The Final match of the five match ODI series between South Africa and Australia played at the wanderers stadium ,also called ” Bullring ” because of its intimidating atmosphere for the visiting teams ,was a magnum opus among all the ODI’s that were ever played. It seems like the cricketing god himself directed this match after penning down a scintillating, eye-popping and a jaw-dangling script.It had a fitting climax sending a whole nation into frenzied celebrations.More importantly it also helped it in healing a very painful and embarrassing wound inflicted way back in the 1999 world cup at EDGBASTON which gave the South Africans the “The Chokers” tag.
The series was balanced at 2-2 and hence this was D-Day, the big match which will decide the whole series. As usual Ponting, whom i consider the best player to have in Big Games, took up the initiative and began to score with a demonic ease. It looked like a repeat of his 2003 world cup final knock, only it was bigger and better , the sixes coming thick and fast over his favourite area , the mid wicket boundary. Some of the Straight sixes he hit were breathtaking. He carried on with clinical efficiency crossing the ropes at will and u could see that he had 400 runs on his mind .Ponting didn’t just want to win this match, he wanted to make a thorough job of it, and he wanted to obliterate the South Africans as competitors. The score was around 386 at the end of the 47 th over.Telemachus was given the ball and he was straight away under immense pressure. He bowled three no balls continuously of which the first and the third were carted for a boundary and a six respectively, and the six taking them from 393 to 400.It was the first instance of 400 runs being scored in an ODI innings It was the outmost any team batting first would want to set for the opposition to chase. It was a mammoth total of 434.Ponting and co would have thought they had sealed the match right and proper. They had amassed a total far beyond the reach of any team. It was a TITANIC total. Alas, they just forgot that Titanic, the “UNSINKABLE TITANIC “fell on its maiden voyage too.
It was a chase never attempted before and no one knew how to go about it. Maintaining a run rate of 8.7 per over for 50 overs without losing too many wickets is a bit tricky, and putting it that way is a gross understatement. And some said South Africa must not make a mockery of themselves by getting out too cheaply trying to chase 435.Mockery they undoubtedly made, but it was of the opposition and of the people who had written them off , of the people who believed they were chokers. It was a thrilling victory and a well deserved one. A game that will last forever in the annals of history, for all teams to look up to as a copybook example of a great chase(except for the last 2 overs of course !! ) . Gibbs’s innings was obviously the decisive one, but for me Skipper Graeme Smith’s innings of 90 from 55 balls was equally or slightly more important than Gibbs’s innings.
South Africa started by losing the wicket of Boeta Dippenar very early ,which I thought was a blessing in disguise. You don’t want a drafter in that situation,you need someone who could get you the initial momentum so important in big chases. . When you chase a total like 434 what you want is to let the opposition know, “You set us 434, we’re game to chase it”. What you need is most importantly is the belief that if the opposition can do it then you bloody well can do it better. You must really believe that . This is where Smith’s innings is so important. He lead the team with his belief that they can win this match and showed them the way to go about it. Gibbs though a great batsman may not have had his going easy without knowing what his role was and what were they going after , “surely not 435” he might have thought .Smith galvanised the team with his belief and his innings. The show was on….
Smith and Gibbs were on a rampage and slaughtered the Kangaroos mercilessly .The bowlers were just dismissed to all parts of the ground. I almost felt sorry for the Aussies. The chase was carried out with ruthless efficiency. Even though they were scoring so quickly they never for once looked like getting out .It was that I think which sealed the Aussie coffin .They took their singles , three or four an over ,with an occasional double or triple and scored their one boundary per over. It was as simple as that. They were scoring 7 or 8 runs per over without ruffling a feather. You may even be forgiven for thinking,” it’s just so easy, I can do it as well”. It was a clinical execution of a smart plan.Smith fell on 90 but the damage was already done. After that Gibbs took over and just smashed them to all parts of the ground. It was just awesome to watch. Bracken dropped a sitter letting Gibbs off the hook and it was an ominous sign. It was pure providence that Gibbs who dropped that famous catch of Steve Waugh in the 1999 semi-final should be dropped now and that he must have the last laugh burying yester year ghosts and taking his team through. That evening I wouldn’t want to be Ponting for anything in the world. South Africa scored their runs consistently at more than 9.3 runs per over all the way up to 32nd over when Gibbs fell. This is where I can see the cricketing god’s hand in getting Gibbs out. You see don’t you that it had to be him. For Cricket’s sake ………… Gibbs was hitting the ball ever so cleanly that he just couldn’t miss crossing the ropes. After hitting two consecutive balls for sixes he got out caught at the boundary trying the third. Why coz our benevolent cricketing god just altered the course of the ball such that it fell right into outstretched hands. Why? For Cricket’s sake of course, if Gibbs didn’t get out exactly at that time, cricket would have be shaken out of its roots. Gibbs would have been 265 not out and 434 would have been chased down in 39.3 overs to be exact. And you can imagine its effect. And being the cricketing god that he was and with its best interests at heart he had do the evil thing. And thus Gibbs was out.
Kemp soon got out and then Boucher took control of the innings. Runs dried up and the plan was to just stick around till the end and make the Aussies chase the leather later. Seven overs were left with 11 runs required per over. van der Wath slammed some sixes and the requirement dropped from a tricky 77 from 42 balls to a gettable 36 from 22. He soon got out and then Telemachus added 12 from 6 balls before getting out too. And it came down to the last over with South Africa needing 7 runs and Aussies wanting two wickets. Andrew Hall slammed a four. The South Africans rejoiced but the cricketing god was planning another twist. The very next ball Hall got out leaving Ntini to face the music.
Boucher who was on strike with a single needed to get them to an amazing victory slammed a four and the Africans went home in style.
WOW what a game!! I pinch myself and feel the pain, yes I am satisfied.
It was a game that broke records and more importantly it shattered many well-believed notions about chasing. It showed what positive intent can achieve. It showed how the best can be humbled and how records can be tumbled if you set about it with belief. It was South Africa’s victory; it was Smith’s victory ….
Many said it was a bowler’s nightmare and who would want to be a bowler? I Agree. I agree it was harsh on the bowlers but somebody had to pay the price. Flat Pitches, dead bowlers, what’s the future? Who would want to be a bowler? Genuine questions to ask ourselves but not now. No Sir, not now. Not after this victory .It was the victory of intent and aggression. It wasn’t just the pitch. I sincerely believe that it was an inspired effort from the South Africans and they would have won this game even on a green pitch or on a mine field. It was just their day ….Lets just Rejoice
