South Africa got their World Cup campaign back on track, and ended India's unbeaten run in the process, with a dramatic three-wicket win in Nagpur. Sachin Tendulkar, whose knock of 111 was his 48th century in one-day internationals, featured in century partnerships with Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir that helped dominate a highly-rated bowling attack early on.
India made the most of winning the toss on an easy-paced pitch as Sehwag and Tendulkar provided an explosive 142-run start off just 17.4 overs. Gambhir continued the good work, adding 125 for the second wicket with Tendulkar.
At 267-1 with more than 10 overs to go and a Batting Powerplay in process, 400 looked a real probability. Yet any ideas of such a score disappeared in a hurry. The rot set in when Tendulkar was caught at backward point for 111 off the bowling of Morne Morkel at the start of the Batting Powerplay.
The Indians lost their last nine wickets for just 29 runs in nine overs and were bowled out for 296. Man of the match Steyn (50-5) played a key role in his team's fightback, bagging his maiden five-wicket haul in one-day internationals.
South Africa lost skipper Smith in the ninth over of their run chase and despite a gritty 61 from Amla and a composed knock of 69 from Kallis, they always appeared to be behind the eight-ball. Their prospects changed thanks to AB de Villiers, who smashed seven boundaries in his 52 off 39 balls before Harbhajan Singh had him caught in the deep during the Batting Powerplay.
The final stages of the match were frantic and exciting. Peterson kept his cool in the company of DuPlessis as South Africa required 13 off the last over to be bowled by Ashish Nehra. Peterson needed just four deliveries out of those six. He inside-edged a slog for four and followed it with a six to long-on to seize the moment. He hit two off the next ball before finishing with another four to cover to silence a packed house.
The South Africans flushed the "choke" word down the toilet with the win and lie third in the table, having played a game less than India and West Indies above them.
The Indians suffered their first defeat of the tournament and had their middle-order batsmen to blame, with skipper MS Dhoni accusing them of playing for the crowd and not for the team.
India play their final match of the Group Stage against the West Indies next Sunday in Chennai.
India: 296 all-out in 48.4 overs (Tendulkar 111, Sehwag 73, Steyn 50-5)
South Africa: 300-7 in 49.4 overs (Kallis 69, Amla 61, Harbhajan 53-3)
Result: South Africa won by 3 wickets.
Man of the Match: Dale Steyn
