Report
South Africa win the greatest match of all
Australia powered to a world-record total of 434 for 4 - the first 400-plus score in the game's history ... and lost
The Bulletin by Andrew Miller
12-Mar-2006
49.5 overs South Africa 438 for 9 (Gibbs 175, Smith 90, Boucher 50*) beat Australia 434 for 4 (Ponting 164, Hussey 81, Katich 79) by one wicket
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
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Seven years ago, in the semi-final of the 1999 World Cup, South Africa and Australia contested what has widely come to be regarded as the definitive one-day international. A total of 426 runs in two innings, twenty wickets in the day and world-class performances across the board - a match that built to a pulsating finale in which South Africa threw away their place in the World Cup final with what also came to be regarded as the definitive one-day choke.
Today, however, South Africa can be called chokers no longer, after burying the ghosts of 1999 with victory in a match even more extraordinary and nail-shredding than its illustrious forebear. Never mind 426 runs in a day, Australia had just posted a world-record 434 for 4 in a single innings - the first 400-plus total in the history of the game - with Ricky Ponting leading the line with an innings of cultured slogging that realised 164 runs of the highest class from just 105 balls. And yet they still lost - by one wicket, with one ball to spare, and with the Wanderers stadium reverting to the sort of Bullring atmosphere on which it forged its intimidating reputation.
Full postGauteng power home in run feast
A round-up from the SAA Provincial Cup
Cricinfo staff
12-Mar-2006
Gauteng made a stiff chase appear easy as they powered to a five-wicket success against North West on a featherbed at Potchefstroom. Driaan Steyn made 137 off 145 balls for North West, as they amassed 268 for 3, but he was overshadowed by a fine team effort from Gauteng. Enoch Nkwe smashed 87 off 76 balls, adding 106 with Blake Sinjman and 78 with Dumisa Makalima. However, when he fell to leave the score 203 for 5 there was still work to do. Marthinus Otto (32 not out) and Diaan van Wyk (33 not out) completed the job with ease, hitting the winning runs with 6.2 overs to spare.
Eastern Province came up against very little resistance as they cruised to a seven-wicket win against Boland at Port Elizabeth. Boland had reached 95 for 1 in the 18th over, but then collapsed in dramatic style as they crumbled to 148 all out - without using 11 of their overs. Grant Howell produced the brilliant figures of 4 for 13 with his legspin. The chase proved a formality for Eastern Province, with Colin Ingram and Chad Baxter added 112 for the first wicket.
Full postThe virtues of patience
Rahul Dravid summoned all his powers of concentration and patience to thwart England's bowlers
S Rajesh
12-Mar-2006
Patience and relentless concentration have been the hallmarks of Rahul Dravid's batting ever since he came into international cricket nearly ten years ago, and he summoned all those powers to thwart England's bowlers in the first innings at Mohali. As much as the strokes he played, a feature of his innings was the way he defended and left the deliveries not directed at the stumps.
Of the 208 balls he faced, 128 were met either with a dead defensive bat or allowed to pass through undisturbed to Geraint Jones. And while Stephen Harmison and Andrew Flintoff troubled most of the other Indian batsmen with their disconcerting bounce, against Dravid they came off second best - out of the 57 short balls or bouncers that the fast bowlers bowled, Dravid left alone 25. The lack of runs hardly bothered him - against Harmison he only scored 9 from 49, while Matthew Hoggard conceded 7 from 33 - but his limitless reserves of patience put India on course for a respectable total after the rest of the top order had struggled.
Despite, his long vigil, though, Dravid fell in the 90s, the ninth time he failed to reach his hundred after getting within ten runs of the mark. Only Steve Waugh has missed the mark on more occasions - 10 - while Michael Slater has been dismissed in the 90s nine times.
Full postVictoria set to chase 361
Western Australia were in control at the end of the third day at St Kilda and have a chance of sealing a berth in the Pura Cup final
Cricinfo staff
12-Mar-2006
Victoria 206 and 0 for 43 need a further 318 runs to beat Western Australia 225 and 341 (Rogers 66, North 63)
Scorecard
Points table
Scorecard
Points table
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Western Australia were in control at the end of the third day at St Kilda and have a chance of sealing a berth in the Pura Cup final. However, Victoria, set a stiff target of 361, began their chase confidently, ending on 0 for 43.
