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India strike after SA make steady start
South Africa recovered well to end their innings at 265 for 7 and give the bowlers a total to defend in the 4th ODI at Port Elizabeth on Friday.
Earlier, the Proteas got off to a cautious start before Indian bowlers came in and delivered a few blows to the South African batting line-up
They lost four wickets in quick succession to hand India the early advantage and squander a good opening. Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith took their time before going full throttle. Amla began on a more confident note, smashing Zaheer's sixth delivery through the cover point for the first boundary of the innings.
The fourth and fifth overs, bowled by Munaf and Zaheer, were maidens and then the South African openers exploded, Graeme Smith (18) smashing Munaf to the mid-on fence to break the shackles.
Zaheer and Munaf were badly punished by the South African openers -- 10 runs were taken off Zaheer Khan's 2nd over.
Ashish Nehra replaced Munaf in the 10th over, and he did the trick in his very next over.Nehra struck in the next over when Harbhajan took a spectacular catch at mid-off to send back Smith for 18 (30).
Amla fastest to reach 2000-run mark in ODIs
A few overs later, Amla completed his 12th ODI half century. He and Morne van Wyk (15) put on 49 runs (at a run-a-ball) for the second wicket before Yuvraj had the latter caught by Kohli at slips.
Later, Amla (64) ran himself out in the very next over and India was back in the game. Amla's 69-ball knock was inclusive of eight hits to the fence.
Yuvraj strikes thrice
Yuvraj then went on to play a crucial role in South Africa's downfall. He picked three quick wickets to have the Proteas reeling at 196 for 6.
Before that, Faf du Plessis (1) was run out in the 23rd over to give India the edge and early optimism.
Yuvraj first had AB de Villiers (3) caught behind and later went on to dismiss Morne van Wyk and Johan Botha.
Botha had stitched a valuable 70-run partnership with JP Duminy (for the sixth wicket) to bring the Proteas back into the game.
Duminy sets up competitive total
Duminy then stitched up another crucial partnership lower down the order with Robin Petersen to prop the South African total.
Robin Peterson (31) combined well with Duminy to put on a 54-run partnership for the seventh wicket and add to India's woes.
Duminy top-scored with 71, his 72-ball knock inclusive of two hits to the fence and one over it. Hashim Amla shone at the top of the order with an impressive 65.
Yuvraj Singh was India's most successful bowler with figures of three for 34.