Hyderabad Blues

Yuvraj Singh's brilliant century went in vain as South Africa kept themselves on course for a world record unbeaten run with a thrilling five-wicket victory over India in the first one-dayer today.

The hosts recovered from a precarious 35 for five to post a competitive 249 for nine riding on Yuvraj's 122-ball 103 but the South Africans kept their nerves to overhaul the target with seven balls to spare and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

South Africa relied on the experienced Jacques Kallis (68 not out) to steer the team home in what turned out to be a close contest at the newly constructed Rajiv Gandhi Stadium while captain Graeme Smith (48 off 35 balls) and Ashley Prince (46) were the other notable contributors.

The Proteas had the game under control right through the run chase although they did lose a couple of quick wickets in the middle stages. The Indians, however, could not capitalise on the breakthroughs.

Kallis slammed paceman Ajit Agarkar, who was the most successful Indian bowler with2-55, to the boundary to bring about the victory in style. South Africa made 252 for five in 48.5 overs.

The African team is now just two matches away from breaking Australia's record of winning 21 matches on the trot. They are now unbeaten in 20 matches (17 wins, two no-results and a tie).

The Indians, coming into the series on the back of a splendid 6-1 series triumph over Sri Lanka, found the going tough right from the word go when they were put in to bat on a juicy track that offered considerable assistance tothe fast bowlers early on. But the wicket eased out as the day progressed and the South African batsmen took full advantage of the conditions.

Needing to score at nearly five runs an overs, the South Africans were off to a flier with Smith leading the charge with some aggressive batting.

He slammed nine fours in his quickfire knock to rattle the Indians and provide a good platform to his team to build upon.

Irfan Pathan, who made 46 and shared a valuable 75-run partnership with Yuvraj, found himself at the receiving end and conceded as many as 37 runs from his first four overs, forcing skipper Rahul Dravid to pull him out of the attack.

It was R.P. Singh who got rid of Smith, the South African skipper dragging one on to his stumps in a spectacular fashion.

With the Indians already a bowler short as they had substituted Murali Kartik with Gautam Gambhir, Dravid used as many as seven bowlers including Sachin Tendulkar who did give the team the wicket of Mark Boucher in the 35th over. But then it was hardly enough.

The highlight of the South African innings was the sedate knock by Kallis who concentrated on building partnerships without taking too many risks.

Kallis first put on an 89-run partnership with Prince (46) after the team was rocked by the dismissal of Smith and Justine Ontong (11) off two consecutive deliveries. Prince struck five fours in his 74-ball knock before he was caught by Virender Sehwag in the 34th over off Harbhajan, who had contributed with the bat as well, scoring a cameo 37 off just 17 balls with four fours and two sixes.

South Africa lost their fifth wicket just six balls later, Tendulkar sending back wicketkeeperMark Boucher.

However, Justine Kemp (46 off 51 with five fours) and Kallis ensured no further setbacks and took the team to a comfortablevictory.

Earlier, the Indian batting was left in tatters and was gasping at 35 for five in the face of some aggressive fast bowling when Yuvraj took upon himself the task to steady the rocking boat and helped the team put up a score which at one stage looked highly improbable.

Yuvraj, whose 103-run knock came off 122 balls and contained 10 fours and three sixes, put on 75 valuable runs for the sixth wicket with Pathan and held fort at one end stoutly. He was run out in the 48th over while going for a quick second run by Kallis.

India were off to a disastrous start with Sehwag (1) being dismissed off the first ball of the second over by Mkhaya Ntini.

Mohd Kaif, promoted to the experimental number three spot this time, followed Sehwag in to the pavilion soon after for one, trapped leg before wicket by Shaun Pollock, who emerged as the most impressive bowler with figures of 10-1-37-2.

However, a bigger blow was in store for India as Tendulkar was dismissed for two, adjudged caught behind off Pollock, the scoreboard reading three for five.

Skipper Dravid (8) tried to stem the rot but in vain as he was clean bowled by Andre Nel, who also picked two wickets, to leave India in shambles at 34 for four.

Gautam Gambhir, brought on as a Super Sub in place of Kartik, also failed to click as the Delhi batsman was caught behind, India losing their fifth wicket with the addition of just one run to the total.

Yuvraj then took the fight to the rival camp and showed great application in building a partnership with Pathan.

But just when things were starting to go right for India, the hosts lost the wicket of Pathan to debutant off-spinner Johan Botha.

The tweaker, introduced in to the attack as late as the 23rd over, scalped his first victim when Pathan played on to his stumps.

But Yuvraj stood rock solid at one end and put on crucial partnerships with thetail-enders, mixing aggression and patience in right measure.

Some lusty hitting by Harbhajan and Yuvraj saw India score more than 50 runs in the last five overs.

PTI