In the annals of cricketing history, amid the lush greens of iconic grounds, there have been exploits that have been etched in the memory of the die-hard faithful forever.
Perhaps such has been the narrative of skill, stamina, drama and performance woven into these games, that they have transcended the very fabric of time, making them true classics.
Well one such classic or perhaps the Greatest One Day International ever played as some pundits call it was the 438-game between two southern hemisphere powerhouses in South Africa and Australia.
It was on this day, 18 summers back, the Wanderers in Johannesburg saw a script of cricketing beauty and unpredictability that has forever carved its place in the tapestry of sporting lore.
With the series tied at two-apiece between the Proteas and the Aussies, there was everything to play for in this do or die game and boy did it elevate the cricketing standard to levels unheard of at the time. So, let’s dive into reminiscing this classic of classics:
Batting first, Australia piled the runs early
On a pitch conducive for stroke play, Australia won the toss and chose to bat. The intent was there from the get go with openers Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich piling up the fodder with a 97-run opening partnership.
Gilchrist was aggressive at the front mounting his half century in just 44 balls taking the likes of Makhaya Ntini, Andrew Hall and co. to the cleaners with nine fours enroute to reaching the landmark. He was well supported by fellow south paw in Katich who made an impressive 79 of just 90 balls with nine fours and one maximum.
The openers had given Australia a launchpad for what looked like a formidable total with a strong batting line up in the works.
Captain Ponting was on another dimension
Having got a more than decent foundation, the Australian skipper Ricky Ponting looked like a man on a mission as he walked into bat at the fall of Adam’s wicket.
From the onset, he annihilated the South African quicks with those majestic cuts and pulls, putting on a 119-run partnership with Katich.
He notched up his 50 as this partnership soared and it seemed the misery was just mounting on South Africa.
Ricky was truly on another dimension as his innings just blossomed even after Katich got out putting on another 150-run partnership with Michael Hussey that came of just 92 balls.
The captain as the Australian innings ended had scored a whopping 164 of just 105 balls with 13 fours and nine maximums.
Australia as a result had piled up an unheard of 434 in their allotted 50 overs which seemed a rather coveted score in Test Cricket let alone a One Day International.
434 looked well beyond South Africa, but cricket is a funny game
As the halfway point hit, the Protea bowlers were left spell bound with what had just hit them conceding 434 runs in their 50 overs.
As they sat decimated and demoralized in the dressing room, one of their cricketing stalwarts in Jacques Kallis made a comment ‘It’s a 450 wicket and Australia have still scored a tad less’
Well, this was motivation enough for the men in green and gold, as captain Graeme Smith took the mantle in his own hands starting aggressively upfront in a befitting reply to the Australian bowlers, scoring 90 runs of just 55 balls with 13 fours and two maximums.
South Africa looked on course albeit needed someone to play a Ponting like innings.
Herschel Gibbs played the innings of his life
The words of Jacques Kallis possibly reverberated most with Gibbs in the team, as this effervescent right hander elevated his game to another level on the day to single handedly take his nation home enroute to playing an innings of a lifetime.
Yes, Herschelle Gibbs seemed at a level above mortality as he took every Australian bowler in Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark and co. to all parts of the Bull Ring in a monumental innings of 175 runs of just 111 balls with 21 fours and seven maximums.
His stroke play was just majestic as every single person at the Wanderers along with millions watching around the world were just left awe struck.
The match seemed on a knife edge after Gibbs was dismissed but keeper Mark Boucher along with last man Ntini kept their wits about them to drive the host nation home.
Boucher’s gritty fifty also played a vital role in the Proteas surmounting the 434, reaching 438 with the winning runs coming as a boundary of his bat.
Such has been the magnitude of this game that 18 years on there is still so much enthusiasm amid everyone who witnessed this occasion.
Perhaps, its games like these that leave an indelible mark on our hearts, a timeless reminder of the boundless excitement and drama that this beautiful sport has to offer.
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