New Delhi: ​11 years ago today, the cricket fans at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg and the ones who were watching the telecast all over the world at home were in for a treat as South Africa chases down a mammoth total of 434 runs. With this victory, the hosts South Africa clinched the series against Australia 3-2.


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Since the 1999 World Cup semi-final, both Australia and South Africa had developed an interesting rivalry. While most cricket fans had starting labeling South Africa's cricket team as 'chokers' because of their inability to win winnable matches, the 5th and the final ODI of the series proved that the Proteas can produce results when it matters.


The match started with Australia winning the toss and electing to bat first. Australian openers Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katic added 97 runs to first wicket before Gilchrist was caught for 55.

Skipper Ricky Ponting replaced Gilly and truly played a captain's knock of 164. Simon Katich scored 79 and Michael Hussy scored 81. The top 4 batsmen added 379 runs alone to the total of 434/4. Andrew Symonds and Brett Lee were unbeaten for 27 and 9 runs respectively.


The total of 434 was a mamoth target for the Proteas and had to achieve this total with a run rate of 8.7 per over starting from the 1st over itself. With Boeta Dippenaar departing for just 1 run, his loss made the uphill task for the Proteas more difficult.

The 187 runs partnership between skipper Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs made the task a bit easy, but the former went back to pavillion for 90 and latter got out for 175 while chasing the record target.


The pressure was back on the hosts after their set batsmen had departed. The task was now in the hands of Mark Boucher and Johannes van der Wath. Australia was in the game by taking some constant wickets from one end.

In the last over, South Africa needed 7 runs from 6 balls. The match was still in balance as anyone could have won. Ponting chose Brett Lee to bowl the final over. Proteas had Bocuher and AJ Hall on the crease. Boucher ran for a single in the 1st delivery, now the hosts needed 6 of 5 balls.

The next ball was hit for a boundary by AJ Hall, hosts now needed 2 of 4 balls. Hall for looking to end the match with another boundary, but he was caught at mid on by Michael Clarke.

South Africa needed just 2 of 3 balls with Makhaya Ntini on strike and Boucher in the non-strikers end. Ntini ran for a single, scores were tied, South Africa needed 1 of 2 balls. Boucher hit the winning runs with a four with a driver over mid on.


The scenes at the Wanderers after South Africa winning the match were unforgetable. Emotions were running high, Proteas themselves couldn't believe it that they did it.



The match which was the greatest ODI ever is referred to as '438 match'. South Africa proved it that they don't always choke. The match broke all kinds of records with both sides hitting 400+ totals. 35 sixes and 87 fours were hit in the match.

Both Gibbs and Ponting and were awarded the Man Of The Match, but Ponting refused to take the award. In the end, it was redemption for South Africa for the loss in 1999 world cup semi-final.