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DATE : 03-03-2003

VENUE : Kingsmead, Durban

MATCH : 40th match, South Africa Vs Sri Lanka, ICC World Cup, 2002/03 

Writer : Bhavya Kumar Vasudevan

It was a must win situation for South Africa to qualify for the super six stages of the World Cup. Memories of the previous World Cup in England were refreshed as the scenario was the same. South Africa must win to progress. A tie will be of no good. Sri Lanka needed to win to top the table and go through as they were playing after a shocking defeat by minnows Kenya. That win for the Kenyans and the 10 points from the withdrawn game against New Zealand assured Kenya's place in the super six. That meant, this game was of utmost importance. The nerves had already begun to show even before the match had started. One team had to leave. The question was, which one?
 

It was a packed stadium when the two captains got together for the toss. The coin spun and rolled over in favour of Sanath Jayasuriya, who without any hesitation elected to bat first. It was upto the likes of Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini and Lance Klusener to restrict Sri Lanka to as low a score as possible. The start to the innings was nothing much to ponder about. The Sri Lankan openers began steadily and set out to achieve their targets. In the 9th over Jayasuriya erred in judgement and was runout with the score on 37. Tillakaratne joined Atapattu and managed to keep up with the steady pace they had begun with. However, at the score of 77, Tillakaratne edged a delivery from Kallis and was caught by Boucher. Jayawardene who came in at the fall of the wicket could only manage to score 1 run before he was dismissed in the same manner off Andrew Hall. Sri Lanka were 90 for 3. In walked Aravinda DeSilva, who was playing his final tournament, and on whose shoulders rested Sri Lanka's chances to qualify. He teamed up with Marvan Atapattu, who was playing flawless cricket at the other end. The pair began to play within their limits. It was this pair who were destined to rescue Sri Lanka from that situation, and so they did by adding 153 runs for the 4th wicket. During that stand Marvan Atapattu reached his 9th 100 in ODI's and Aravinda de Silva scored his 63rd 50.

In the 45th over, at the score of 242, Atapattu's long innings came to a halt when he was caught by Peterson off the bowling of Andrew Hall. Sri Lanka were held back by the South African pacemen towards the final overs as they lost their last 5 wickets for just 26 runs in the process of scoring quickly. The final score, 268 for 9 in 50 overs. Kallis came out on top with figures of 41 for 3 in his 10 overs. South Africa required 269 to qualify to the next stage. The interval between the two innings was a nervous time for the South African openers. Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs came out hoping for a perfect start. Would they get it? Would South Africa be able to reach 269 against the likes of Chaminda Vaas and Muralitharan? The answer lied in the future. An absolute breathtaking 4 hours ahead.

The two openers set out to do the job, gave a more than good start. Smith and Gibbs were looking like men on a mission. The first battle between the South African openers and the Sri Lankan pacers was won by South Africa. Then, skipper Jayasuriya made an interesting yet risky move. He decided to bring on the experienced de Silva in the 11th over to slow the pace as the South Africans were at ease against the quickies. The change of pace did the trick for Sri Lanka as Smith fell to Aravinda's 1st delivery. South Africa, 66 for 1. Gary Kirsten came in place of Smith and began to get his eye in by playing cautiously.

In the 17th over South Africa received another setback when Kirsten, while playing the sweep missed the ball which cleaned him up. Kallis joined Gibbs as the Proteas looked to build the innings. Sanath Jayasuriya introduced himself and sent a fizzing delivery to Kallis who was unable to get his bat down in time, and was bowled. South Africa were 124 for 3 in the 24th over. In the meanwhile Gibbs was playing fantastic cricket, negating the swing generated by Vaas, by opening his stance and pulling the short stuff ferociously. He reached his 16th 50 in ODI's and was looking dangerous for the Lankans. However, the wily Muralitharan came to the rescue as an over stretched Gibbs missed an attempted sweep and was clean bowled. Boeta Dippenaar was removed by Jayasuriya, who trapped him in front of the stumps. The score was 149 for 5 in the 30th over. Shaun Pollock and Mark Boucher did the repairing job well and played good and safe cricket for the next 13 overs. South Africa were looking to swing the initiative back in their favour, when a reflex back hand flick by Murali hit the stumps and Pollock was found short of his crease. Klusener, who came in place of Pollock was not able to get bat to ball as he scored just 1 run in 8 deliveries. The hopes of South Africa going through to the next round were fading. The run rate had shot up dramatically. Will they make it?

Even the best and the most experienced players succumb under pressure. The 45th over of the match was an example of that. There was certainly a lot of rain in the air and the darkness of the night covered the ferocity of the sky. Boucher knew that he had to take a chance as the rains could ruin the South African chances of qualifying. Murali, who was until then a hero, conceded 5 wides and was hit by Boucher for a stunning straight six. South Africa reached 229 with one delivery to go in the 45th over. Little did they know, that last delivery would turn out to be the most important delivery in South Africa's cricketing history.

The rain drops were beginning to get thicker and thicker and the frequency of droplets falling to the ground began to increase. Murali bowled the last delivery of the 45th over which was deliberately played to mid-wicket by Boucher for no run. By the end of the over there was no option remaining with the umpires who decided to halt play and asked for the covers to be put on. The rains began pouring as if they were on a mission. A mission to end South Africa's campaign. The ever so unpopular Duckworth and Lewis calculations had to be brought in the picture. Calculations revealed that South Africa required to get past 229 in 45 overs to win the match. The South Africans were shell shocked! The management calculated a target of 229, when in reality it was 230. Had Boucher taken a single instead of tapping that last delivery to mid-wicket, South Africa would have made it through. It was cruel to see South Africa exit the World Cup in such fashion. Gloomy scenes were seen all around the ground and the mood in the dressing room was bizarre.

What a game of cricket! The match ended in a tie, but the game was won by the rains. South Africa had lost it. It had to be one of the most bizarre games ever to be played. The fact that it ended in a tie and yet in terms of the tournament there was a loser. Terrible for the side involved and amusing for the others. Now I know why they say cricket is a funny game.
 

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