India wins 1st one-day against S Africa by 1 run

Ravindra Jadeja celebrates after dismissing AB de Villiers during the first One-Day International between India and South Africa in Jaipur
Jaipur, Feb 21 (IANS) India defeated South Africa by one run in a dramatic last-ball finish in the first One-day International at Sawai Mansingh Stadium here Sunday.
South Africa, chasing a victory target of 299 runs, almost snatched victory from the jaws of defeat before being bowled out for 297 in the last ball of a tense final over bowled by Praveen Kumar (2-46).
The visitors needed 10 runs from the last over, and two from the last ball to tie the match. Wayne Parnell (49 off 47 balls), who brought the match alive with a 65-run ninth wicket stand with Dale Steyn (35 off 19 balls), guided the ball to the third man boundary and went for a double. S. Sreesnath kept his nerve and threw the ball to wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who took the bails off in a flash as the crowd erupted in spontaneous celebration.
Kumar bowled an excellent last over, dismissing Steyn with the second ball. Last man Charl Langeveldt‘s shot was then brilliantly saved from a certain boundary by a diving Sachin Tendulkar in the fine leg, for which they took three runs.
South Africa were almost out of the hunt when Jacques Kallis, after scoring a stroke filed 89 off 97 balls, was bowled by Sreesnath, who took two wickets but proved to be too expensive, giving away 74 runs.
The visitors were off to a good start as Loots Bosman (29) and Herschelle Gibbs (27), riding on their luck, scored 58 runs in 8.4 overs. But after that they lost wickets at regular intervals and were reduced to five for 142. Left arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers taking two wickets giving 29 runs.
Earlier, India, after being asked to bat, rode on useful contributions from the top order to post a competitive total.
The Indian innings revolved around Suresh Raina, who top scored with 58, Virender Sehwag (46) and Dinesh Karthik (44) while Mahendra Singh Dhoni (26) and Virat Kohli (31) provided them support.
All the batsmen except Sachin Tendulkar, who was unfortunately run out for 4, got a good start but failed to convert it into a big score, leaving the lower order to take charge in the crucial end overs.
India scored at a good pace but South Africa did not allow any partnership to flourish. Jacques Kallis, who is leading the side in place of injured Graeme Smith, took three wickets.
Sehwag and Karthik added 79 runs in quick time after India lost Tendulkar with just 10 runs on the board.
Sehwag struck six fours and two sixes in his 37-ball innings, but he too, was run out.
Karthik, who hit five fours and one six, and Dhoni then kept the scoring rate moving before the former was dismissed by fast bowler Charl Langeveldt. Dhoni followed Karthik to the pavilion, becoming the first victim of Kallis.
Raina and Kohli kept up the good job with a brisk 66-run stand for the fifth wicket. With both at the crease India reached the 200-mark in the 35th over and were eyeing a big total but South Africa struck back with crucial blows.
Kohli left with Herschelle Gibbs taking a fine low catch at short mid-wicket off Morne Morkel.
Yusuf Pathan (18), who was making a comeback to the Indian team, did not stay for long, falling to left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell.
Left-handed Raina, who hit six fours and one six in his 63-ball knock, was the next to go, dismissed by Kallis.
Ravindra Jadeja (22), Praveen Kumar (13) and Ashish Nehra (16) then chipped in to take India closer to a competitive total.
India won by 1 run
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INDIA: 298/9 (50) RR: 5.961st Innings-
BattingRB4s6sS/R
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463762124.3214.2 C Langeveldt to D Karthik, OUT! SEHWAG DEPARTS! Full and straight, Karthik has driven it straight down the ground. The ball has hit the stumps off Langeveldt’s hand and Sehwag was caught outside his crease. Sehwag did not even wait, took off his gloves and started walking back.
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451080.001.5 W Parnell to V Sehwag, OUT! RUN OUT! DISASTER! Sehwag has punched that ball through covers, he denied the single but Tendulkar was right next to him. Gibbs dived to stop the ball and threw it back to the bowler, Parnell runs Tendulkar out at the other end. India have lost their first wicket.
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44565178.5718.2 C Langeveldt to D Karthik, OUT! KARTHIK DEPARTS! Attempted short delivery, hurried the batsman and Karthik has top edged that one, trying to play the pull shot. That is easy pickings for Petersen who makes no mistake at mid-on. India have lost their third wicket.
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26292089.6623.1 J Kallis to MS Dhoni, OUT! SOFT DISMISSAL! Slower delivery outside off, Dhoni checked his shot and just lofted it towards mid-off. That has gone straight into Morkel’s hands who takes a low catch. India have lost their fourth wicket.
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31461067.3936.2 A Morkel to V Kohli, OUT! NICE CATCH! Full on the middle, Kohli chips it on the leg side. That’s a blinder taken by Gibbs at short mid-wicket. India have lost their fifth wicket.
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58636192.0643.4 J Kallis to S Raina, OUT! GONE! Length delivery outside off, Raina has knicked that one to Boucher who takes a straight forward catch. India have lost their seventh wicket.
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181321138.4639.3 W Parnell to Y Pathan, OUT! AND GONE! Low full toss outside off, Pathan plays it towards extra cover but couldn’t get the connection right. That is easy pickings for Kallis who makes no mistake. India have lost their sixth wicket.
