Dinesh Karthik hit a last over six as India halted their losing streak inSouth Africa by defeating the hosts by six wickets in their first ever Twenty-20international clash at the Wanderers.
India needed nine runs off the last over when Karthik (31 not out) pulledspinner Robin Peterson over mid-wicket for a six to virtually seal a thrillingvictory and then hit the winning run with one ball to spare to lift the saggingspirits of the struggling team.
India made 127 for four in 19.5 overs after restricting South Africa, whoopted to bat, to a modest 126 for nine.
This was the visitors' first victory of the tour so far after having concededan unassailable 3-0 lead to the hosts in the five match one-day series, whichhad put them under immense pressure to perform.
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The main contributors in the successful Indian run chase were stand-inskipper Virender Sehwag (34 off 29 balls), Dinesh Mongia (38 off 45) and Karthik(31 in 28).
Earlier, Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar claimed two wickets each to put brakeson the South African batsmen.
India were off to a poor start again when Sachin Tendulkar (10) dragged aCharles Langeveldt delivery onto his stumps but then Sehwag and Mongia put theinnings back on rails with a 43-run second wicket stand.
Sehwag (34) departed at 60 off to a brilliant run-out by bowler Langeveldtwho flew in the air to break the stumps and catch the Delhi batsman short of hisground.
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Sehwag looked ominous and struck five boundaries and one six before aterrible mix up with Mongia resulted in the run out.
India were soon dealt a blow in the guts when Mahendra Singh Dhoni played aLangeveldt delivery onto his stumps.
But Mongia and Karthik added a crucial 37 runs for the fourth wicket thatsteadied the Indian ship and moored it home.
Mongia then took the hosts' attack apart, hitting some big shots while Kartik played smart cricket, rotating the strike. Mongia blasted a six overextra cover off Albie Morkel that landed in the stands.
With 18 runs remaining off 14 balls Mongia, in search of a boundary, liftedleft arm spinner Peterson and Langeveldt held on to the skier.
Karthik then played sensibly and guided India home in the company of SureshRaina (3 not out)
In the South African innings, Zaheer (2-15) and Ajit (2-10) werebrilliant up front and had reduced the hosts to 41 for 4 by the eighth over, asituation which worsened further with swashbuckling Justin Kemp (22) falling legbefore to Tendulkar.
India, however, received a jolt in the form of Agarkar tearing his rightgroin muscle in the middle of his third over. Home-bound after the one-dayseries, Agarkar has almost been ruled out of the last game on Sunday.
SouthAfrica rested five of their regulars, including Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollockand Makhaya Ntini, while India, searching for the first victory on the tour,fielded their full side.
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South Africa lost their first wicket in Loots Bosman (1), when he edgedZaheer to Tendulkar in the slips. Agarkar then struck from the other end byclaiming Herschelle Gibbs (7), caught brilliantly at short cover by Raina.
Morkel's power-packed knock lasted 18 balls and included one four and threesixes.
A sizeable crowd turned up to soak in the pleasure of the match which wasreplete with cheerleaders and music playing in the background.
One of the innovations of the game was also witnessed when Harbhajan Singhbowled a no-ball and according to the rules, the next ball was to be a free hit.
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Peterson hit it down the throat of the deep mid-off fielder but but he wasfound standing out of his crease after running towards the non striker's endwhen bowler Irfan Pathan took off the bails. Run out is the only way a batsmancould be dismissed off a free hit in this format.
PTI
