Sachin Tendulkar receives a special award for his outstanding on-going contribution to cricket. He doesn't realize initially that it is his name and just claps. Now, he walks across. Thanks the South African board for their gesture and says that he is honoured. About Ntini, he congratulates him for his efforts and adds that he can sleep peacefully now that Ntini won't not around to trouble him anymore. About himself coming back after four years, Sachin says that he is not sure but would love to do the same.
Victorious captain Dhoni credits Rohit for putting up the runs on the board on a pitch which was not playing well. About the bowling, he says that the team has got plenty of specialists in part-timers who got the pitch almost suited for them. About the ground, he says that playing football would have been better! Cites the reason as that is the original game which is played over here and playing cricket meant that the grass had to be cut and the pitch had to be made.
Makhaya Ntini is presented with a bowling machine, by Jonty Rhodes. He comes across for a chat but Ravi Shastri says that he will do so later.
Rohit Sharma is named the Man-Of-The-Match. Laughs when asked whether yesterday's 2-million dollar deal about him was an inspiration and says that he was just concentrating on doing well. Adds that he knows the conditions in South Africa well because of having played in the IPL over here earlier. About the pitch, he says that the pitch was slow and low and hence, he was concentrating of playing his shots as his side bats very deep.
Losing skipper Johan Botha feels that India played well. The bowling was better and the batsmen struggled towards the end. Admits that the run-rate got away from the hosts towards the end and one can't expect numbers 8,9 and 10 to win games for you. Is happy about his experience today and hopes of playing at this venue again. Finally, has a word of praise for the legend, Makhaya Ntini.
A few mementos are given to former South African greats who have done their country proud.
Dhoni has a long chat. No, not with his team-mates, but with Ntini. Now, Raina comes across and wishes him good luck. Ahh..Nehra goes and hugs him and has a chat with him. Now, back to the game. Good performance by India on a slow, low pitch. Rohit Sharma and Raina anchored the innings to a fine 168 as the Proteas were poor with the ball and in the field. The hosts got off to a poor start, losing Amla and Ingram early but Morne van Wyk held the innings together with some breath-taking flick shots and drives. He found an able partner in de Villiers and the pair added 57 for the third wicket but then calamity struck. De Villiers was run-out via a super relay throw from Raina and the Proteas collapsed from 88/2 to 120/7. Botha tried to take his team across the line but it was too much for him. Van Wyk made a fine 67 while Nehra and Yusuf picked up 2 wickets apiece.
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