shot and there it is! Series victory for India! Yuvraj stands his ground and swats a back of a length delivery over midwicket and the Indians go berserk!
South Africa vs India, 3rd ODI at Belfast, Jul 01 2007 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
3rd ODI, Belfast, July 01, 2007, Future Cup
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(31/31 ov) 148/7
(30.2/31 ov, T:149) 152/4
India won by 6 wickets (with 4 balls remaining)
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IND
Full commentary
Yuvraj Singh's team-mates swarm onto the field and mob him, fans spill onto the square in celebration! Fantastic scenes at Belfast as India take the Future Cup 2-1.
Rahul Dravid won an important toss after the start of the match was delayed for over five overs due to rain and a wet outfield, put South Africa in to bat under overcast conditions, and watched on as Agit Agarkar and Sourav Ganguly each took two wickets, three batsman getting ducks, to leave them on 28 for 4.
A 99-run partnership between Herschelle Gibbs and Justin Kemp helped South Africa to a respectable 148 for 7 off 31 overs, and India then lost three early wickets for just 38 runs in reply. But that man Yuvraj, cool under pressure, hit an unbeaten 61 to see his side home with four deliveries to spare. While chasing targets, India have won 17 out of 21 games when Yuvraj has scored 40 or more and he deserves the accolades.
A good day's cricket, after all that rain and delay, goes India's way and they take with them to England some much-needed confidence. Crucially, an overseas win for them.
The positives for India are many, not least the batting of Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj, and the bowling of Piyush Chawla, Zaheer Khan, and Agarkar. Agarkar is not in the Test squad for England, but bowled well today after missing out earlier with the flu. Chawla too wont be travelling to England for the three-match series, but has impressed with his variation. Yuvraj takes with him into the England Tests the confidence of having scored runs here, in similar conditions.
Jacques Kallis, at the post-match ceremony, credits India's bowlers and doesnt offer the excuse of losing the toss. He says its disappointing losing to India here, but picks out the plusses, namely how the younger and more inexperienced players stepped up. ]
Plenty of cheer from the Indian supporters as Dravid comes forward to receive the winner's check. He admits the preparation for this series was far from ideal, but appreciates how well his players regrouped and brought back that winning feeling. He gives all credit to "the boys", while making special mention of Tendulkar's innings in the second innings, and Ganguly and Yuvraj's efforts.
Man-of-the-Match Yuvraj says it feels good to come back from being down 0-1 and enjoyed the form he's shown. Tendulkar gets the Man-of-the-Series award but insists that Yuvraj must share it with him.
Thats all we have for you, folks. I hope you've enjoyed this match as much as I have. Apologies for the loss of feed in the middle. Do join us for the next match, between India and Pakistan at Glasgow, day after tomorrow, thats July 3rd.
This is Jamie Alter, your commentator for the game, signing off with a hearty cheers!
30.2
4
Nel to Yuvraj, FOUR runs
30.1
•
Nel to Yuvraj, no run
back of a length on leg stump, tucked straight to square leg
Indian dressing room all smiles now
end of over 3010 runs
IND: 148/4CRR: 4.93 • RRR: 1.00
Yuvraj Singh57 (80b 5x4 1x6)
MS Dhoni14 (11b 2x4)
Andrew Hall 6-0-27-0
Andre Nel 5-1-20-1
29.6
1
Hall to Yuvraj, 1 run
slower ball, wide of off stump, he makes room and runs it down to third man to level the scores
29.5
2
Hall to Yuvraj, 2 runs
short on the stumps, he pulls through square leg for two
4 to win from 8 now...
29.4
4
Hall to Yuvraj, FOUR runs
clobbered! Yuvraj takes India closer with a thumping drive back down the ground, which almost took off Dhoni's head!
29.3
2
Hall to Yuvraj, 2 runs
two more, as Yuvraj makes room and carves this over cover for two, and thats his 50! Well played!
Long-off, long-on, deep midwicket in place
29.2
1
Hall to Dhoni, 1 run
back of a length on off stump, he stands and works it to midwicket
29.1
•
Hall to Dhoni, no run
dot ball! Hall bowls one on a good length and Dhoni, making room, just hits into the ground and bowler swoops in to field
11 needed from 12 deliveries. Hall here to have his say!
end of over 2910 runs
IND: 138/4CRR: 4.75 • RRR: 5.50
MS Dhoni13 (9b 2x4)
Yuvraj Singh48 (76b 4x4 1x6)
Andre Nel 5-1-20-1
Andrew Hall 5-0-17-0
28.6
1
Nel to Dhoni, 1 run
short-pitched is the response from Nel, and Dhoni pulls into the ground and gets one to mid-off
28.5
•
Nel to Dhoni, no run
this one's full on the stumps, and Dhoni walks down the track to drive hard but fails to beat Kallis this time
28.4
4
Nel to Dhoni, FOUR runs
shot! Nel serves up a fuller delivery outside off stump that Dhoni, standing his ground again, drives into the gap past a diving Kallis at mid-off...nerves, I say!
28.3
•
Nel to Dhoni, no run
good length just outside off stump, he stands his ground and drives straight to cover, another dot ball for South Africa
28.2
4
Nel to Dhoni, FOUR runs
oh ho Dhoni! Gets back and flays one up and over gully, and it bounces past third man for four...valuable runs!
28.1
1
Nel to Yuvraj, 1 run
full on leg stump, tucked out to deep midwicket for a single
Just one run from Hall's over. Nel's back.
end of over 281 run
IND: 128/4CRR: 4.57 • RRR: 7.00
Yuvraj Singh47 (75b 4x4 1x6)
MS Dhoni4 (4b)
Andrew Hall 5-0-17-0
Dale Steyn 6-0-35-1
27.6
1
Hall to Yuvraj, 1 run
backs away to leg, hitting a short delivery through the covers for one, though he was pretty darn keen on the non-existent second
27.5
•
Hall to Yuvraj, no run
make it five as one more passes the outside edge of Yuvraj's bat! No footwork, just standing and trying to run it down to third man
Tight stuff from Hall....thats four dots in a row
27.4
•
Hall to Yuvraj, no run
and again! Yuvraj's feet dont move as he fishes at a wider delivery
Tension, tension!
27.3
•
Hall to Yuvraj, no run
good length delivery angled past him, this time he pokes straight to point
27.2
•
Hall to Yuvraj, no run
outside leg stump, he shuffles and turns it straight to van Wyk at square leg
27.1
•
Hall to Yuvraj, no run
good ball first up, slow and beating him outside off stump as he stands and fishes
Once again, its Yuvraj who's doing it for India. Kallis needs wickets something bad. And he turns to Hall.
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