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December 01, 2006 (Link to Scorecard)

Team India finally got over a string of demoralizing defeats with a wonderful victory at the New Wanderers in its Debut Twenty20 International. India won a nervy game with just one ball to spare as they chased a moderate South African target of 127. The going wasn’t that easy for India in their reply as the ball seamed around even for the second string pace battery which didn’t have any Makhaya Ntini or Shaun Pollock. Dinesh Karthik, India’s second wicket keeper showcased his batting talent with a cool 31 not out which included a final over sixer when India needed 9 from the last six balls.

It was a festive atmosphere at the Wanderers, there was the foot tapping music along with the colourful cheer leaders who danced with every boundary and sixes hit. South Africa won the toss yet again and yet again they opted to bat first. Zaheer started the proceedings with a brilliant first over that gave just the two runs for the homeside. Bosman had struggled to come in terms to the class of Zaheer Khan and was soon taken in the slips off the same bowler. Ajit Agarkar who was the first change bowler coming in place of Sreesanth struck gold with his first delivery as Gibbs drove him uppishly to Suresh Raina at short extra covers. Zaheer Khan’s four overs were being bowled on the trot and in his final over he got the wicket of Graeme Smith who was trapped leg before the wicket by an incoming delivery. Zaheer Khan had a dream opening spell picking up two wickets at the cost of just 15 runs in his quota of 4 overs.

South Africa were in dire straits once AB de Villiers chose to drove a perfect outswinger from Ajit Agarkar to Dhoni leaving SA at an ugly 41 for 4 at the end of 8 overs. Ajit Agarkar who had taken 2 for 10 had to leave the field in his third over due to a groin injury. It was later learnt that he had torn a muscle in the groin region which might keep him out of action for few days. His incomplete over was finished by Tendulkar who had got a wicket too. It was Justin Kemp who was beaten on the pads by a terrific inswinger from the medium pace of Tendulkar after he had scored 22 from 25. Albie Morkel and Johannes Van der Wath then got a partnership on to get the runs on the board for their side. Morkel had holed onto the deep to a Sreesanth delivery after he had made a valuable 27 from 18 which included three hits out of the park. One of Morkel’s six was a slog sweep which went high over the giant scoreboard in the mid wicket region off Harbhajan Singh’s bowling. South Africa in the end were restricted to 126 for 9 with Van der Wath being the other important contributor with 21. There was rain around but the Umpires decided to get along with the game even though it looked heavy at one point of the time. The wicket got damp for the second innings.

In the chase, India lost Sachin Tendulkar early in the 4th over. Tendulkar was out twice if it was a normal cricket match, the first one was to a free hit which follows a no ball. Tendulkar could only nick it behind. The second time he got dismissed was through playing onto his stumps to a Langeveldt delivery. Sehwag along with Dinesh Mongia who has experience of playing this version of the game in county cricket got their act together to lay the platform. Sehwag cut loose whenever he got any short and wide delivery, he even had got a six over thirdman in his innings. He was going great guns on 34 from 29 before he was run out by a bad call from Dinesh Mongia. With the fall of Dhoni in a similar fashion to that of Tendulkar’s, South Africa came back into the match. India’s hopes were kept alive by the two players who shared the same first name – Dinesh. Mongia and Dinesh Karthik were the pair that took India close to victory before Mongia feeling the heat miscued Robert Peterson. Mongia had made 38 from 45 with a spectacular six over covers off Albie Morkel. Dinesh Karthik had got his runs through some deft touches on both sides of the wicket.

India got the match to the last over where it required 9 to win. It looked like a big gamble on Graeme Smith’s part to throw the ball to Robin Peterson. Dinesh Karthik sat on one knee to slog sweep on the rise to mid wicket for a six which left the equation completely in India’s favour. The match was over in the penultimate over with Dinesh Karthik chopping a shot onto the ground towards point to get the winning run. For his match winning cameo, he got the Master Blaster award – the Twenty20 version for the Man of the Match.

Virender Sehwag had to go with a bowler short with Tendulkar not taking the field as he was having ice on his elbow that was struck by an Andre Nel delivery. Mohammad Kaif was the substitute on duty and he was the culprit dropping AB de Villiers after the batsman had cut Sreesanth straight to him at point. Before that it was a smart ploy from Graeme Smith to bat at no.2 and avoid facing Zaheer Khan who had his wicket four times before this game. Smith just didn't get to face a single delivery from Zaheer for a long time which got him to settle down and find his lost touch. Sreesanth was taken to the cleaners and had to be taken out of the attack after giving away 25 in 3. His replacement was Irfan Pathan who had to be taken off as well as he went for 13 in his first over. Both the openers were unkind on the bowling which forced Sehwag to hold back the powerplays and resort to the spin twins. That only got the momentum down by just a bit, there were absolutely no wicket taking deliveries bowled by any of the bowlers. Kumble, Harbhajan just couldn't get past the bats. Both batsmen eased to their respective fifties with de Villiers being the first one to reach his 3rd one of his career in 50 balls while Smith got his in 61 balls, it was his 20th one.

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