Image Credit- Wisden.
Venue- New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg [January, 2016].
On 29th July, 2023 Stuart Broad announced that he will be retiring from cricket at the end of the Ashes Series. And Boy what a way he bowed out of International Cricket. However in this post we won't be talking about his heroics in the Oval, but about his match winning as well as series winning spell in the Wanderers.
In December 2015, English Cricket Team toured South Africa to play 4 tests, 5 ODIs and 2 T20 games. The visitors won the first test at Durban, whereas the second test in Cape Town ended in a draw. All eyes were now set in Wanderers wherein the third test of the series was scheduled.
On a spicy Wanderers wicket, South African Captain AB de Villiers won the toss and elected to bat first. It is interesting to note that every South African batsman got a start, but none of them managed to reach even 50 runs mark. Despite this interesting feat. the Proteas ended up scoring 313 runs in their first innings. In response the visitors were bowled out for 323 in their first innings. Joe Root scored a brilliant 110, whereas Ben Stokes scored a quickfire 58. For the Proteas, Kagiso Rabada picked up 5 wickets.
The English had a lead of 10 runs, but it was not that big a lead which would worry the Proteas. However little did they know that a storm was about to come in Wanderers. In that afternoon, Stuart Broad bowled one of his finest spells and made a mess of the South African batting order. In no time the Proteas were reduced from 23/0 to 35/5. Stuart Broad in his short spell picked up 5 wickets for just 1 run. The Proteas were unable to recover after the Start Broad storm and were eventually bowled out for 83 in their second innings. Stuart Broad ended up with figures 6/17 in 12 overs.
The visitors needed just 74 runs to win which they chased down comfortably. It is pertinent to note that with this win the English also won the series.Furthermore this bowling performance of Broady also took him to number 1 ranking of test cricket. It was indeed a spell to remember.
To watch the spell of Stuart Broad, Click Here.
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