South Africa's first bowl-out?

What was almost certainly the first bowl-out in the history of SA cricket occurred at the SA Air Force Cricket Championships recently. The final was between the AF Gymnasium and Air Force Base Ysterplaat. The match was staged at Schoeman Park, Bloemfontein, on 3 November 2000.

The Gymnasium team batted first, and had scored 222 for 2 off 44.4 of their allotted 50 overs when rain and hail disrupted play. Unfortunately, there was a gap in the covers and the umpires ruled that no further play would be possible due to a large wet patch on the pitch. The bowl-out procedure was then enforced.

Five bowlers from each team were nominated, each to bowl 2 deliveries at an unguarded wicket. The first 9 deliveries from each team were all missed as players from all participating 9 teams surrounded the table to heighten the tension. Eventually, the Gymnasium's captain, Nic Pretorius (son of the first class umpire of the same name) clipped the top of the middle stump with his last delivery. Shamieg Dollie then managed to hit the base of off stump to force a sudden death continuation. Pretorius bowled first and struck again, while Ysterplaat's normal wicket-keeper (Craig Denton, a Western Province Action Cricket player) pitched his answering delivery on the line of middle stump but watched agonised as the ball shaved the stumps. Victory to the Gymnasium by 2 hits to 1 (in 22 attempts!)

There had to be a winner and a loser, but both winner and loser were left shaking their heads at the injustice of it all.

To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time that the bowl out formula has been used in SA. In England, where it has been used already, it is normally held indoors; thus it could have been the first time that a bowl out has been staged outdoors anywhere in the world. And was it also the first time that one went to sudden death ? If anyone can answer these questions, it would be very interesting indeed.