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DATE : 27-03-2002

VENUE : North West Cricket Stadium, Potchefstroom 

MATCH : 3rd Match, Australia in South Africa, 2001/02

Writer : Stephen Brown

Around about this time, Australia and South Africa were considered to be the top two teams in world cricket. Australia had proved that they were a step ahead of the Proteas, but the neutral would not be convinced until and unless the Aussies win a Test and One-day series away in South Africa. The series was announced to take place in the early part of 2001. The Aussies began the One-day series in fine style by winning the first two matches of the 7-match series. South Africa had to win the 3rd game to bounce back at Australia. The North West stadium was the venue and the people of Potchefstroom were in for a treat.

The South African skipper Shaun Pollock and Australian captain Ricky Ponting got together for the toss. The coin rolled in favour of Pollock who elected to bat first. Boeta Dippenaar and Herschelle Gibbs were the openers for South Africa. Australia had a lively pace attack in Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Shane Watson and Andy Bichel. A decent looking opening combination and a deadly pace attack had made this encounter a mouth watering one.

The Australian pacers got the better of the South African openers. Lee removed Dippenaar in the 4th over itself and soon followed with the wicket of Gibbs. South Africa 27 for 2 in 8 overs. Jacques Kallis and Neil McKenzie got together to stabilize the innings. The two started to play the deliveries on their merit and scored at an average pace. After a 78 run partnership McKenzie was caught by Martyn off Lehmann. South Africa were moving along at 105 for 3 when Jonty Rhodes joined Kallis. The two began to show maturity and started to play within their restrictions. Soon the partnership began to build and the two opened up to score runs quickly. This proved fatal as Kallis who was batting on 71, knicked a delivery to Gilchrist off Gillespie. At the other end Rhodes carried on to play his game, running hard between the wickets with an odd boundary here and there. Klusener came in and began to score a run a ball from the outset. His innings was cut short as he was caught by Hayden off Lee. South Africa were 222 for 5. Boucher, who followed Klusener could not do much as he was caught by Gilchrist off the bowling of Gillespie. Andrew Hall and Jonty Rhodes tried to give the Proteas a perfect finish and scored 24 runs off 17 deliveries. Rhodes was eventually out for a well made 81. South Africa finished at 259 for 7 in 50 overs. Lee finished with the best bowling figures of 4 for 45 in 9 overs.

Australia started the chase in moderate fashion. Gilchrist and Hayden were determined to give Australia a solid start. However, in the 8th over Gilchrist knicked a delivery from Ntini to Boucher. The captain, Ricky Ponting was not able to make any impression and was run-out for just 3. Australia were 39 for 2 in the 10th over. Martyn joined Hayden and looked to move towards the target with caution. The pair had been together for 73 runs when Martyn lost his concentration and was run-out. Lehmann joined Hayden and gave similar support for the 4th wicket. At the score of 178, Australia lost Lehmann. Jimmy Maher came in at the loss of the wicket. Hayden who had got to 78 with the help of 5 boundaries and 3 sixes perished surprisingly when he held out to Gibbs off Boje. Australia were at 180 for 5. With 80 runs required off 76 deliveries, the wicket of Hayden was a setback for Australia. To make matters worse Makhaya Ntini removed Watson, Bichel and Lee off successive overs to almost seal the match for South Africa. Gillespie was bowled by Klusener on a golden duck and Australia looked dead and buried at 223 for 9. 37 required off 28 deliveries. Maher who was watching this from the other end was joined by Nathan Hauritz. The 20 year old Hauritz was the last man for Australia.

The game was drawing for a close finish. The last pair managed to score 19 off the next 16 deliveries leaving them another 18 to get off the last 2 overs. For South Africa it was a matter of just one wicket. Maher and Hauritz managed to get 8 runs in the second last over. It was upto Kallis to bowl the last over. All the experience had to be used to bowl that last over. Australia needed 10 off the last 6. The first delivery had a sense of irony about it. The experienced Kallis had overstepped and Maher was able to complete two runs. 7 off 6. The next 5 deliveries yielded a single each. 2 off 1. The odd number of singles meant that Hauritz would have to face the last delivery. It was nerve racking time for the Aussies. Kallis bowled the last delivery that was good enough for only a single. The match was tied! Australia were relieved. South Africa, disappointed. This was the third tied match between these two teams. Maher was declared the man of the match for his heroic 43 off 32 deliveries. Australia were 2-0 up and South Africa needing to win all the games from here on to win the series had livened things up. This game proved to be yet another breathtaking encounter between the giants of World cricket.


 

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