SuperChase
SuperChase
A timeline of the greatest chase of all time
A timeline of the greatest chase of all time
It was the deciding ODI between Australia and South Africa at the Wanderers
Australia won the toss and elected to bat. They put on a World Record total. What happened next amazed everybody. (Incidentally, BuzzFeed was found in the same year)
Let's relive the sequence of events in the chase.
South Africa
EARLY JOLT
2nd Over: The Proteas lose Boetta Dippenaar.
South Africa
SMITH GOES INTO OVERDRIVE
Herschelle Gibbs joins Skipper Graeme Smith. The two combine for 119 in the powerplay, with SA at 120/1 in 15 overs. Smith has 52 runs off 36 deliveries.
South Africa
NEW GEAR NEEDED
That looks impressive, but it is still shy of the required run rate. SA need 9/over and Smith steps it up and adds 38 off the next 18 deliveries he faces. SA are at 190/2 in 22 as he departs.
South Africa
GIBBS GONE WILD
Up steps Herschelle Gibbs, who hits Michael Clarke for six the very next ball after Smith falls. Gibbs would go on to add 85 off 37 (Hello T20!!) after that six. The Proteas seemed set for a historic chase.
Australia
KANGAROOS STRIKE BACK
A young gent named AB DeVilliers contributed just 14 to the 90-run partnership with Gibbs before falling to Nathan Bracken. Soon after Gibbs fell to Symonds. SA had gone from 284/2 to 355/6.
South Africa
THE LATE TWIST
It looked like the momentum had gone out of the chase with 80 runs needed off the last 8 overs. But up stepped Johan van der Wath. Dont remember him? Don't worry, he played only 10 ODIs in total for the Proteas. And surely the high point of his short career was that 18 ball 35 that he clubbed to bring SA to the brink.
Australia
AUSSIES HANG ON
But van der Wath's wicket brought the Aussies back for a brief bit. SA 399/7 with 36 runs needed in 21 balls. Essentially, another van der Wath innings short.
South Africa
THE TEAM PUSH
Roger Telemachus, who had conceded 87 off his 10 overs, stepped up to score 12 off 5 balls. SA needed 12 off 10 as he fell.
South Africa
THE HISTORIC MOMENT
SA needed 7 off the last over and Andrew Hall hit Brett Lee for a four. But then another twist as he fell on the third delivery with 2 still needed. New batsman Ntini squeaked a single and Mark Boucher came on to hit the winning boundary. The Miracle at Wanderers had been achieved.
The harbinger of things to come
As an ODI chase, the feat hasnt been matched since but a year and a half later, the same venue would witness the World T20 final, a tournament that would bring a whole new format to the mainstream and mini miracles of the likes of this one would become a new phenomenon. Nonetheless, this was the one that started it all. Cricket's very own Four Minute Mile.