Sabkush Headlines: India Eke Out Narrow One-Run Win In Thriller Against S Africa

Sabkush Headlines: India Eke Out Narrow One-Run Win In Thriller Against S Africa

India Eke Out Narrow One-Run Win In Thriller Against S Africa
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The 65-run ninth wicket partnership between Wayne Parnell (49 off 47 balls) and Dale Steyn (35 off 19 balls) off just 38 balls nearly did the trick before South Africa, in pursuit of a 299-run winning target, were all out for 297. South Africa needed 10 runs of the last over sent down by Praveen Kumar and eventually a boundary off the last ball. There was intense drama as Praveen beat Parnells bat and the ecstatic crowd invaded the ground to celebrate a win only to realise that it was a wide ball. Praveen then came up with the final delivery and a desperate Parnell, going for two runs, ran himself out as South Africa finished just one run short of Indias total. Captain 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. Put into bat, India had earlier posted 298 for nine at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, riding on a string of cameos from Suresh Raina (58), Virender Sehwag (46), Dinesh Karthik (44) and Virat Kohli (31) which took them near the 300-mark. South Africa, on their part, got off to a positive start. After the first five-over lull, their openers Herschelle Gibbs (27) and Loots Bosman (29) broke lose to reach 50 in 7.3 overs before Ravindra Jadeja brought India back into the match. Gibbs had milked 17 runs of S Sreesanths first over, prompting Dhoni to withdraw the bowler from attack, and the visitors threatened to run away with the match before Praveen Kumar castled Bosman and Jadejas double blow claimed Gibbs and AB de Villiers (25).