Yuvraj Singh's unbeaten 61 helped India clinch an edge-of-the-seat thriller
and beat South Afica by six wickets for a rare cricket series triumph abroad
on Sunday.
Chasing 149 to win in 31 overs in the rain-curtailed series decider, India faltered
and fumbled before picking up themselves to reach 152 for four in 30.2 overs at
Stormont ground.
Yuvraj top scored with unbeaten gutsy innings of 61 off 85
balls that included six boundaries besides a six, while Rahul Dravid
contributed 36.
After Dravid left the scene (108-4), Yuvraj and Mahendra
Singh Dhoni (not out 14) put their heads down to negotiate the daunting
run-a-ball chase.
Earlier, India reduced their opponents to 28 from four but
a 99-run stand between Justin Kemp (61) and Herschelle Gibbs (56)
propped up South Africa for a decent total of 148 for seven in 31 overs.
With the series levelled at 1-1, all eyes were on the final match but due to
rain and wet outfield, the match was reduced to a 31 overs a side contest.
And if South Africa had a disastrous beginning after being
asked to take first strike in the seamer friendly conditions, it was no different
with India. Sourav Ganguly (18) and Sachin Tendulkar (8), who
had laid the foundation for India's win in the previous match with a century
stand, got a life each but could not capitalise on that.
Tendulkar was lucky to have edged one through slips and still
got away with a boundary but it took just four deliveries for Makhaya Ntini
to settle the score.
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