South African fast bowlers dis-missed India for 168 on Sunday to win the third one-day international by 106 runs.
The victory was a remarkable turnaround for South Africa, which earlier recovered from 0-2 -- and then 76-6 -- to make 274-7 in 50 overs with a world record ODI eighth wicket partnership. Justin Kemp hit an undefeated 100.
South Africa now leads the five-match series 2-0.
PHOTO: EPA
"We missed some opportunities after we had them at 76-6," India coach Greg Chappell said. "There is not much positive to take out of the game from that point on."
South African captain Graeme Smith said India suffered from a lack of confidence.
"I don't know how they can deal with it, but I do know that we have been bowling really well, and backing it up with some great fielding," Smith said.
PHOTO: AFP
Shaun Pollock precipitated India's collapse with an opening spell of 3-17 off seven overs at the Newlands Stadium. He finished with 4-25 in nine overs.
Pollock had Virender Sehwag caught by Andrew Hall at third man for a duck in the opening over of the innings and he then dismissed Sachin Tendulkar, caught by Loots Bosman at square leg for two.
When Pollock bowled Mohammad Kaif for 10 in the ninth over, India at 17-3 looked unlikely to be able to chase down South Africa's target.
Kemp's 100 had rescued South Africa which lost two wickets for no runs in the first over.
"I didn't think of the 100 while I was batting," Kemp said. "I was only thinking of getting the team as many [runs] on the board as possible. But when I got to 99, I did think I had got pretty close."
Kemp reached his maiden century in one-dayers off 89 balls, and hit six fours and seven sixes as he and Hall shared a world record eighth-wicket partnership of 138 runs.
That surpassed the 119 runs by Australia's Paul Reiffel and Shane Warne against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in 1994.
Hall finished on 56 not out off 47 balls, with seven fours.
Smith won the toss and elected to bat at the Newlands Stadium, but he was the first to depart when bowled by Zaheer Khan off the second ball of the match.
Khan also removed Jacques Kallis for a duck in the same first over, leaving Herschelle Gibbs and Bosman battling to stabilize the innings.
But these two departed just 10 balls apart -- Bosman caught by Tendulkar off Khan for 6, and Gibbs caught by Mohammad Kaif for 35 off Irfan Pathan.
Mark Boucher was run out in a mix-up with A.B. de Villiers for 4, and that brought Kemp to the crease.
Kemp took his time to get going, and survived the loss of De Villiers for 29, and the run-out of Pollock for 33.
Hall was a willing rebuilder with Kemp, and the pair gradually got the upper hand over the Indian bowlers. Khan's initial spell of seven overs cost him nine runs, with three wickets, but he finished with 3-42 as he conceded 31 off his last three overs.
Harbhajan Singh (0-63 off 10 overs) and Ajit Agarkar (1-71 off nine) were severely punished.
After India's early collapse, captain Rahul Dravid held the innings together with 63.
Dinesh Karthik helped him at first but found the extra pace and lift of Makhaya Ntini difficult and edged a sharp chance to Smith to depart for 14.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni raised Indian hopes of a recovery with a brisk 55 off 48 balls including four sixes. He was caught on the square leg boundary by Bosman off Kallis.
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