Kolkata: Miracle victories like the 1983 World Cup final or the 1986 Rothmans Cup in Sharjah don't happen everyday when you successfully defend below-par totals like 183 and 125 as it happened on those occasions.

On a wicket where Shaun Pollock created havoc, the Agarkars, Pathans and Singhs, so successful and lethal so far, did not seem to have a clue as the South African openers came out with a re-worked strategy.

Graeme Smith, who had trouble against Pathan's in-swingers in the first two one-dayers, treated the Indian attack with utter disdain while recording his highest ODI score - an unbeaten 134 off 124 balls (21 fours, one six).

“You are so used to playing the right-armers that it takes some time to adjust to the left-armers. I was going too far across against Pathan, but I worked out my game last week and was very comfortable today,” he said.

Once I reached 20, I felt in total control and it is nice to finish the game for the boys,” said Smith, on the ease with which he handled Pathan last night.

Just when we thought that he was a different bowler after receiving a few tips from assistant coach Ian Frazer, the old malady affecting the Mumbai pacer resurfaced again. His length was off-target, so was his line. He served up too much width regularly, which allowed Smith to free his arms.

Seeing the ineffectiveness of his senior pros, young left-armer RP Singh (4-0-18-0) seemed to develop cold feet. The youthful verve and the nagging length, qualities which made him effective, were missing from his opening burst.

His short of length deliveries sat invitingly and Smith pulled them with utter disdain. Spin was India's only realistic chance, but left-armer Murali Kartik (8-1-52-0) is still to get an idea of bowling with a wet ball and was innocuous.

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