India v South Africa, 2010

At Jaipur, February 21, 2010 (day/night). India won by one run. Toss: South Africa.

Unlikely batting heroes Parnell and Steyn almost saved their top order's blushes with a ninth-wicket stand of 65 in 38 balls. Steyn lashed two sixes in one Raina over, and both men cleared the boundary in the penultimate over, from Nehra, to leave South Africa needing ten from the last to snatch victory. Praveen Kumar hit Steyn's leg stump with the second ball, several replays finally proved Tendulkar had saved a four near the long-leg rope off the fifth, and the sixth was a wide. So it boiled down to three needed from one ball, but Parnell could only slice it to third man for a single. Kallis, the stand-in captain, was the one recognised batsman who married composure to strokeplay, batting into the 43rd over in a 97-ball innings. Gibbs and Bosman made a rapid start but got themselves out when well set; so did de Villiers, as Jadeja bowled his slow left-armers superbly on a beige pitch to restrict the middle order. India's innings had turned sour after bowler Langeveldt's deflection at the non-striker's end ran out Sehwag. Raina stopped the rot and, with the tail's help, pushed India to safety. Nehra had two lucky moments: he should have been given run out before scoring, but a subdued appeal was not referred to the TV umpire; and, in the final over, Langeveldt sent a yorker crashing into his off stump, but the bails did not fall and the ball ricocheted to the boundary for four.

Man of the Match: R. A. Jadeja.