STATBOX-Cricket-India v South Africa

Facts and figures relating to the Group B World Cup match between India and South Africa (0900 GMT) at Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpur on Saturday.

Head-to-head record:

South Africa lead 39-24 (NR: 2)

In the World Cups: South Africa lead 2-0

In the sub-continent: India lead 15-10 (NR: 1)

* The two pre-tournament favourites clash in this high-octane encounter which could decide who ends up on top of Group B.

* South Africa (LWWWW) were shaping up as the team to beat, with a comfortable seven-wicket win over West Indies, a crushing 231-run win against Netherlands and skittling England for 171. But they ended up lost that match to England by six runs.

* India (WWTWL), on the other hand, started their campaign nicely against Bangladesh, tied in an epic clash against England and then had scrappy wins against associate nations such as Ireland and Netherlands. While their bowling was the weak link in the first two games, it is their top order batting that was found wanting in the latter two.

* South Africa have traditionally had the upper hand against India in ODIs and in the World Cups. However, India have a better success rate when playing in the sub-continent.

* In the batting line up, AB de Villiers (266 runs), Virender Sehwag (254), Sachin Tendulkar (213) and Hashim Amla (169) all feature in the top 12 run scorers so far.

* A concern for South Africa is that while the Indian middle order of Gautam Gambhir (128 runs), Virat Kohli (154 runs) and back-to-back man-of-the-match Yuvraj Singh (159 runs) are also among the runs, the likes of Graeme Smith (87 runs), JP Duminy (82 runs) have been somewhat floundering.

* The other concern for South Africa are likely to have is that their leading wicket taker Imran Tahir, with 11 scalps at an economy of 3.84, is nursing a thumb fracture. Lonwabo Tsotsobe could be in the line-up given his success against the Indians recently.

* On the other hand, Zaheer Khan, too, has taken 11 wickets and has been ably supported by Yuvraj Singh and Munaf Patel, with seven wickets each. For the South African bowlers, the support has come from Dale Steyn and Robin Peterson who have five wickets apiece.