South Africa, Australia, Record Chase, ODI Cricket, Record Chase ODI Cricket
Australia left dazed after their defeat. (Credits: Twitter)

On this day, 14 years ago, South Africa not only chased the highest score in ODI cricket but also made us believe that nothing is impossible. The fifth ODI between South Africa and Australia at the Wanderers in Johannesburg is acclaimed as the greatest One-day international of all time.

The then match had witnessed records tumbling, including the highest chase, highest aggregate runs, and claiming some unwanted numbers by a few players.

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It was the fifth match of the five-match ODI series with the final one being the decider.

The hosts won the first two matches while the Kangaroos bounced back to win the next two. Adam Gilchrist and makeshift opener Simon Katich got Australia off to a perfect start after skipper Ricky Ponting chose to bat first.

Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith
Ricky Ponting. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Even as Gilchrist departed first after putting 79, there was no stopping Australia as Ponting and Katich added 119 runs between them.

The captain led from the front with 164 as the likes of Micheal Hussey and Andrew Symonds powered the visitors — to a daunting 434 in 50 overs. They smashed the previous highest score of 398 made by Sri Lanka.

South Africa under pressure early on:

12th March, 2006: South Africa Complete A Record-Breaking Chase Against Australia
Makhaya Ntini and Herschelle Gibbs celebrate. (Credits: Twitter)

The home side needed an opening stand as rollicking as Australia had. However, Boeta Dippenaar lost his wicket in the second over to Nathan Bracken only for one.

The then Proteas captain Graeme Smith joined hands with Herschelle Gibbs to add 187 for the second wicket off only 127 deliveries to keep them on course.

Gibbs played Ponting’s first innings role as he smashed 175 off 111 balls. After both perished, the Proteas had plenty of small yet breezy partnerships.

The former wicketkeeper-batsman Mark Boucher shared two crucial stands of 28 and 44 along with Justin Kemp and Johan van der Wath respectively which played a vital role in reducing the equation to seven off the final over.

It was Boucher, who hit the winning runs off Brett Lee to pull off a miraculous win and a series victory for South Africa.

Bracken’s five-wicket haul in ten overs for 67 runs went in vain as the Proteas made 438 to set a new record for the then highest team total in ODI cricket.

Mick Lewis’ figures of 10-0-113-0 stand as the most expensive by any bowler in international 50-over cricket that stands to this date. He never played another ODI after that.

For South Africa, Herschelle Gibbs starred in the record-breaking ODI run-chase:

Top 5 Batsman With Most Sixes In ICC World Cup History
Herschelle Gibbs. Image Courtesy: Cricket in

Ricky Ponting and Herschelle Gibbs both received the man of the match award. However, it is understood that Ponting denied the award, claiming that his counterpart deserved it more.

Yet, 12 months after that record-breaking defeat, Ricky Ponting’s men managed to lift their fourth overall and completed a World Cup hat-trick in West Indies.

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