Not many cricket fans can forget the cricketing spectacle that took place at the Johannesburg on the 12th of March 2006. 872 runs scored in about 100 overs, on a strip of 22 yards that might have been sent down by the Gods, left everyone wonderstruck. At the end of the match, a stadium, packed with 32,000 bewildered people, exploded with joy and there were tears trickling down some cheeks.
It was the final of the ODI series between South Africa and Australia. Going into the game both the teams had everything to lose as the series was on the line. Australia won the toss at a jam-packed Wanderers Stadium and elected to bat first. What followed was some insane stuff that the cricketing fraternity had never witnessed before. Australia came out all guns blazing and put up a record total of 434 on the board; a record that was only meant to be broken a few hours later.
When South Africa came out to chase, the fans were in for something special. An extremely spirited effort by their batsmen helped South Africa chase down the target and script the story of, what has been called as the greatest One Day International ever played.
Eleven years down the line, this match is still etched in the memories of the fans all over the world. So let’s revisit some of the most memorable moments of this match and relive its glory all over again.
Mick Lewis’ day to forget
The Australian quick Mick Lewis had a dreadful day at the office and went on to register an unwanted record of the all time worst bowling figures in ODIs.
Chasing a target of 434, the South African batsmen had to go hard after the Australian bowlers. They particularly found a liking to Lewis who leaked 113 runs of his quota of 10 overs without picking up a single wicket. Lewis was pummeled all over the park by the Proteas, especially Herschelle Gibbs, and ended up conceding 13 boundaries and 4 maximums. Apart from having Gibbs dropped twice off his bowling, the six Yorkers that he bowled in his final over went for 17, courtesy some undercuts and French cuts; such was his fate that day.
Sadly after this match, Mick Lewis had to give up on his international career as he was dropped from the team and his central contract was not renewed. He still regrets that day and curses his fate for not getting a second chance to prove his mettle. This match left a deep scar on his cricketing career.
The Partnership that changed the game
Chasing 435 to win, South Africa had lost the in-form Boeta Dippenaar in the second over of their innings. With Brett Lee and Nathan Bracken in the Australian ranks, the Proteas were certainly staring down the barrel and looked like Australia would stroll home. But Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs had other ideas. The duo counter-attacked the Aussies with some exquisite strokeplay and upped the ante right from the word go. Smith and Gibbs matched each other shot to shot and brought up their respective fifties in quick time. In an age where T20 cricket was just beginning to find its feet, they scored 187 runs in about 20 overs, which was a special feat to achieve. After scoring a breathtaking 90 off 55 balls and bringing South Africa right back into the match, Smith departed in the 23rd over.
This partnership certainly proved to be a game-changer as it made the South African dressing room believe that the unthinkable was indeed achievable.
Mark Boucher’s gutsy knock
After losing Herschelle Gibbs at a crucial juncture in the match, South Africa had two new batsmen at the crease in the form of Jacques Kallis and their wicket-keeper Mark Boucher. South Africa needed 136 off 109 balls with 6 wickets in hand and sending in Mark Boucher ahead of the hard hitting Justin Kemp raised a few eyebrows. However, Boucher didn’t disappoint. While the batsmen at the other end were going berserk, Boucher anchored the innings with a calm head and kept rotating the strike.
As the match passed by, South Africa had lost all their recognised batsmen and the responsibility of steering them home was left to Boucher. Staying true his gritty and gutsy nature, Boucher, along with some of the tailenders, played a fighting hand and took the match right into the final over. With one run required off the final two balls, Boucher delivered the knockout punch when he hit Brett Lee to a boundary off the penultimate ball of the match and handed the Proteas a famous win.
Boucher had played one of his career’s most invaluable knocks and ended up scoring 50* off just 43 balls.
Ricky Ponting’s master class
Ricky Ponting had fond memories of the Wanderers. Back in the 2003 World Cup final, at this very ground, he scored a match-winning century against India and helped Aussies lift their third World title. But he had saved his best for this game though.
The South Africans were missing Shaun Pollock, who had to sit out due to injury, and Ponting made sure that he made the most of a relatively weaker bowling attack. As soon as he arrived at the crease, Ponting started playing with intent and punished the South African bowlers. He dispatched each bowler with disdain as his bat spat venom at almost each ball that it faced. In the course of his innings, Ponting peppered the mid on area, through which he scored the majority of his runs, and entertained the few Australian spectators with some stunning cover drives and his trademark hook shots.
Ponting went on to score his highest ODI score of 164 from just 105 balls which consisted of 13 fours and 9 sixes. Although he couldn’t end up on the winning side, this innings of his will be remembered by the fans for many years to come.
The Butchery by Herschelle Herman Gibbs
South Africa had lost Boeta Dippenaar early and was put under pressure in the very second over of their innings. But, as they say, cometh the hour, cometh the man. Gibbs who came out to bat next. launched an onslaught immediately. He took all the Australian bowlers to the cleaners and left some of them with nightmares.
Gibbs had blazed away after Graeme Smith’s dismissal. He took the onus of winning the match upon himself and in the process, absolutely battered the balls he faced. The commentators were lost for words to describe his innings and Ponting was found wanting for ideas to contain his mayhem. Not only did his innings consist of some ravishing cover drives and powerful on-drives, but it also consisted of some deft touches and cheeky shots. Gibbs scored as many as 21 boundaries and 7 sixes in the course of his record-breaking innings and played the major role in South Africa’s mind-blowing chase down of 434.
Herschelle Gibbs’ innings of 175 on that day, will go down as one of the greatest ODI knocks ever witnessed. In fact, Ricky Ponting was so much in awe of Gibbs’ innings that he did not accept the joint Man-of-the-match award and handed it over entirely to Herschelle Gibbs.
