South Africa vs India, 4th ODI at Gqeberha, , Jan 21 2011 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
4th ODI (D/N), Gqeberha, January 21, 2011, India tour of South Africa
(32.5/32.5 ov, T:191) 142/6

South Africa won by 48 runs (D/L method)

Player Of The Match
71* (72)
jean-paul-duminy
New
IND
Full commentary

Dhoni: "They were scoring at a healthy pace. And that meant if they batted for 50 overs, they will get to a good total.. And that's what happened. I tried the fast bowlers, spinners, part-timers but things don't go your way always. We would have fancied something around 240. Virat is a big positive. He has batted at no. 3 and carried innings through.The middle order hasn't clicked. Not only for us but also for South Africa. The team that handles pressure better will win on Sunday."

Man of the match is JP Duminy "Just wanted to take it to end as possible. I thought we had a defendable target at the end. It all worked out quite nicely. When we got to 45 overs, we thought 250 would be a good result."

Smith: We started well today. We had a few moments where our brains didn't work but we showed a lot of skill and determination to recover. We knew anything around 240 would be good. Excellent effort from Duminy and the rest. We have done well with the ball in this series. We have generally fielded well. The intensity has been good. We are excited to go to Pretoria. The teams have been trading blows for 2 months now and it has been a competitive series.:

To read the Bulletin by Sid click here.

That's it from us. Good bye and good luck.

--

Sundar: "Thunderstorms forecast in Centurion?? Great! Will we ever get to know which is the better team out of these two? Every series between these two seems to end in a draw. Has to be a jinx. I seriously hope it is not an India vs SA world cup final. I am sure it will rain in Mumbai for two days and these teams will have to share the trophy."

10.40 Game called off. South Africa win by 48 runs. So 2-2 and we go to decider on Sunday. Apparently, 90% chance of thunderstorms in Centurion on Sunday

10.33 pm: They will decide at 10.45 pm whether to continue with the game or not.

10.17 pm More rain. and they are coming off again. And now for every four minutes, they will lose an over.

32.5
2
Botha to Kohli, 2 runs

on the middle and leg, wristed past square-leg region

Raining again!

32.4
Botha to Kohli, no run

leans forward to defend it back to the bowler

32.3
Botha to Kohli, no run

quicker, turned to Smith at short fine-leg

32.2
1
Botha to Harbhajan, 1 run

top edges the paddle sweep and they rush across for a quick single to short fine-leg

And more news: India will get four overs of Batting Powerplay

32.1
1
Botha to Kohli, 1 run

gets back to deflect it to midwicket

end of over 327 runs
IND: 138/6CRR: 4.31 RRR: 7.11
Virat Kohli84 (88b 7x4 2x6)
Harbhajan Singh2 (7b)
Lonwabo Tsotsobe 6-1-25-2
Robin Peterson 8-0-46-2
31.6
1
Tsotsobe to Kohli, 1 run

around the off stump line, worked wide of midwicket

31.5
Tsotsobe to Kohli, no run

pushes it to covers, wants a single but Harbhajan sends him back in time

31.4
Tsotsobe to Kohli, no run

full in length, on the middle stump line, turned to midwicket

Target is 260. India need 123 more from 87 balls. .

Target is 260. India need 123 more from 87 balls.

South Africans on the field, stumps being erected. Kohli and Harbhajan walk out

10.01 pm It was just a drizzle, and seems to have passed. so we might still be on for 2210 resumption, can't be sure, though

9.59 pm More rain! Aargh.

9.56 pm The game to start at 10.10 pm. Four overs lost. We will let you know the exact target when we get to know. We think it should be 258. No official word yet.

Preet Paul: "Virat seems to be playing in a totally different place - he has oodles of talent and has been in rich vein of form recently. He exudes confidence, his body language is very positive! I hope he is in the starting XI in the World Cup ahead of Yuvi and Raina."

For those wondering, the D/L par score is 187, and India are 50 runs behind. We should have play anyway soon.

9.49 pm: Pitch is still covered, they have removed all other covers. Not raining at the moment, though

9.39 pm Covers coming off now. Inspection around the corner. at 9.50 pm

9.34 pm: Umpires get on to the field. Drizzling still. And the covers are on.

9.20 pm: It's still raining. They will wait for an hour (from the moment game stopped) before they start reducing the overs. We will back in a short while as soon as we get any further updates.

8.52 pm: It's raining now The covers come on. The players rush to the pavilion.

31.3
2
Tsotsobe to Kohli, 2 runs

stays back to clip it past square-leg

31.2
4
Tsotsobe to Kohli, FOUR runs

Swat-whack! It was a full delivery around the middle stump line and he dragged it with his bottom-hand through wide midwicket

There is a light drizzle out there

31.1
Tsotsobe to Kohli, no run

stays back to punch it to mid-on

Ameya: "@Sameer: Its not Dhoni's Last innings under pressure. 67 was made playing for a lost cause, it wont count. I probably don't remember any such innings in distant past."

end of over 312 runs
IND: 131/6CRR: 4.22 RRR: 7.10
Harbhajan Singh2 (7b)
Virat Kohli77 (82b 6x4 2x6)
Robin Peterson 8-0-46-2
Morne Morkel 6-1-13-1
30.6
Peterson to Harbhajan, no run

turns from the off stump line, fuller, Harbhajan squeezes it to point

30.5
Peterson to Harbhajan, no run

turns away from the off stump, Harbhajan gets forward to push it quietly to the off

30.4
Peterson to Harbhajan, no run

around the off stump line, defended on the front foot

30.3
1
Peterson to Kohli, 1 run

moves forward to drive to long-off

30.2
1
Peterson to Harbhajan, 1 run

gets back to cut it to sweeper cover

30.1
Peterson to Harbhajan, no run

leans forward to block it

end of over 304 runs • 1 wicket
IND: 129/6CRR: 4.30 RRR: 6.85
Virat Kohli76 (81b 6x4 2x6)
Harbhajan Singh1 (2b)
Morne Morkel 6-1-13-1
Robin Peterson 7-0-44-2
29.6
Morkel to Kohli, no run

pushes it wider outside off, left alone

29.5
1
Morkel to Harbhajan, 1 run

extra bounce outside off and Harbhajan stabs it wide of the slip fielder

29.4
Morkel to Harbhajan, no run

gets back to defend it back down the track

Sameer: "The last time dhoni played a significant role was when he scored 67 against Srilanka in dambula aug 2010. Wonder when is the next."

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