THE GUTSY KNOCK

 

Image Credit- Cricket Australia.

Venue- Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney [January 2009].

In the Australian summer of 2008, the Proteas toured Australia to play 3 tests, 5 ODIs and 2 T20s. The visitors won the first two test of the series comfortably and were eying a historic whitewash in Sydney. On the other hand, the hosts were playing for their honor and to defend their number 1 title. 

Australian Captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first. On a batting friendly wicket of Sydney, the hosts amassed 445 runs in their first innings. Michael Clarke scored a brilliant 138, whereas Mitchell Johnson scored a crucial 64. In response the Proteas were 34/0 when the delivery of Mitchell Johnson hurt the little finger of Graeme Smith's left hand. The South African Captain was forced to leave the pitch because of the injury and the Proteas were now short of their great opener. But, despite losing their captain the visitors scored 327 in their first innings. The hosts had a lead of 118 runs.  

In the second innings the Aussies declared at the score of 257 and set Proteas a target of 376. The chase was close to impossible, but a draw would have helped Proteas claim the number 1 title. However, the Proteas kept on losing wickets at regular interval and at one stage the scorecard was 202/8. The Aussies needed just one wicket in 26 overs to win the match.

But then something unexpected happened. We saw a fighting 9th wicket stand between Dale Steyn and Makhayya Ntini which lasted for nearly 18 overs. The duo added 55 runs before Steyn was dismissed by McDonald. The Proteas scorecard read 257/9. Furthermore, when Steyn was dismissed, the Aussies started their celebration because they felt that the game was over.  But then happened something which gave goosebumps to every cricket fan all around the world.

South African Captain Graeme Smith came out to bat with a broken hand. The crowd were on its feet. The Brave Captain was out there to fight for his team. Despite of all the pain, Smith batted 17 deliveries and scored a vital 3. It appeared that the match would end in a draw. However, in the penultimate over Smith was clean bowled by Johnson and the hosts won the match by 103 runs. 

When the match was over the Aussie players rushed to Smith to cheer him up and to congratulate him for the fight, he put in. In the history of SCG, we have seen many batsmen score big hundreds and get applaud from the crowd. But that day the crowd cheered for Smith the same way as they did when someone scored a 100. 

Smith's knock of 3 will forever be remembered by cricket fans all over the globe. 

To watch Smith's gutsy knock at the SCG, Click Here. 

THE BEST OF MATTHEW HAYDEN

 

Image Credit- Wisden Cricket

Venue- WACA Ground, Perth [October, 2003]

In October, 2003 Zimbabwe toured Australia to play a couple of test matches. The first test of the series took place in the historic ground of WACA. Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field first. On a batting friendly wicket the hosts started pretty well. However most of the Aussie batsmen failed to convert their good start, except two. One was Adam Gilchrist who scored 113* in just 94 deliveries [12 Boundaries; 4 Sixes]. The other was Matthew Hayden who scored massive 380 of 437 deliveries. 

Yes you read it right. 380 runs in an innings. In this knock of his he smashed a total of 38 boundaries and 11 sixes. Furthermore while doing so he also broke the then world record of Brian Charles Lara [375 runs]. However six months later Lara reclaimed his throne [This has been discussed in a separate blog post]. But, now lets talk about this innings of Haydos. 

Zimbabwe Cricket back then was a force to reckon with. However the way Hayden played that day it appeared that the school boys were playing against men. Furthermore this knock of Haydos was not just about power hitting, but was also about class and elegance. It was just pure entertainment by one of the most dangerous openers the world cricket has ever seen.  

Riding on Hayden's 380,  the Aussies ended up declaring at the score of 735/6 in their first innings. The visitors were no where close to this total as they were bowled out for 239 in the first innings and 321 in the second innings. The hosts won this game by an innings and 175 runs. For the knock of 380, Matthew Hayden was awarded the man of the match award. 

[Postscript- Hayden continued his form in the second test as well as he scored a match winning 100 in Sydney. In a 2 test series he scored 501 runs and was awarded the man of the series award].

 To watch Hayden's 380 runs knock, Click Here. 

ABD TYPHOON BLOWS WEST INDIES AGAIN

 

Image Credit- NDTV Sports

Venue- Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney [February 2015].

The South Africans were taking on the West Indies in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Group Stage Game. Just a month earlier the Proteas thrashed Windies when they toured South Africa. As a result, when the two sides met again in Sydney, everyone was expecting similar results and that is what happened. 

South African Captain AB de Villiers won the toss and elected to bat first. On a tricky wicket the Proteas started slowly as they lost their keeper batsman Quinton de Kock quite early in the innings. However, then there was a couple of great partnerships in between and the Proteas were back in the game.  It appeared that they will easily get to a 320-330 runs mark. But this what everyone was expecting. What actually happened was something unbelievable. 

AB de Villiers played a similar kind of knock which he played against the same opponent one month back in Johannesburg. De Villiers scored 162* in just 66 balls and took his team beyond 400 in 50 overs. It is interesting to note that the Proteas were 250/3 in 40 overs. However, in the last 10 overs they managed to score as many as 158 runs. 

The credit for the same goes to their Captain AB de Villiers. ABD blew the Windies bowling line-up again. In his innings he smashed 17 boundaries and 8 sixes. Furthermore, while doing so, he also broke the record of fastest 150 in an international game. 

The Caribbean bowlers looked helpless in the SCG. It was just pure carnage. It was a proper ABD Show which every cricket fan wanted to see except the Caribbeans. 

