The day the cricket world stood still. ASLAM KHOTA

The banner headlines read: ‘ AMAZING’, ‘The Greatest game in ODI history’, ‘Payback’, ‘Our Greatest Day’…………

At the television news services headlined the almost impossible result, Talk Radio stations had no other subject matter to discuss. This was in the midst of a major police bungling of a murder case of a four year old girl, the on-going rape trial of the then dismissed deputy president of South Africa, Mr. Jacob Zuma and Cape Town was blacked-out for more than three weeks without electricity through years of neglect and bureaucratic incompetence. The resultant chaos lost the ruling ANC control of Cape Town in the local government elections. South Africa is never short of juicy news happenings and the cricket result overshadowed all of it.

The South African team had just returned from a two-nil Test series loss and was beaten by Sri Lanka for a spot in the Tri-Nations final in Australia. At home, Graeme Smiths team were on a high after winning the Pro-20 international a few days after the Australian team arrived, and were rampant, winning the first two limited overs matches as well. Then the Aussies clawed their way back to two-all, and the supporters were once again ill at ease, sensing a return to form by the visitors. The ingredients were all there for a tight encounter by two of the games great adversaries. The Wanderers, popularly known as the ‘Bullring’ for its imposing and enclosed structures, where the crowd is so close to the action, was a sell-out weeks in advance.

The 50-over game had reached unchartered territories on that special day in March 2006.

It was bound to happen. The Aussies were on the charge and Ricky Ponting, who had scored a scintillating century in the World Cup Final in 2003 was playing an even more belligerent innings. Suddenly all the attention was whether Ponting would break the 200 run barrier? He was on course until he fell for 164, his best and Australia’s third highest one-day score at the time. Australia’s eventual 434 for 4 wickets was a world record. When Herschelle Gibbs went pass 150, that elusive 200 looked a certainty once again. Batsmanship had scaled new heights. The batting leaped from the sublime to divine! Even Ponting said in an after-match interview that: “We just had no defense mechanism for Smith and Gibbs. They played exceptionally well.”

   

It was a fitting climax too, in what was a memorable week for South Africans in the entertainment and sporting world. The country was still caught in the celebrations of winning a second Oscar Award, this time for the film ‘Tsotsi’ in the Best Foreign Film category.

Ricky Ponting elected to bat, mindful of the fact that South Africa’s record at chasing totals, especially when it matters, to be dismal. The ‘chokers’ tag was once again rearing its ugly head, but it was Smith who allowed it to resurface during a media conference after the fourth international in Durban, when Australia snuck in by one wicket with an over to spare, to level the series at two-all. He was quoted as saying: “we will see who chokes on Sunday”.

What unfolded in the initial three hours and more, in perfect batting conditions, was simply unbelievable.

What was remarkable apart from the Aussies posting that record score was that the jam packed crowd stayed on to watch a possible roasting, humiliation and a series loss in the heat of the countries cricket heartland. At the interval, the cast of Tsotsi did a lap of honour with ‘Oscar’ in hand and lifted the mood of the audience and gave them something to celebrate. It probably lifted the cricketers as well.

What proceeded to unfold in the bright afternoon was beyond impossible. ‘Impossible’ they say is a word for those who never venture to try. Herschelle Gibbs played a peerless one-day innings. It was a one-in-a-million knock - touched by divine inspiration. The bullring was throbbing and heaving and the crowd knew that something special was happening. The classic heights of batsmanship came from the indomitable Gibbs who played with grace and ferocity and brought joy to all those who marveled at his stroke play. It is etched in our memories, much like what many great batsmen have done in the games history. You didn’t want the innings to end, not just for the result but for the sheer talent, brilliance and heights of genius it had touched. It was 142 minutes of batting from heaven.  

There was high anxiety and tension in the air. Everyone was overwhelmed with apprehension and fear. Firstly the record 400 runs were about to be eclipsed for the second time on the same day, and what if South Africa, having got this close end up losing by a few runs?  It was unthinkable, unbearable. So near yet so far. Could not happen, must not happen! Would there be a cruel turn of fate? The nerves were jangled into a million knots.

In the commentary box, the tough men of the game were brought to tears. Others were hitting ‘high fives’ and the late Hylton Ackerman, a former first class cricketer and coach and commentator, sobbed openly on radio as he with former West Indian fast-bowler Ian Bishop were describing to an unbelieving nation, the last wicket, the penultimate delivery, the one run and the climactic world record run chase - and victory! 

In the end, grown men and women sobbed with others around them. Hooters were pumped through the night around the country, people celebrated in street parties and spontaneous braai’s (barbecue). The result and euphoria that followed was only matched by South Africa’s last gasp win against the All Blacks in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final and soccer’s annexing of the 1996 African Nations Cup on the first attempt.

The nation was awestruck, punch-drunk and intoxicated with the magnitude of the result.

When they awoke the next morning, wondered if it was all a dream. It wasn’t and it brought untold joy. Congratulations streamed in from all quarters, including President Thabo Mbeki and the office of the sports minister, to former cricketers and rugby stars too.     

It was the 2348^th limited over international and the 400 was up! The nearest to that mark was 398 by Sri Lanka against Kenya in the 1996 World Cup in Asia. The Wanderers pitch was like glass top, it was THE perfect strip to achieve the impossible. When teams or individuals set landmarks, others are always motivated to beat them, thus it was Smith who summed up that the Aussies had to be commended for pushing the limits.

An article in a local Sunday weekly mentioned that three of the four countries who had recently embraced 20-over cricket have been involved in some of the most destructive power hitting the game has seen. To achieve this twice in one match was incredible. Ponting agreed after the match that 20-overs cricket has a lot to do with it, making the 50-over game more entertaining, the same way the 50-over game has been good for Test cricket.

The pitch, the crowd, the venue, the winner-takes-all situation, the positive approach by both captains and teams was the perfect brew for the greatest advert the game has had in recent memory.