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.
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