|
Steyn's pace too
hot to handle for India |
November 17, 2006 (Link to
Scorecard)
 India's
poor performance under Coach Greg Chappell
continued and this time they lost to a Rest of
South Africa team in their warm-up One Dayer at
Benoni. Rahul Dravid's men failed to chase a
target of 256 to be bowled out for 218. The
skipper batted well though for his 79 but was no
way enough to lead his side to a victory. South
Africa's upcoming fast bowling sensation Dale
Steyn ripped through the Indians taking a
magnificent five-wicket haul.
The homeside led by Ashwell Prince had won the
toss and elected to bat first at the Willowmoore
Park. The Indian bowling was strengthened with
the inclusion of Zaheer Khan and Anil Kumble
while Harbhajan Singh had to sit out. Wasim
Jaffer was in the playing line up which gives
the indication that he could be playing in the
One Day Internationals as well, also out of the
side was Virender Sehwag.
The tourists were off to a good start with the
new ball as they had Rest of South Africa bogged
down due to early inroads. However a late
recovery courtesy of a 96-run stand for the 7th
wicket between Jacques Rudolph (72) and Albie
Morkel (57) took their side to 255 for 8 in the
allotted 50 Overs. Rudolph had smashed his runs
in just 53 balls with the help of 7 fours and 2
sixes. Morkel was also destructive as he hit
three sixes along with 5 fours. The bowling from
India wasn't that good enough as they had the
batting side struggling at 116 for 6, yet they
couldn't get their act together to bowl them out
under 200! The comeback bowlers - Zaheer Khan
with figures of 3 for 43 and Anil Kumble with 2
for 31 in their 10 overs did a respectable job.
In reply, India were hit back by the pace of
Dale Steyn which saw the two openers - Tendulkar
and Jaffer depart in the 4th over itself.
Mohammad Kaif played a snail paced innings at
no.3 along with his Skipper Dravid. Kaif for all
the time he took in the middle could score just
30 having faced 55 balls which got the required
run rate to shoot up! Three quick wickets
including that of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's meant
India were down and out at 82 for 6! An 84-run
partnership followed between Dravid (79 from 99
balls with 3x4s and 3x6s) and Pathan (34) but
the task of getting too many runs in just few
deliveries got the better of Dravid and it was
the end of India in the final over as they
crashed to a 37-run defeat in the hands of a
second string side. Dale Steyn finished up with
5 for 22 in 10 overs, a truly match winning
figures.
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