Cricket:Tail-ender Robin Peterson broke Indian hearts by blasting 16 runs off the final over to hand South Africa a thrilling three-wicket win over the co-hosts in the World Cup.
Chasing 297 and needing 13 off the last six balls, Peterson (18 not out) hoisted a six and two fours to edge the Proteas to victory with two balls left - silencing a passionate home crowd.
Sachin Tendulkar had set up an enthralling Group B encounter with a sparkling 111, his 99th international century. That, along with 73 from Virender Sehwag, left India in great shape at 267-1 but their remaining nine wickets incredibly crashed for 29 runs to leave them 296 all out.
In response, South Africa were always adrift of the required run rate although Jacques Kallis (69), Hashim Amla (61) and AB de Villiers (52) kept them in with a chance until Peterson's late cameo made sure they did not choke with the finishing line in sight.
"I'm extremely ecstatic at the moment. To have a great game with so many great innings was such a good advert for the World Cup," said a jubilant Peterson.
While Peterson's late fireworks had his team mates leaping out of their seats and exchanging high-fives in the South African dressing room, India were left to rue their missed chances as they could have sealed their place in the last eight with victory on Saturday.
The hosts not only paid the price for losing their wickets in a heap but Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's gamble to throw the ball to pace bowler Ashish Nehra for the final over spectacularly backfired.
"Ashish was the only choice (for the last over). He was bowling well and I thought it's better to go with the seamer," said Dhoni, who could have asked Harbhajan Singh to bowl it as the South Africans had had more problems reading the spinner.
"You can say I was wrong maybe but I thought that the seamer could do the job for us."