ICC Champions Trophy, 2006-07

At Mohali, October 27, 2006 (day/night). South Africa won by 124 runs. South Africa 2 pts. Toss: South Africa.

When South Africa arrived in Mohali for their final league game, after a dodgy Mumbai track and a two-paced one at Ahmedabad, Graeme Smith nonetheless said that his team was "feeling at home with the conditions". And, as Ntini led the evisceration of the Pakistan batting for just 89, on a greenish pitch with trampoline bounce, it did indeed seem more like Durban than the Punjab. Unleashing an opening spell rarely matched in one-day history, Ntini blasted out five wickets for just eight runs in his first five overs to propel South Africa to a thumping win, catapulting them to the top of the group and into the semi-finals. Chasing 214, Pakistan crumbled to their lowest total against South Africa: only Yasir Arafat, from No. 9, managed to outscore Extras. South Africa had their early problems as well - losing two wickets to the first three balls of the match, and slipping to 42 for five. Younis Khan did not bowl his seamers out when the ball was jagging around, Arafat was nervy on his recall, and a stand of 131 between Kemp, in an uncharacteristically restrained role, and the consistent Boucher engineered the revival.

Man of the Match: M. Ntini.