10. India vs South Africa, Champions Trophy Semi Final, Colombo, 2002
The astounding summer of 2002 favoured team India’s fortunes across all formats. Having won the NatWest Series against England earlier that year, India’s winning streak continued in the Champions Trophy too in Sri Lanka. After finishing first in the group stage, India had to face South Africa in the Semi Finals. Indian managed to compile a decent 261, with Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh scoring a half century each. Zaheer Khan gave India its first breakthrough after dismissing Greme Smith. In came Jaques Kallis who shared a 185 run stand with Herschelle Gibbs, until Gibbs returned back to the pavilion due to hamstring. Johnny Rhodes came to the crease and was caught emphatically by Yuvraj Singh on short fine leg only on his 3rd ball. Harbhajan and Sehwag vigorously turned the tables around. Next 4 wickets fell in quick succession and eventually the Proteas fell short of 10 runs to reach the target. India quite unexpectedly managed to steal the show by entering into the finals of Champion Trophy.