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222010110.0045.5 J Kallis to R Jadeja, OUT! KALLIS STRIKES AGAIN! Length delivery, Jadeja has edged it. Easy catch for Boucher behind the stumps. India have lost their eighth wicket.
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13140092.8649.2 C Langeveldt to P Kumar, OUT! RUN OUT! Driven hard towards the mid-off region, Kumar wanted the second, Nehra denied it. Good pick up and throw by DeVilliers, Langeveldt collected it to run Kumar out. The Third Umpire has been called for by Umpire Tarapore. Red signal by the Third Umpire sends Kumar back to the pavillion. India have lost their ninth wicket.
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16171194.12
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00000.00
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Extras (b 0, lb 7, w 13, nb 0)20
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Total Score:298/9(50 Over)RR:5.96
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Fall of Wickets: 1-10 (Sachin Tendulkar, 1.5 Over) 2-89 (Virender Sehwag, 14.2 Over) 3-116 (Dinesh Karthik, 18.2 Over) 4-138 (MS Dhoni, 23.1 Over) 5-204 (Virat Kohli, 36.2 Over) 6-231 (Yusuf Pathan, 39.3 Over) 7-260 (Suresh Raina, 43.4 Over) 8-274 (Ravindra Jadeja, 45.5 Over) 9-292 (Praveen Kumar, 49.2 Over) BowlingOMRWNBWDEcoDale Steyn101460044.6Wayne Parnell90691037.66Charl Langeveldt100481024.8Albie Morkel80591027.37Johan Botha60400006.66Jacques Kallis70293014.14
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SOUTH AFRICA: 297/10 (50) RR: 5.942nd Innings-
BattingRB4s6sS/R
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292340126.098.4 P Kumar to L Bosman, OUT! BOWLED! GOT HIM! It was the length delivery coming in, Bosman was looking to play it over covers and missed it. The ball uprooted the leg stump. South Africa have lost their first wicket.
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27403167.5011.2 R Jadeja to H Gibbs, OUT! JADEJA STRIKES! Nice flighted delivery outside off, Gibbs charged down the wicket to hit it for a maximum but could not get the power behind it. It’s went high in the air and Kohli completed the catch at long-off. The plan worked for India as South Africa lose their second wicket.
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89976191.7542.6 Sreesanth to J Kallis, OUT! BOWLED! Length delivery on the middle, Kallis went for the pull, missed it completely and found his stumps shattered. That’s a big wicket for India, South Africa lose their eighth wicket.
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252340108.7019.1 R Jadeja to de Villiers, OUT! BOWLED HIM! Arm ball coming in, stayed quite low and Villiers was looking to cut. Misses it and all his stumps have been shattered. South Africa have lost their third wicket.
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9210042.8625.5 A Nehra to A Petersen, OUT! RUN OUT! Petersen has flicked the ball off his pads and they returned for the second. Petersen had made the distance but did not ground his bat as Dhoni removed the bails. It was a good throw but Sreesanth just over the stumps. Umpire Tarapore signals towards the Third Umpire who shows the Red Light. South Africa have lost their fourth wicket.
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280025.0027.6 A Nehra to A Morkel, OUT! LBW! Full delivery came in a bit, Morkel has been struck on the pads as he looked to play that off the front foot. The fielding side are asking the question. Umpire Tarapore raises his finger. South Africa have lost their fifth wicket.
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590055.5631.2 Sreesanth to M Boucher, OUT! SREESANTH STRIKES! Wide delivery outside off, Boucher gets a bottom edge of the bat. Dhoni has dived to his right and taken a fantastic catch. South Africa have lost their sixth wicket.
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10111090.9134.6 Y Pathan to J Botha, OUT! YUSUF STRIKES! LBW! Full on the middle, Botha has been hit on the pads as he tried to sweep that one. The fielding side is asking the question. Umpire Saheba declares Botha OUT. South Africa have lost their seventh wicket.
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494741104.2649.6 P Kumar to W Parnell, WIDE! The ball is way outside the off stump, easy leave for Parnell. Dhoni was running in to celebrate but it was signalled a wide by the Umpire.
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351913184.2149.2 P Kumar to D Steyn, OUT! BOWLED! KUMAR STRIKES! Far too slow delivery on the middle, Steyn comes down the track but misses the line and gets bowled. South Africa have lost their ninth wicket. India will feel quite relieved with that strike.
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4200200.00
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Extras (b 1, lb 4, w 8, nb 0)13
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Total Score:297/10(50 Over)RR:5.94
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Fall of Wickets: 1-58 (Loots Bosman, 8.4 Over) 2-64 (Herschelle Gibbs, 11.2 Over) 3-109 (AB de Villiers, 19.1 Over) 4-134 (Alviro Petersen, 25.5 Over) 5-142 (Albie Morkel, 28 Over) 6-161 (Mark Boucher, 31.2 Over) 7-180 (Johan Botha, 35 Over) 8-225 (Jacques Kallis, 43 Over) 9-290 (Dale Steyn, 49.2 Over) 10-297 (Wayne Parnell, 50 Over) BowlingOMRWNBWDEcoPraveen Kumar80462025.75Ashish Nehra100671006.7Sreesanth91742018.22Ravindra Jadeja102292002.9Yusuf Pathan100511015.1Suresh Raina30250008.33
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