Building on their slender first-innings lead of 21, the Warriors were well placed through the day thanks to half-centuries by Chris Rogers and Marcus North. Rogers played positively for his 66, hitting eight boundaries before edging to Nathan Pillon, the wicketkeeper, off Shane Harwood. His dismissal ended a 110-run partnership with Shaun Marsh (37) and North and Adam Voges followed by adding 91 for the fourth wicket. North made up for his first-innings duck with a fluent 63 that gave Western Australia the advantage.
Full postBlues chase 343 for victory
Sporting declarations by rival captains Brad Haddin and Darren Lehmann set up a tantalising finish to the Pura Cup game between New South Wales and South Australia at Adelaide
Cricinfo staff
12-Mar-2006
New South Wales 6 for 314 dec (Mail 141, Haddin 66) and 0 for 5 need a further 338 runs to beat South Australia 7 for 541 dec and 3 for 115 dec
Scorecard
Pura Cup table
Scorecard
Pura Cup table
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Sporting declarations by rival captains Brad Haddin and Darren Lehmann set up a tantalising finish to the Pura Cup game between New South Wales and South Australia at Adelaide. NSW declared on 6 for 314 at tea, 227 runs in arrears, and then Lehmann responded positively by declaring just before close of play, setting a target of 343. The Blues reached 0 for 5 at stumps, still needing 338 runs off a minimum of 96 overs on the final day.
Daniel Harris top scored with 36 as the Redbacks lost three wickets en route to 115 in 27.5 overs before Lehmann called the close. NSW's first innings was propelled by a patient century from Greg Mail and a solid half-century from Haddin. Mail, resuming on 35, was more aggressive today, racking up 104 runs in 176 balls. He was ably assisted by Haddin and the duo brought up their century stand just before lunch.
Full postMason and Hamilton put Central Districts on top
State Championship second day round-up
Cricinfo staff
12-Mar-2006
Mathew Sinclair followed his first-innings century with 53 in the second, as Central Districts finished on 130 for 3 on the second day against Auckland at Palmerston North. Earlier, Michael Mason and Lance Hamilton starred with the ball, taking nine wickets between them as Auckland were bundled out for 180. Mason had exceptional figures of 5 for 26 from 18.5 overs, while Hamilton took 4 for 39. Their combined effort ensured Central Districts ended with a 65-run first-innings lead. By close of play, they had stretched that lead to 195.
Alun Evans was in sight of only his second first-class century as Northern Districts recovered from a poor start to a respectable 158 for 3 at Hamilton, still 208 behind Wellington's first-innings total. Evans was unbeaten on 90 and helped his team bounce back after losing two wickets with only 12 on the board. Wellington's total was largely built around Michael Parlane's 154, an innings which included 26 fours and two sixes. None of the other Wellington batsmen managed even a half-century, with Jeetan Patel's 45 at No.10 being the second-highest.
Otago took charge of their State Championship match against Canterbury at Queenstown. After scoring 384, Otago put in a superb display in the field on the second day, bundling Canterbury out for 114, and then reducing them to 46 for 3 as they followed on. The stars for Otago were James McMillan, a right-arm fast bowler, and Nathan McCullum, an offbreak bowler and the brother of Brendon, New Zealand's wicketkeeper. McMillan got rid of the top order and finished with 4 for 32, while McCullum polished off the tail and ended with 5 for 28, his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
Full postLions scamper home by three wickets
A round-up of the second round matches that took place on March 11
Cricinfo staff
12-Mar-2006
Lahore Lions made heavy weather of a modest target, beating Hyderabad Hawks by three wickets
in an ABN AMRO Cup league match at Lahore. Chasing 200, Lahore lost three early wickets before half-centuries by Rashid Riaz and Adnan Raza provided stability. Naeem-ur-Rehman, the medium-pacer, then struck back with three wickets, all lbw, to leave Lahore in a spot of bother at 157 for 7 but Raza guided his team to victory with an unbeaten 69. Earlier, Hyderabad failed to capitalise on winning the toss, losing wickets regularly. Shahid Qambrani, continuing his good form after his ton in the previous game, was the only batsman to cross fifty.
An unbeaten 112 by Afaq Raheem helped Islamabad Leopards canter to a easy nine-wicket win
against Karachi Dolphins in an ABN AMRO Cup league match at Islamabad. Raheem struck 17 boundaries and added 146 with Bazid Khan for the second wicket to see the side through. Sent in to bat, the Karachi batsmen struggled against some quality bowling by the Islamabad bowlers. Rauf Akbar and Zohaib Ahmed, the opening bowlers, shared seven wickets between them to bundle Karachi out for 190. Akbar had the best figures of 4 for 44 and cleaned up the tail.
