Jaipur: It went down to the last ball with the South African tail-enders nearly gatecrashing India’s party but in the end it was the home team that held its nerve to eke out a thrilling one-run win over South Africa in the first ODI to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The game seemed all but over for the Proteas when skipper Jacques Kallis fell in the 43^rd over with South Africa requiring 74 from 43 balls and only two wickets in hand. But Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell led a strong fightback to take the Proteas within touching distance of a win.

Steyn (35 off 19 balls) and Parnell (49 off 47 balls) added 65 runs for the ninth wicket off just 38 balls and the partnership nearly did the trick. The tourists needed 10 to win off the final over to be bowled by Praveen Kumar. Dale Steyn fell on the second ball of the over and South Africa eventually needed four to win off the final ball.

There was more drama when Praveen Kumar bowled a wide delivery which beat Parnell’s bat and the security people stormed into the ground, thinking that India had won, only to realise that the ball has been signaled a wide. Praveen then re-bowled the final delivery, which Parnell edged to third man, and the batsman went for a desperate second run to tie the match but Dhoni completed a brilliant run out as South Africa were bowled out for 297, just one run short of India’s 298 for 9.

Left-arm spinner, Ravindra Jadeja, was the pick of the Indian bowlers, finishing with figures of 2 for 29 off his 10 overs. South African skipper, Jacques Kallis, who had claimed three Indian wickets for 29 runs from his seven tight overs, top-scored for South Africa with a 97-ball 89 — his 75th half-century.

Earlier, after being put into bat, India, riding on cameos from Virender Sehwag (46), Dinesh Karthik (44), Virat Kohli (31) and a fluent half-century by Suresh Raina (58), posted 298 for 9 off their 50 overs.

Match Summary:

India 298 for 9 (Raina 58, Sehwag 46, Karthik 44, Kallis 3-29) beat South Africa 297 (Kallis 89, Parnell 49, Jadeja 2-29) by one run

Man of the Match: Ravindra Jadeja

Tagged with: Dale Steyn, Dinesh Karthik, India, Jacques Kallis, Jaipur, Ravindra Jadeja, South Africa, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Virender Sehwag, Wayne Parnell

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