NAGPUR, India, (Reuters) – South Africa, needing 13 runs off the last over, broke the hearts of a partisan crowd by pulling off a thrilling three-wicket win over co-hosts India in the World Cup today.
Sachin Tendulkar had set up an enthralling Group B encounter with 111, his 99th international century and 48th ODI ton. It also gave him his sixth World Cup three-figure score.
That, along with 73 from Virender Sehwag, left India in great shape at 267-1 but their remaining nine wickets crashed for 29 runs to leave them 296 all out after 48.4 overs.
In response, South Africa were always adrift of the required run rate although Jacques Kallis (69), Hashim Amla (61) and AB de Villiers (52) kept them in with a chance until Robin Peterson (18 not out) blasted 16 off the final over including a six and two fours to edge the Proteas to a three-wicket victory with two balls left.
“I’m extremely ecstatic at the moment. To have a great game with so many great innings was such a good advert for the World Cup,” said a jubilant Peterson.
While Peterson’s late fireworks had his team mates leaping out of their seats and exchanging high-fives in the South African dressing room, India were left to rue their missed chances as they could have sealed their place in the last eight with victory on Saturday.
Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag stitched together a 142-run opening stand but the Little Master’s exit in the 40th over triggered a collapse and India, who looked set to go past 350 at one stage, were all out in 48.4 overs.
India completely lost their way as wickets fell like nine pins to a stunned silence at the VCA Stadium, with speedster Dale Steyn, who went for 24 off his first three overs, causing the most damage to end with a five-wicket haul for 50 runs.
Tendulkar and Sehwag added 87 in the mandatory powerplay of 10 overs — the tournament’s best so far — and India were 128 for no loss at the end of 15 overs before South Africa had even realised what hit them.
After Sehwag (73) departed in the 18th over, Tendulkar (111) continued to his record sixth World Cup century and made batting look ridiculously easy with an almost chanceless innings, consisting of eight fours and three sixes.
Scores: India 296 all out in 48.4 overs (S. Tendulkar 111, V. Sehwag 73, G. Gambhir 69; D Steyn 5-50) v South Africa 300-7 (J. Kallis 69, H. Amla 61, De Villiers 52; Harbhajan Singh 3-53)
