Close India (233) beat South Africa (192) by 41 runs
Scorecard

India finally decided to play to their strengths, and it paid off as they won their first match in the triangular series. Chasing a modest total of 234, South Africa succumbed to the multi-pronged Indian spin attack and only a late flourish prevented a far heavier defeat.

The Indians made a crucial decision by picking Harbhajan Singh, who returned career-best figures of 3 for 27, in place of Venkatesh Prasad. But it was their other frontline spinner, Anil Kumble, who began the South African collapse by removing Neil McKenzie and Jonty Rhodes. Part-timer Virender Sehwag took two wickets at the death to seal the issue, and push South Africa over the precipice. Lance Klusener's lone hand of 44 was not enough in the final analysis.

India won the toss and batted first but could not even survive the full 50 overs. They spent much of the innings on the verge of a fightback that never really materialised. Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar showed early signs of belligerence in an opening stand of 44 in as many balls. Then, in the space of two overs, Ganguly and SS Das were out, which meant Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid had to set about rebuilding the innings. They put on a dogged 23 in nine overs before Tendulkar was out, leaving India tottering at 75 for 3.

Dravid and Yuvraj Singh showed some spine, playing sensible cricket as they milked the pacemen and thrashed the left-arm spin of Nicky Boje. They added 90 in 102 deliveries, but both fell in quick succession.

Another fightback began. An enterprising Sehwag and a doughty Deep Dasgupta added 37 off just 30 balls but just as it looked as if they would help India to 250, three wickets fell in the space of eight balls. In the end, the Indian total seemed 20 runs short, as had been the case in the first match.

Shaun Pollock, with 5 for 37, was exceptional. He bowled with great control in the beginning, got his line and length just right, and was lethal at the end as he varied his pace magnificently. Andre Nel, Jacques Kallis and Makhaya Ntini were also impressive; Ntini beat the bat often and made a strong case for being allowed to open the bowling. Boje and Klusener were pedestrian, though Klusener picked up a couple of wickets at the end. But when the first four bowlers do their job so well, the fifth is allowed some leeway.

The Indian pace bowlers struck immediately. Ajit Agarkar got early swing and accounted for Herschelle Gibbs in the second over, caught at slip by Sehwag. Gary Kirsten followed seven overs later, playing on to Javagal Srinath. Ganguly brought on Anil Kumble early, and while Kallis batted comfortably enough, McKenzie was all at sea.

Kumble plotted McKenzie's dismissal in a superb 14th over, when two googlies, one bouncing wildly and beating McKenzie all ends up, were followed by a flipper. Out of his depth, McKenzie swung wildly at the next ball, a dangerous tactic against Kumble at the best of times, and was bowled. In walked Rhodes, but he soon was walking out as Dravid took a brilliant Jonty-like reflex catch at first slip.

The stage was set for Harbhajan, and he promptly picked up the key wicket of Kallis, who tried to use his feet against him much as the Indians had against Boje earlier in the day. But Harbhajan was no Boje, and Kallis was no Indian. His bat swung and missed, and Dasgupta completed the first stumping of his career.

A wild shot shortly afterwards did for Boje, and Harbhajan picked up his third when he trapped Pollock lbw to leave South Africa tottering at 106 for 7. That brought Klusener and Boucher together, but it looked all over bar the shouting.

The pair were clearly against such noise pollution, and added 77 runs in 19 overs. They played very sensibly and relied on singles rather than boundaries to accumulate runs. Harbhajan was seen off and they appeared set when Ganguly took a bold decision of continuing with part-timer Sehwag rather than bring back one of his seamers; Sehwag vindicated Ganguly's faith by picking up the wickets of Mark Boucher and Ntini. Klusener attempted a final flourish, but perished top-edging an Agarkar delivery to Yuvraj.

Amit Varma is an assistant editor of Wisden.com, India.

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