Ton-up Raina leads India to victory over South Africa
Suresh Raina became only the third man to make a Twenty20
international century as India beat South Africa by 14 runs at the
Beausejour Stadium here on Sunday.
Victory, which saw India into the second round Super Eights after
their seven-wicket win over Afghanistan on Saturday, was built on
Raina's 101 out of a total of 186 for five.
Only West Indies' Chris Gayle and New Zealand's Brendon McCullum had
previously made centuries at this level.
Raina had an escape on five when he was caught off a Morne Morkel
no-ball.
It was an expensive error by the fast bowler, with left-hander Raina
striking five sixes and nine fours in a blistering assault as he reached
his century off 59 balls.
Together with Yuvraj Singh (37) he shared a stand of 88 in 10 overs
after the pair came together with India 32 for two in the sixth over
after they'd lost the toss.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith had promised his side would be
flexible when it came to their openers but few foresaw the skipper
dropping himself down to No 3.
Jacques Kallis, who opened in Smith's place, was nearly out for a
second ball nought when a diving Yusuf Pathan at backward point just
failed to hold on to a catch off the bowling of Harbhajan Singh.
Kallis, after the early loss of Loots Bosman, went on to complete a
45-ball fifty with three fours.
The experienced batsman then tried to keep South Africa on course by
slog-sweeping Harbhajan for two successive sixes in the 15th over.
But a stand of 97 in 11 overs was ended when Smith was run out by
Praveen Kumar's throw to wicketkeeper and India captain MS Dhoni.
Then 118 for two became 128 for three when Kallis fell on 73 after
driving leg-spinner Piyush Chawla straight to Ravindra Jadeja in the
deep.
GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia, May 2, 2010 (AFP) -
INDIA
D. Karthik c Smith b Kallis...................... 16
M. Vijay c Boucher b Kleinveldt............. 0
S. Raina c AB de Villiers b A Morkel.. 101
Yuvraj Singh c Smith b Kleinveldt............... 37
Y. Pathan c van der Merwe b Steyn....... 11
MS Dhoni not out.................................... 16
Harbhajan Singh not out...................................... 0
Extras (w4, nb1)......................5
TOTAL (5 wkts, 20 overs)....186
Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Vijay), 2-32 (Karthik), 3-120 (Yuvraj), 4-163 (Pathan), 5-178 (Raina).
Bowling: Kleinveldt 4-0-48-2 (1w); Steyn 4-0-24-1; M Morkel 4-0-32-0 (1nb, 2w);
A Morkel 3-0-39-1; Kallis 4-0-30-0 (1w); Van der Merwe 1-0-13-0.
SOUTH AFRICA
J. Kallis c Jadeja b Chawla.................. 73
L. Bosman c Chawla b Pathan................... 8
G. Smith run out (Kumar/Dhoni)........... 36
AB de Villiers c Chawla b Nehra.................. 31
A. Morkel c Harbhajan b Pathan............ 12
M. Boucher not out...................................... 4
JP Duminy not out...................................... 4
Extras (b1, lb2, nb1)................ 4
TOTAL (5 wkts, 20 overs).... 172
Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Bosman), 2-118 (Smith) 3-128 (Kallis), 4-152 (A Morkel).
Bowling: Harbhajan 4-0-33-0; Kumar 1-0-3-0; Nehra 4-0-27-1 (1nb); Pathan 4-0-42-0 Chawla 3-0-27-1; Jadeja 4-0-37-0. |
