South Africa v India, 2006
South Africa v India, 2006
Neil Manthorp
15-Apr-2007
At Johannesburg, December 1, 2006 (day/night). India won by six wickets. Toss: South Africa.
Twenty20 international debuts: T. Henderson; India (all).
India gained some consolation for their earlier thrashings by edging their first Twenty20
international with a ball to spare. The pitch was damp, and encouraged the seamers - not really
the right recipe for a cracking 20-over game. An understrength South Africa battled to 126, but
Zaheer Khan revelled in the conditions - the 15 runs he conceded equalled the record for the
tightest four-over spell in the short history of these games - and was well supported by Agarkar
and Tendulkar, whose gentle dobbers were as effective as the faster bowling. Sehwag hit out, but
India's victory was set up by measured innings from Mongia and Karthik, who virtually sealed
the win by hitting the first ball of the last over, bowled by Peterson, into the stands.
Man of the Match: K. D. Karthik.
Neil Manthorp is a South African broadcaster and journalist, and head of the MWP Sport agency