Better understanding secured win

South Africa's understanding of bowling needs under the Dhaka heat helped them thrash India to set up another meeting in the final.

South Africa's understanding of the bowling needs under the sweltering heat in Dhaka helped them to thrash India to set up another meeting Sunday in the final of a triangular meet.

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"What a difference a week makes in the sub-continent!" remarked team spokesman Gerald de Kock, after South Africa beat India on Friday. Bangladesh has already bowed out of the tournament.

"Just six days ago the South African cricket team was roundly thrashed by a record margin by India in their opening game of the TVS Cup in Dhaka. Now all the harsh lessons learnt in that game have been put to use in turning the tables on the World Cup finalists for a five-wicket victory in the final group match, setting up an intriguing final between the two sides on Sunday," he said.

Having lost the toss, captain Graeme Smith, making his international debut with this series, led his troops out on the hottest day of the tour so far.

The mercury peaked at 47 degrees on the pitch shortly before the first ball was bowled - extreme conditions for an international sporting match.

Said De Kock: "That they bowled the Indians out for 215 is testament to the superb fitness of the bowlers. Not one of them suffered from cramps in the blistering heat. Allied to the stamina was an understanding of the needs of bowling in these conditions.

"The margins for error on both line and length are minute, and yet all the bowlers adhered to the basic disciplines of line and length."

Makhaya Ntini bowled with fire and pace to remove Gautam Gambhir for just two before he struck the dangerous Virender Sehwag on the right forearm. He retired for an x-ray that revealed severe bruising.

For once the country's leading ODI bowler, former captain Shaun Pollock, fired from the position after the first round exit of the hosts of the World Cup last month, went without a wicket.

"It just was not my day," he said with a smile. But his colleagues were successful, Dawson with a career-best 4 for 49, Ntini 3 for 37, Andrew Hall 1 for 36 and Paul Adams 1 for 43. All showed that they had taken to heart the lessons of six days ago and showed remarkable stamina in the conditions.

"That's the record," said Dawson. "I have never been hotter on a cricket field."

All five bowlers were rewarded with a freezing ice bath at the supper break. "It aids in the recovery process by rapidly reducing the body temperature," said fitness trainer Andrew Gray.

"We have made more progress," said Smith. "I am very proud of the boys, they stuck to their disciplines brilliantly and to play two games back to back in these conditions and win both is a huge effort."

Smith is mindful, of course, that a major challenge awaits the squad on Sunday. "The Indians are still favourites for the final but our confidence is growing with each game we play."

The South Africans will spend Saturday doing as little as possible in preparation for the final.