Sialkot Stallions bagged their first win in the tournament beating Rawalpindi Rams by three wickets
in an ABN AMRO Cup league match at Karachi. Batting first, Rawalpindi finished on 221 with half-centuries by Mohammad Wasim (74), the former Pakistan batsman, and Yasir Arafat (64*). Tahir Mughal and Mansoor Amjad took three wickets each for Sialkot. Sialkot began their chase losing two quick wickets before Atiq-ur-Rehman (60) steadied the innings. The middle-order batsmen chipped in with useful scores as Sialkot got home with over four overs to spare.
A scintillating 118 off only 85 balls by Ali Naqvi helped Abbottabad Rhinos beat Quetta Bears by four wickets
in a high-scoring duel at Abbottabad. Set a target of 315, the Rhinos won in the final over, guided by Ahmad Said (50*), the wicketkeeper. Naqvi's innings included six fours and sixes, taking the attack top the bowlers before being run-out in the final stages of the chase. Earlier, Quetta were propelled by their lower order, with half-centuries by Faisal Irfan (78), the captain and Hameedullah Khan (64). Both scored at over a run-a-ball. Adil Nasar finished the innings in style, scoring 42 off only 23 balls with three sixes.
Full postDrew and Hilfenhaus destroy Queensland
Queensland collapsed in spectacular fashion as Tasmania swept to victory by an innings and 40 runs in their last preliminary match of the season
Cricinfo staff
12-Mar-2006
Tasmania 356 beat Queensland 176 and 140 (Drew 4-28) by an innings and 40 runs
Scorecard
Pura Cup table
Scorecard
Pura Cup table
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Queensland collapsed in spectacular fashion as Tasmania swept to victory by an innings and 40 runs in their last preliminary match of the season. The Bulls, who lost their first eight wickets for 14, still finished on top of the table and will host the final from March 24, but the win was a huge boost for Tasmania and lifted them to second place. They must now rely on the two remaining matches going their way to make the decider.
Resuming at 0 for 50 in their second innings, Jimmy Maher and Brendan Nash took the score to 72 before Maher was nailed by Ben Hilfenhaus. That triggered a sensational collapse as Queensland lost three more wickets at the same score in the space of eight balls.
Full postA performance of awesome power and intent
Ricky Ponting produced one of the most sensational one-day innings of all time as Australia powered to a world-record total of 434 for 4 - the first 400-plus score in the game's history
The Bulletin by Andrew Miller
12-Mar-2006
49.5 overs South Africa 438 for 9 (Gibbs 175, Smith 90, Boucher 50*) beat Australia 434 for 4 (Ponting 164, Hussey 81, Katich 79) by one wicket
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
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South Africa have won the greatest one-day international in the history of the game.
Andrew Hall seemed to have the match in the bag when he pulled Brett Lee for four through the vacant midwicket region but, with two runs needed from four balls and two wickets in the bag, he spooned his very next delivery to Michael Clarke at mid-on. That meant that it would be the No. 11, Makhaya Ntini, on strike to face the decisive deliveries.
Full postEngland A win to level series
Sajid Mahmood and Gareth Batty grabbed four wickets apiece to bowl England A to a 57-run series-leveling win over West Indies A
Cricinfo staff
12-Mar-2006
England A 283 for 9 (Joyce 85, Clarke 58, Solanki 47) beat West Indies A 226 (Joseph 45, Richards 39, Mahmood 4-37, Batty 4-40) by 57 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
Sajid Mahmood and Gareth Batty grabbed four wickets apiece to bowl England A to a 57-run series-leveling win over West Indies A under the lights at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia on March 11.
Rikki Clarke spurred England with an allround effort: he rattled a breezy 44-ball 58 to lift the visitors to 283 for 9 and then strangled the hosts, after they had run away to 95 for 1 in 15 overs, with a miserly 10-over spell - conceding only 26 runs and picking up Dale Richards's (39) wicket in the bargain. Richards's wicket opened up the gates for Batty and Mahmood to barge through, and the duo kept striking at regular intervals: seven wickets fell for 94 runs as West Indies folded up for 226.
Ed Joyce, who top-scored for the second successive match, and Vikram Solanki, who missed the first game, got the visitors off to a great start, racing away to 97 in only 15.4 overs. However, their march was halted by Ryan Hinds, the left-arm spinner who bowled his 10 overs on a trot, grabbing 4 for 38. Hinds got rid off Solanki in his first over and removed Alex Loudon and Ravi Bopara cheaply before nailing Joyce to leave the visitors at a wobbly 168 for 5.
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