Postscript- The Windies were never in the chase as they were bowled out for just 151 runs in 33 overs. The Proteas won the game by 257 runs and their Captain AB de Villiers was awarded the man of the match award for his excellent knock.

To watch De Villiers knock, Click Here. 

THE ABD SHOW

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo

Venue- New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg [January, 2015].

 

The West Indies toured South Africa in  December- January of 2014-15. The visitors were able to win the T20 series, whereas the hosts won the test series. Now all eyes were set on the ODI series. The Proteas won the first game comfortably at Durban and the action now shifted to Johannesburg. On a bright sunny day the South African Captain AB de Villiers won the toss and elected to bat first. 

The decision proved right as the South African openers blew the Windies bowling line up. The opening duo stitched a massive 247 runs opening stand. It was finally in the 39th over of the game when Jerome Taylor got the first wicket of the match as Rilee Rossouw was dismissed for 128 runs.  

The Captain was now on the crease. And what he did next, no cricket fan can ever forget. ABD scored 149 runs in just 44 deliveries. It is interesting to note that while doing so he broke the record of both fastest international fifty (16 Balls) and fastest international hundred (30 Balls).  Furthermore his innings consisted of 9 boundaries and 16 sixes. He scored in all parts of the ground and no West Indian bowler was spared. By the time, Andre Russell got his wicket, the South African scorecard read 439/2.  

The crowd were just shouting ABD. After all they witnessed something unbelievable.

[Postscript- The Windies were never in the chase as they managed to score 291 runs in their respective 50 overs. The Proteas won the game by 148 runs and took a 2-0 lead in the series. The Captain AB de Villiers was awarded the Man of the Match Award for his excellent knock.]

To watch the innings of ABD, Click Here.

THE DAY CURTLY AMBROSE RIPPED ENGLAND INTO PIECES

 

Image Credit- The Guardian.

Venue- Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago [March, 1994].

West Indies were playing England in a 5 match test series. At the end of two tests the hosts were 2-0 up in the series. To remain in the series it was a must win game for the visitors. On the other hand a victory for hosts would have ensured a comfortable series win. In this backdrop both the teams reached Port of Spain.

On a batting friendly wicket the hosts won the toss and elected to bat first. Riding on Richardson's 63, the West Indies ended up scoring 252 runs in their first innings. In response the English scored 328 runs. GP Thorpe was the leading run scorer for the visitors as he scored a vital 86 of 167 balls. Curtly Ambrose was the leading wicket taker for the hosts in the first innings as he picked up 5/60 in his 29 overs spell.

In the second innings the hosts gave a fightback and ended up scoring 269 runs. But, still the target was not a big one as the visitors needed just 194 runs to win the match. However what happened next was something truly unbelievable. Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh ripped up the English team. 

Image Credit- ESPN Cricinfo 

In just 19.1 overs the visitors were bowled out for mere 46 runs. Curtly Ambrose picked up 6 wickets, whereas Walsh took 3. It appeared that English just don't know how to hold the bat. The wickets kept on tumbling one after the other and the hosts secured a famous win of 147 runs. 

The series was won by the West Indies and Curtly Ambrose was awarded the man of the match award for his excelling bowling. 

To watch the highlights of England's second innings, click here. 

THE PRINCE WINS HIS CROWN BACK

 

Image Credit- ESPN Cricinfo

Venue- Antigua Recreation Ground, St. John's, Antigua [April, 2004].

West Indies were playing England in a 4 match test series. At the end of third test, the visitors were leading the series 3-0. The cloud of whitewash were looming over in Antigua. In such a condition West Indian Captain Brian Lara won the toss and elected to bat first. 

On a batting friendly wicket the hosts were struggling to score runs. Andrew Flintoff picked up the first wicket of the game as Darren Ganga was leg before at an individual score of 10 runs.  The scorecard read 33-1 and this is when Brian Lara stepped in to bat. 

Post arrival of Lara the tables turned. Windies were now freely scoring runs in every part of the ground. Gayle and Lara had a partnership of 65 runs in just 12 overs. However Gayle was caught and bowled by Batty at an individual score of 69. The West Indies scorecard was now 98/2 and Ramnaresh Sarwan stepped in to bat. 

However this is when Lara took charge of the game. He played a knock which no cricket fan has ever seen before on an international stage. Brian Lara scored an unbeaten 400 runs in just 582 balls. His innings consisted of 43 boundaries and 4 sixes. Furthermore this was not just power hitting, but was pure class and timing of the Prince. 

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo 

This innings of Lara was simply flawless. It was pure art. Due to his individual score of 400*, the hosts were able to post a massive score of 751/5 in their first innings. Apart from Lara, Ridley Jacobs scored 107* and Ramnaresh Sarwan scored a brilliant 90. It is interesting to note that by scoring 400*, Brian Lara broke Matthew Hayden's highest individual score of 380. The record of highest individual score in a test match was with Lara for long before Matthew Hayden eclipsed him. But by this knock of his the prince reclaimed his crown. 

In response the visitors were bowled out for 285 runs in their first innings. Andrew Flintoff scored an unbeaten 102. Pedro Collins picked up 4 wickets, whereas Tino Best picked up 3 wickets. The West Indies then enforced a follow on. 

In the second innings the English batsmen batted much better due to which they were able to save the test. Riding on skipper Michael Vaughan's 140 the English were able to score 422/5 in their second innings.  The test match ended in a draw and the series went to England. However this series will forever be remembered for Brian Lara's 400*. 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo

To watch West Indies first innings, click here.