South Africa threw the game away

The semi-final between South Africa and India re-affirmed the glorious uncertainty of one-day cricket yet again. It was a thoroughly incompetent batting display from the South Africans in the end overs that helped India recover and win a game which at one point seemed to have slipped out of their grasp.

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The turning point of the game came when Herschelle Gibbs was forced to retire with cramps in both hands. At that stage, Gibbs and Jacques Kallis seemed to have batted India out of the game with their 178-run second wicket partnership. But Gibbs's unfortunate departure presented India with the slightest of opportunity and all credit to them, for they seized it with both hands. The spinners - Harbhajan Singh and later Virender Sehwag - bowled a tight line and stifled the South African batsmen while the fielders led by Yuvraj Singh pulled off some fine catches as India willed themselves back into the game.

Evidently, South Africa had their chances but the lack of imagination and daring on the part of their batsmen saw India tightening the screws on the opposition with every passing over.

I felt that Jacques Kallis and Lance Klusener played as if winning the game never really mattered to them. Kallis after having played himself in during the partnership with Gibbs was ideally suited to take over the role of the senior partner but strangely he seemed reluctant to force the pace. Klusener's inability to play slower bowlers, meanwhile, meant that there were no breathtaking assaults from his end either as the South African challenge met with a tame end.

After this performance, I wouldn't be surprised if Klusener is axed on his return. South African cricket will indeed have to take some tough decisions, even if that means showing the door to some of the established players for having let the team down.

I also wonder about whether there was any communication between South African skipper Shaun Pollock and Kallis and Klusener. The thoughts arise because it was befuddling to see a professional side like South Africa play so poorly, and that too in the second biggest one-day tournament.

Earlier, the Indian batting failed to take advantage of a blistering start. When Sehwag was around, flaying the South African bowling, I had hoped that the Indians would end up with a score in excess of 300.

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All credit, though, should be given to South African bowlers and their breathtaking fielding for restricting India to what was at best a competitive total. India wouldn't have got to even that score if Rahul Dravid and the very impressive Yuvraj Singh had not come up with vital knocks which ensured that India were given a fighting chance of winning the game.

I am glad that the boys, then, showed the spunk required of them in the evening and qualified for the big final. With either Sri Lanka or Australia, both strong batting teams, destined to be their next opponent, it is time the think-tank thought about strengthening our bowling line-up. I for one would like to see Ajit Agarkar replace Kumble in the bowling line up.

If that happens it would only strengthen a team that now seems capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with the best teams in the world. With the likes of Sehwag, Yuvraj and Mohammad Kaif all playing crucial roles in recent Indian wins, Sourav Ganguly's men have indeed grown into a formidable force in one-day cricket.

The success of these youngsters has also meant that India are in the finals despite their premier batsman Sachin Tendulkar having a poor tournament, according to his standards. The big final, though, might be the setting that will inspire Tendulkar into giving his best. Winning it is not going to be easy, but it surely is not impossible and I wish the boys all the very best before the all-important encounter.