South Africa pull off thrilling win

Sachin Tendulkar's 99th international century went in vain as South Africa got their ICC Cricket World Cup campaign back on track with a dramatic three-wicket win over India.

With India batting first in Nagpur, Tendulkar compiled 111 off 101 balls to register his sixth World Cup century but only Virender Sehwag (73) and Gautam Gambhir (69) supported him.

The co-hosts had looked on track for a massive total but lost their last nine wickets for just 29 runs, with Dale Steyn taking five for 50, as India were somehow bowled out for 296 from 48.4 overs.

South Africa began their chase brightly, as Hashim Amla's 61 and Jacques Kallis' 69 - ably backed by a quickfire 52 from AB de Villiers - kept alive their hopes of snatching a win.

Fortunes changed hands rapidly as Harbhajan Singh's three wickets - including those of Amla and De Villiers - gave India a toe-hold in the middle overs, but the game eventually went down to the final over with South Africa needing 13.

Ashish Nehra was handed the ball but Robin Peterson (18 not out) inside-edged his first delivery for four before swiping the second over the ropes as he and Faf du Plessis (25 not out) saw the Proteas home with two balls to spare.

Earlier in the day, Tendulkar and Sehwag raced through the mandatory powerplay to put on 87 runs as the latter brought up his 50 with a four off Peterson.

Tendulkar took just 33 balls to reach his 94th ODI half-century while at the other end, Sehwag continued to power his way through, dealing mostly in boundaries.

South Africa finally got a breakthrough in the 17th over when, after surviving a dropped caught behind chance off Johan Botha, Sehwag played on to his stumps.

Gambhir helped India keep up their momentum as the total crossed 200 in just 31 overs.

Then a single off Morne Morkel brought Tendulkar his 48th ODI century while Gambhir reached his 50 from the very next delivery.

Respite soon came South Africa's way as the 125-run second wicket stand ended with Tendulkar caught out off a wild slog, while Steyn dispatched both Gambhir and Yusuf Pathan in the same over.

India had endured a disappointing batting powerplay - scoring just 30 for the loss of four wickets - and the last five batsmen could only add 13 to the total, with three of them scoring ducks.

South Africa lost skipper Graeme Smith in the ninth over of their chase but recovered well with Amla - who had provided a brisk start - and Kallis frustrating India's bowlers to put on 86.

Amla was given a lifeline when dropped by Yuvraj Singh at short mid-wicket, but could not build on his luck and was caught behind off Harbhajan.

Despite a climbing required rate, an unperturbed Kallis steered the innings patiently - uncharacteristically hitting only four boundaries - while De Villiers provided some sixes to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

However, Kallis fell in a similar build-up to Amla's dismissal, surviving a reviewed lbw decision, only to be run out in the very next delivery, while De Villiers smashed seven boundaries in his 52 off 39 balls before Harbhajan got rid of him.

JP Duminy and Morne van Wyk fell cheaply, but Botha provided 23 off 15 balls and Du Plessis 25 off 23 balls to leave the game on a knife edge in the final over, with 13 required.

It was Peterson who provided the last-gasp heroics, getting all 13 runs, via two boundaries around a six to bring up a thrilling victory.