• Sportzyverse
• Cricket news, OTD event
• 03/12/2024
• 0 Comments

On this day, South Africa successfully chased down a target of 434 runs against Australia in One Day Internationals with just one ball remaining in the final over.

It’s been 18 years since the memorable ODI  match between two giants- South Africa and Australia. Even Though the cricket enthusiasts haven’t forgotten to spark the dialogue about it.

Held at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on 12 March 2006, it is seen as the classic match and the only match that comes parallel to is the World Cup final between England and New Zealand. Blowing the eyes of fans, it made them believe that nothing is impossible in the world of cricket. Each and every inning was filled with utter excitement with them setting a new benchmark in the white ball cricket.

Australia decided to bat first in the fifth ODI against South Africa and rolled out Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich as openers. Both of them together managed to secure 97 runs.

Following Gilchrist’s exit, the left-hand batter Simon Katich was paired with Captain Ricky Ponting whose innings unfolded as one of the most remarkable displays in the realm of ODIs. He scored 164 runs in just 105 balls, which includes 13 boundaries and 9 sixes.

On the other hand, Mike Hussey pulled 82 off 52 balls and Andrew Symonds garnered 27 off 13 balls, setting a seemingly unrealistic target of 434/4. Who knew that the tables would turn a few hours later?

South Africa began its game with Graeme Smith and Boeta Dippenaar where later one was knocked down by Nathan Bracken in the second over. Just like Ponting, Herschelle Gibbs stepped out on a mission and bagged 189 runs in a partnership with Smith. Gibbs’s individual 111 runs off 175 balls fuelled the game until Andrew Simonds took his wicket.

To add more spice in the end, Wicketkeeper-batsman Mark Boucher notched an unbeaten half-century and took the team to the dreamy mark of 438 runs in 49.5 overs. It was then South Africa marked the remarkable victory and set a bar absolutely high for others to chase.