South Africa beat India by 48 runs (D/L method)

India's tour of South Africa has see-sawed right through, and it wasn't surprising when the home side levelled the ODI series with a 48-run win in Port Elizabeth. Despite Virat Kohli's sparkling, flawless unbeaten 87, India never seemed in touch with the required rate chasing 266. India were 142-6 in the 33rd over, woefully short of the required score of 190 when the second rain interruption ended the game.

St. George's Park has heavily favoured South Africa when they bowl under lights; they have won the last five such games and hence Graeme Smith was always going to bat here. The move paid off, and it's now over to the tie-breaker in Centurion.

Dhoni misses a trick.

The only time India had the game under control was between the 19th and the 23rd over when South Africa lost four wickets in four overs having made a quick start with Yuvraj Singh Hashim Amla's 64 (69b). Yuvraj Singh struck twice and two run-outs from Kohli had pushed South Africa down to 118-5.

Here, MSDhoni could have squeezed South Africa further by attacking Johan Botha and JP Duminy. Instead, part-time spinners were given a long run. Resultantly, Botha and Duminy collected singles with ridiculous ease, found the occasional boundary, and before Dhoni knew it their sixth-wicket partnership was 70.

A chance had been missed, and this was no insignificant chance. India could have won the series right here, but the series has hinged on this single partnership. Dhoni and Smith have throughout on this tour been in a competition for taking the biggest step back. By not attacking Botha, Dhoni has taken the biggest such step.

Yuvraj took his third wicket when Botha was stumped. India's front-line bowlers were sloppy today. Harbhajan Singh got off to a poor start and never recovered. He was short in his first four overs. This pitch wasn't as bouncy as the ones he has bowled on in South Africa, and this took some edge off his bowling.

The next man in, Robin Petersen made 31. The highest target achieved under lights at this venue is 268. With Duminy batting through for 72, a score of 265 meant the odds were against India from the start of the chase.

India opened with Rohit Sharma and Parthiv Patel - two batsmen who'd never open the innings otherwise. Against Dale Steyn's high-accuracy pace and Morne Morkel's steep bounce, getting finding opportunities was tough. But both openers were dismissed by Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who has gone from being India's relief bowler in the Test series to their chief tormentor in the ODIs.

Rohit cut a short ball to point. Parthiv played a couple of aerial shots against Steyn - a pull shot and a drive over mid-off. But some well-timed strokes couldn't pierce the off-side field. In the end, he tried to guide Tsotsobe through the on-side, missed the line and fell LBW.

Kohli outshines seniors again.

It's no secret now that half the Indian batting line-up would be heading to the World Cup grossly under-prepared. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir have fitness problems; so does Sachin Tendulkar and he hasn't played much one-day cricket lately either. Also, India have missed one of these three due to injuries in most tournaments.

The last time MS Dhoni dominated a bowling attack in a one-dayer was in the Gwalior ODI where he partnered Tendulkar to a double-ton. On this tour, he's been a walking wicket and has crossed fifty just once. Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh both suffer from a crisis of confidence against accurate pace bowling. Sourav Ganguly pointed out recently how Raina always seems to be sitting on his back-foot.

In this scenario, it is greatly pleasing to see Kohli who has not only been getting big runs but getting them in a confident manner in a wide array of batting conditions. In this ODI series, he's looked the least likely of the Indian batsmen to get out while he's out there.

With his wristy style, South African spinners have not been able to stop his strike rotation. During this innings, he drove Petersen over mid-off and straight for two effortless sixes. Against the pacers, he's offered a compact defense and has always looked determined to bat out tough spells before attacking the weak bowling.

If this is what he can do at 22, and if he doesn't go the Yuvraj way, he could threaten Tendulkar's record of ODI hundreds some day.