IML: Rahul's hat-trick inspires India Masters to 8-wicket win against South Africa Masters

Beyond the nostalgia, one thing remained unchanged -- the competitive fire refused to fade. The reflexes may not be as sharp, the feet may not be as quick, but the desire to win burns just as fiercely. Every run, every wicket, every dive carried the same passion that once enthralled millions. And with the iconic Sir Vivian Richards in attendance, it turned out to be a special evening for the jam-packed crowd.

While age may have caught up, but the spirit of battle never will. The rivalries were renewed, the passion was intact, as Saturday's proceedings began with Sachin Tendulkar electing to bowl, and his spin bowlers taking full advantage of the conditions to restrict a strong South Africa Masters line-up to a meagre 85 in less than 14 overs.

In anticipation of the God of Cricket, Tendulkar, coming out to lead India's run-chase of 86, the stadium was filled to capacity, cheering every shot from the batting genius's blade, even as South Africa Masters' skipper Kallis chose to open the bowling with his spinners. The move paid off as off-spinner Thandi Tshabalala dismissed the master blaster with a rather simple caught-and-bowled chance to silence the crowd.

After Tendulkar's departure, fellow opener Ambati Rayudu took charge of the chase in the company of Irfan Pathan (12), who was promoted up the order to take the spinners to task. The ploy worked for a while, with Pathan playing a couple of sweetly-timed boundaries before an attempted hoick off leg-spinner Eddie Leie saw him taking the long route back to the dressing room.

With India in a spot of bother at 27/2 inside the powerplay, Pawan Negi found himself elevated to No.4, and showed his batting prowess with a couple of boundaries and a six, as he combined with Rayudu for an unbeaten 62-run stand to put India over the line with 9 overs to spare. Rayudu remained unbeaten on a 34-ball 41, with the right-hander finding the fence on seven occasions.

Earlier, playing his first match of the tournament, wrist spinner Rahul was employed as early as the third over of the mandatory powerplay to contain the onslaught from the South African opening combo of Hashim Amla and Henry Davids, who gave the visitors a blistering 35-run start.

After warming up with a decent first over, Rahul accounted for the wickets of Amla (9), Kallis and Jacques Rudolph off the first three balls of his second over to not only apply the brakes on the scoring but also expose the South Africans' vulnerability against quality spin.

Rahul received great assistance from the other end, with left-arm spinner Pawan Negi trapping Farhaan Behardien before packing back the only South African batter to offer some resistance -- Davids, who top-scored for the side with a 28-ball 38, powered by four boundaries and a six.

Reduced to 63/5, South Africa Masters needed some solidity in the middle but India Masters skipper Tendulkar smartly used the spin-friendly conditions by throwing the ball to Yuvraj Singh, who responded to the faith shown on him with the wickets of Vernon Philander and Garnett Kruger for golden ducks off successive balls to further dent the visitors.

Yuvraj reminded the South Africans of his spin-bowling masterclass by castling a well-set Dane Vilas for his third wicket of the contest. The wicketkeeper-batter, who stuck a boundary off the previous delivery, perished while attempting another glory shot. Vilas's 15-ball 21 was the only other double-digit score from the tourists on Saturday.

Seam-bowling all-rounder Stuart Binny then completed the formalities in his only over of the day, claiming the wickets of Makhaya Ntini and Eddie Leie. (ANI)