India crashed to an embarrassing 80-run defeat after their batsmen once againmeekly capitulated while chasing a competitive target in the fourth one-dayeragainst South Africa today.
The Indian bowlers raised visions of a change in fortunes when theyrestricted South Africa to 243 for eight on a sporting track at St. George'sPark.
But, as in the previous games on the tour, the batters were once again foundwanting against genuine fast bowling and the side was all out for 163 withnearly 12 overs to spare.
Shaun Pollock (2-23) and Makhaya Ntini (2-34) were brilliant with the newball and thoroughly exposed the inadequacies of India's top order.
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And the duo were well backed by Justin Kemp (3-21), Andre Nel (1-40) andJacques Kallis (1-41) who razed down the middle and lower order to give thevisitors no glimmer of hope.
The defeat, that marked the series loss with South Africa taking a 3-0winning lead, came after India failed to utilise the full quota of 50 overs forthe third match in succession.
What must hurt the Indians was the way they surrendered without a semblanceof a fight and the batsmen's spineless show that undid the good work by thebowlers.
After Zaheer Khan (1-38) and Sreesanth (1-29) did the early damage, veteranleg-spinner Anil Kumble (2-42) kept it tight in the middle to lead India'sresurgence following huge losses in the previous two matches.
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But the visitors still lacked the killer punch and South Africa once againplundered runs in the closing overs.
Herschelle Gibbs (93 n.o.), man-of-the-match, led the middle order recoverywhile Kallis (49) and Pollock (37) chipped in with useful knocks.
The hosts were in troughs at 6 for 2, 93 for 4 and later at 155 for 6 butGibbs stood rock-solid amidst all the mayhem.
Gibbs had useful stand of 71, 61 and 60 for the third, fifth and seventhwicket with Kallis, Mark Boucher (29) and Pollock in an otherwise ordinarydisplay by the hosts.
The middle-order batsman had a lucky reprieve in the eighth over when he wascaught off a no-ball at the total 23 for 2 and he himself on a mere 2 runs. Hisknock spanned over 123 balls and included eight fours.
The innings was rocked early with Zaheer ejecting Graeme Smith for the thirdtime in the first over without scoring.
New induction Sreesanth then rammed in a yorker which hit the base of LootsBosman (0) stumps to leave the hosts gasping for 6 for 2 in the fourth over.
Things took a turn for the better with Kallis looking in impregnable form,striking several offside fours before the introduction of Kumble once again setthem back.
Kallis attempted a cut off the first delivery and was caught behind thestumps for 49 from 62 deliveries with five fours.
Kumble was to strike again soon when he foxed AB de Villiers with a googlywhich the batsman attempted to guide around the corner.
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The hosts' innings was once again put on the rails by the Gibbs-Boucher standbefore Virender Sehwag's part-time spin earned a leg before verdict.
Boucher's 29 came off 49 balls and included two fours.
The Indians' joy in the field knew no bounds after last game's hero Kempdeparted to Sachin Tendulkar off the first delivery he faced, guiding a catch toSehwag in the point region.
Gibbs and Pollock once again put the innings on the rails with some sensiblebatting before the latter ran himself out for the second game in the running.
After a positive start to make 22 runs in five overs, India were set backwhen they lost Wasim Jaffer and Tendulkar in the space of five balls.
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Jaffer, back in the line up as replacement for injured skipper Rahul Dravid,attempted an awkward drive-cut against the searing pace of Ntini and edged acatch to slip cordon.
Tendulkar (1) then departed when he failed to take his bat in time out of theway of an out-swinger from Pollock and wicketkeeper Boucher made no mistakebehind the stumps.
Sehwag, leading the side in Dravid's absence, became the second victim ofNtini (2-26) when he was caught by Bosman for 18 in the 10th over.
Mohammad Kaif then was run out for 10 to make it 39-4 before Dinesh Kaarthickand Mahendra Singh Dhoni built a minor recovery.
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But the partnership, eventually worth 43 runs, was always in danger withDhoni's hit or miss style of batting.
PTI
