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The Unforgettable MatchAus vs SA 5th ODI, 2006. Aus 434. SA 0/0
It was a Sunday and I was just getting back home after playing cricket with my friends when I heard that Aus had broken the record and had reached the elusive 400 mark.
I rushed back home to see Ponting score 164 runs of mere 105 balls at a SR of 156. As an Indian if you thought Ponting needed some spring in his bat to score those 140 runs off 121 balls at a SR of 115 then he must have needed a whole new mechanical bat that could have..
.. probably generated the power to smash those 164 runs. Nevertheless, the swash buckling innings meant Aus looked confident to win but they knew if any team that can give them some fight then it has to be SA. Fortunately, SA did come into bat with an intent to win..
And cynosure of that intent were @hershybru and @GraemeSmith49. SA had lost #Dippenaar early. SA at 3/1 looked in trouble. In came Gibbs who showed his intent right away when he advanced down the track to slice one btw covers and point. Smith, on the other hand, had already hit
2 boundaries of @BrettLee_58. The caravan continued as both looked menacing to say the least. They went strength to strength as @hershybru one over midwicket off @BrettLee_58 who was bowling at 144 kmph and above. The hook followed glance from smith, cuts, outside edges..
..everything was just finding fence.
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Shot of the day
SA were 85/1, Lewis was already gone for plenty. Had bowled a No ball as well in that over. It was the last ball but nothing stopped @GraemeSmith49 from going down the track and smack one over mid on.
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Shot of the daySA were 85/1, Lewis was already gone for plenty. Had bowled a No ball as well in that over. It was the last ball but nothing stopped @GraemeSmith49 from going down the track and smack one over mid on.
The disdainful batting continued... Smith scored 90 off 53 balls at a SR of 163. Not once after his 1st 2 boundaries did his SR fall below 120. The 187 run partnership had every shot out of the cricketing books. The slog sweeps, the dancing down the ground to hit..
.. over covers, midon, mid off, mid wicket, point.
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The Twist
@GraemeSmith49's dismissal bought in dismissals of @ABdeVilliers17 and @jacqueskallis75. While Gibbs had now taken up the role of aggressor, these 2 wickets in a match where team had to still score 240 runs
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The Twist@GraemeSmith49's dismissal bought in dismissals of @ABdeVilliers17 and @jacqueskallis75. While Gibbs had now taken up the role of aggressor, these 2 wickets in a match where team had to still score 240 runs
..could have been dangerous. So, what was SA's score when @jacqueskallis75 got out? 327. Ok, what is the twist here? Before I get to the twist, let me tell you the carnage that Gibbs had caused after @GraemeSmith49 had got out. Gibbs was 84 off 73 b when Smith was dismissed..
.. in the 23rd over. He raced away to 161 in the end of 30th over when @ABdeVilliers17 had got out. He scored 77 runs in just 33 balls. Insane right? Yes. Now the twist. In the 327 runs when Kallis got out, SA had also lost Gibbs. Yes. 327/5 at the end of 38 overs. 
The Finish105 runs from 72 balls. Top 5 back in the pavilion. Game could have gone anywhere.. @markb46 looking good but still needed support and well they did. Vital contributions from #VanderWath, #JustinKemp, Telemachus meant SA did the undoable. Tony Grieg's commentary
..Match coverage @ESPNcricinfo made it even more amazing. While I didn't see the 1967-68 Humdinger as espncricinfo had mentioned that day, this series added new wings to the Aus SA rivalry. Hope you guys enjoyed the thread. Tc.
Sorry 1986-87. Port Elizabeth. Not 1967-68
