CALCUTTA, India, 26 November 2005 — Skipper Graeme Smith’s century led South Africa to a runaway 10-wicket victory against India in their fourth limited-overs international yesterday.
Smith cracked an unbeaten 134 as South Africa coasted to 189 for no loss in 35.5 overs after its pace bowlers bundled India out for 188 in 45.5 overs.
Smith’s opening partner, Andrew Hall, remained unbeaten on 48, showcasing his all-round display after a fine bowling performance that fetched him three for 36 runs.
Outplaying India, Smith’s team raised the chances of South Africa’s first one-day series triumph on Indian soil. South Africa now leads 2-1 in the five-match series with the final match to be played Monday.
The third one-dayer was washed out Tuesday without a single ball being bowled.
Smith hit one six and 20 boundaries from 124 deliveries, while Hall’s 94-ball knock contained four boundaries. Before Smith’s dazzling strokeplay, it was South Africa’s pace bowlers who seized the initiative by ripping through India’s top order that was asked to bat first on a lively pitch.
Middle-order batsmen Yuvraj Singh’s 78-ball 53 and Mohammad Kaif’s 46 off 63 deliveries were the only redeeming feature of the Indian innings at Eden Gardens.
India failed to recover from a torrid start, losing three wickets for 23 in a fiery burst by South African paceman Shaun Pollock (3-25).
Irfan Pathan, who came in as an experimental opener, fell for a duck on the third ball of the match as he edged Pollock’s delivery on to his stumps. Sachin Tendulkar created a new world record by playing in his 357th limited-overs international — surpassing former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram’s previous record of 356 one-day appearances — but contributed just two runs before becoming Pollock’s second victim. Tendulkar was snapped by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.
Gautam Gambhir hit two boundaries in his 19-ball 11 and became Pollock’s third victim, caught by skipper Smith in the slips.
Virender Sehwag’s 21-ball cameo of 30 included six boundaries, but he was caught behind off seamer Hall. Skipper Rahul Dravid was bowled by Charl Langeveldt after managing to score just six runs from 31 balls, leaving India in dire straits at 71 for five.
