Sharma sets up India win on Ntini’s farewell

DURBAN, (Reuters) – Rohit Sharma blazed a half-century  as India cantered to a 21-run win over South Africa in a one-off  Twenty20 international at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban today.
After India won the toss and elected to bat, Sharma weighed  in with 53 off 34 balls to help India total 168 for six.
South Africa, despite a destructive innings of 67 off 39  deliveries from Morne van Wyk, managed only 147 for nine in  their 20 overs, with India’s off-spinner Yusuf Pathan and  left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra picking up two wickets apiece.
Sharma, who came in with the tourists 18-1, hit five fours  and two sixes before he holed out to deep midwicket off the  bowling of off-spinner JP Duminy to leave India 109 for three in  the 13th over.
The left-handed Suresh Raina built on Sharma’s platform by  helping himself to 41 runs from 23 balls before he was dismissed  off the last ball of the innings.
Bowlers from either side failed to get much bounce on a  wicket that was only laid four months ago in the converted  football stadium.
Seamer Juan Theron was the most successful bowler for the  home side, with figures of two for 39, while left-arm quick  Wayne Parnell was the most impressive bowler with one for 25 off  his four overs.
The match was the last international appearance for paceman  Makhaya Ntini, but the 33-year-old did not enjoy the best of  days, for his four overs cost 46 runs.
However, when he bowled his last delivery the crowd of  50,000 rose in a standing ovation for the man known as the  “Mdingi Express”.
South Africa made a strong start to their reply thanks to  Van Wyk’s belligerent knock.
The 31-year-old opening batsman, playing in just his third  T20 international, was a late addition to the South Africa squad  after Graeme Smith pulled out with a bruised hand.
Van Wyk justified his inclusion as he raced to his fifty off  24 balls, a South Africa record in T20 internationals beating  the previous best of 25 balls, a record jointly held by Smith,  Loots Bosman and AB de Villiers.
However, he received scant support from his teammates. The  next best score was 25, courtesy of Johan Botha.
When Van Wyk’s knock was ended in the 11th over, leaving the  Proteas 93 for five, the hosts’ challenge fell away.