OWN CORRESPONDENT, Sharjah | Monday 4.35pm.
SOUTH Africa have dismissed India for 164 with some fine fielding and bowling in the fifth Sharjah Cup one-dayer on Monday.
South African skipper Hansie Cronje was asked to field after Saurav Ganguly won the toss, and his bowlers immediately knuckled down and dismissed Ganguly cheaply. The Indian skipper was dismissed by Mornantau Hayward for six runs, caught behind by Mark Boucher as he tried to guide a very quick delivery to third-man.
Mohammad Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar then got together and looked like getting on top of the South African bowling, but Azhar was dismissed for 36, run-out by Neil McKenzie. Next man in, Ajay Jadeja was trapped leg-before by Steve Elworthy without scoring to take India to 80/3.
Azhar was run-out after calling for a risky single and McKenzie hit the wickets with an underhand throw. Jadeja looked incredelous when he was given out, but the delivery from Elworthy hit him well in line.
Tendulkar was next to go, run-out by Herschelle Gibbs for 39 runs when he was sent back while trying to scamper a single.
Rahul Dravid was caught by Neil McKenzie, taking India to 124/5, after he tried to chip a slower delivery from Lance Klusener over the infield, but McKenzie was again right on the spot and pouched him for 26 runs.
India gain lost two quick wickets in the pace of two runs with Robin Singh caught behind by Mark Boucher off Hayward for 28 runs, while Anil Kumble was bowled by a Klusener yorker for two runs.
Hayward was the pick of the Proteas bowlers and ended up with figures of four for 31 in ten, while Klusener took two for 35 in ten.
The last three wickets to fall were those of Saba Karim, Ajit Agarkar and Venkatesh Prasad, with Hayward claiming the first two. Karim was caught by McKenzie at extra-cover for 12, while Agarkar was trapped leg-before for four runs.
Prasad was caught by Boucher for one off the bowling of Makhaya Ntini.
The Indians won’t be happy with their performance, and the total is not competitive. South Africa, however, played simply superbly and their fielding was top-notch.