused Cronje of informing a bookmaker that these two would open the bowling. Williams and Gibbs subsequently testified to the King Commission that Cronje offered them $US15,000 (£10,000) each to play poorly in this game: Gibbs was to score less than 20, Williams to concede more than 50. During his 93, which included four sixes and seven fours, Tendulkar became the second batsman after Azharuddin to reach 9,000 runs in one-day internationals.

Man of the Match: L. Klusener. Man of the Series: S. R. Tendulkar.

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