Port Elizabeth, Jan 21 Jean Paul Duminy struck 71 and raised vital partnerships with the lower order as South Africa scored 265 for seven against India in the fourth ODI here Friday.
South Africa were reeling at 113/5, before Duminy and Johan Botha (44) scored 70 runs to resuce the hosts. Duminy and Robin Peterson (31) then added another 54 runs to put up a challenging score.
South Africa, after electing to bat, were off to a strong start with Hashim Amla (64) and captain Graeme Smith (18) scoring 57 runs for the first wicket. But then India came back with part-time spinner Yuvraj Singh taking three wickets.
Ashish Nehra got the breakthrough when he had Smith caught by Harbhajan Singh at mid-off.
Amla then added 49 runs with Morne Van Wyk (15) before the latter fell to Yuvraj. Amla's fluent knock, that included eight fours, was cut short as he was run out.
South Africa soon lost A.B.de Villiers and Faf du Plessis before Duminy and Botha joined forces to do the recovery job.
Left-handed Duminy hit two fours and one six in his 72-all knock while Botha and Peterson struck three fours each to accelerate in the slog overs.
© IANS
