Rudolph was especially impressive, tackling the twin-offspin attack of Harbhajan Singh and Sarandeep Singh with crisp drives through the covers and down the ground. Two of those shots - one each off both bowlers - went to the fence.

McKenzie, on the other hand, employed the sweep shot whenever in doubt. He missed on more than one occasion, but one meaty clunk off Harbhajan raced to the square-leg fence. Importantly, he made sure he got outside the line of off, ruling out the lbw verdict.

Sourav Ganguly brought himself and Virender Sehwag into the attack, in an attempt to save the leading spinners for the later stages of the match. With wickets in hand, South Africa were well-placed to eke out a win.

Salvi’s disconcerting bounce off a good length, and Agarkar’s consistent line around off tested Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith. Salvi drew first blood when Smith (2) drove loosely outside off and nicked to the wicketkeeper (11 for one). Gibbs pulled and cover-drove Agarkar for consecutive fours, but got a lucky escape when he edged a no-ball straight to Virender Sehwag at slip.

Gibbs celebrated by smashing Salvi through cover for four, but Harbhajan came into the attack in the next over, and the reprieve was shortlived.

Harbhajan’s second ball was tossed up, Boeta Dippenaar went for an expansive cover-drive, and the ball sneaked through the huge gap between bat and pad (41 for two). Two balls later - the big wicket. Gibbs shouldered arms to one that spun in a shade, and a vociferous appeal was upheld by Billy Bowden.

The target wasn’t much, but South Africa needed a partnership to get their innings back on track.

Sourav Ganguly’s 61 was a responsible effort, but none of the other Indian batsmen topped 30. Mahkaya Ntini was the pick of the bowlers, bowling with plenty of hostility on a pitch that had a sprinkling of live grass. His returns of three for 37 from 10 overs were richly deserved. Allan Dawson had a profitable day too, picking up four scalps.

Ganguly was peppered by plenty of short stuff - especially by Ntini - but he responded in style, pulling Ntini for a couple of fours and cracking him though point when offered the width. A century seemed there for the taking, but Ganguly threw it away, hammering a full-toss from Adams straight down Shaun Pollock’s throat at long-off (124 for three).

That started the rot for the Indians, as the next six wickets fell for just 68 runs.

Sanjay Bangar made just nine before being trapped in front by an indipper from Ntini (146 for four). Sehwag made a return to the crease after X-rays revealed no broken bones and even managed a rousing front-foot six over point off Andrew Hall, but it was too good to last. Next ball, an attempted across-the-line short-arm jab took the top edge and presented Smith with a dolly (160 for five).

Dinesh Mongia and Ajit Agarkar briefly threatened a revival - Agarkar blasted Dawson for a four and a six in the 41st over - but both fell tamely, caught while trying to force the pace.

At 192 for nine, India were well short of the par score, but Sarandeep Singh (19) and Avishkar Salvi added 23 for the last wicket to ensure that the innings went into the last over. The Indian attack will be bolstered by the return of Harbhajan Singh, but South Africa should fancy their chances of reaching the target.

South Africa introduced Paul Adams in the 17th over, and with the fielding restrictions lifted, both batsmen knocked the ball around for singles and twos. Ganguly did tonk Adams over extra-cover for four, but that was a rare show of aggression.

Kaif was finally done in by a slower ball from Allan Dawson, inside-edging a drive onto his stumps (96 for two). Sensing an opportunity for another breakthrough, Graeme Smith reintroduced Shaun Pollock, but both batsmen held firm.

Ganguly brought up his half-century off 74 balls, and then celebrated by smashing Pollock over cover for four, and lofting Adams over the bowler’s head for the first six of the match.

Meanwhile, there was good news from the Indian dressing room. Sehwag, who was forced to retire after being struck on his right forearm, returned from hospital after X-rays revealed no broken bones. He has been advised two days' rest and is expected to play in the final.

Ntini first got rid of Gautam Gambhir in his third over, as Gambhir edged a back-foot drive to Andrew Hall at first slip for 2 (7 for 1), and then scoring an important psychological victory over Virender Sehwag in his next.

Sehwag had started off in confident fashion, spanking three fours on the way to 14, when Ntini got one to rear wickedly from short of a length. The ball struck Sehwag on his right forearm, and despite getting medical attention on the field, Sehwag was forced to go in for a precautionary X-ray. With the final only two days away, it wasn’t good news for an Indian line-up already weakened by the absence of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.

Ganguly and Kaif set about doing the repair job. Ntini continued to pepper Ganguly with short stuff, but he was equal to the task, pulling him twice for four and cutting him through point when offered the width.

Kaif got into the act as well, punishing Allan Dawson for 10 runs in his second over, including a flick and a cover-drive for fours. Dawson responded with four slower balls in a maiden over - all of which Kaif failed to spot.

Next over - the 15th of the innings - Dawson should have had his man, but Jacques Rudolph at midwicket spilled a straightforward chance when Kaif flicked uppishly. Kaif survived, and South Africa were left to think about how much the miss might cost them.

India left out Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan - Ganguly stated that they still weren’t fit. Harbhajan Singh was back after missing a match, replacing Amit Mishra. South Africa went in with the same team that beat Bangladesh yesterday.

After a horrific start to the tournament, when they were thrashed by India, South Africa have been sharper in their last two games. Smith’s decision to open the bowling with Shaun Pollock gave the attack a far more potent look, while the batsmen seem to be coming to grips with the slow surface too. The top five have each gotten a half-century in this tournament, with Jacques Rudolph showing glimpses of his class in his 81 against Bangladesh yesterday.

It’s the second time that South Africa are playing back-to-back matches in this tournament - a fate that India have escaped, thanks to the skewed itinerary.

Teams

India 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Gautam Gambhir, 3 Sourav Ganguly (capt), 4 Mohammad Kaif, 5 Dinesh Mongia, 6 Sanjay Bangar, 7 Parthiv Patel (wk), 8 Ajit Agarkar, 9 Harbhajan Singh, 10 Sarandeep Singh, 11 Avishkar Salvi

South Africa 1 Herschelle Gibbs, 2 Graeme Smith (capt), 3 Jacques Rudolph, 4 Boeta Dippenaar, 5 Neil McKenzie, 6 Mark Boucher (wk), 7 Shaun Pollock, 8 Andrew Hall, 9 Paul Adams, 10 Allan Dawson, 11 Makhaya Ntini