Does it really matter ?

The Greatest One Day Game !!

South Africa have won the greatest one-day international in the history of the game. The last time a team chased down a huge total to such effect was Pakistan against India, when India toured them in 2004. On that occasion Pakistan lost the game, albeit. This was much better and much more entertaining that that game.

Australia seem unlucky, having lost what was arguably the Greatest Test Match to England in the Ashes and now have lost the Greatest One Day Match to South Africa. But it is clear that we need the Aussie to be involved, rather beaten, in the Game to make it "Great".

Surely this is one game that cannot be surpassed in entertainment. Every ball was amazing. Having scored 434 in 50 overs the Australians could have been excused for thinking that they have the game and series in their bag. But Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs scored at a rate that was possible only on a PS2. Gibbs went to score a career best 175. Then Boucher and the rest made sure they were in the game. By the time Gibbs got out they had scored 299 off 31.5 overs i.e. at a rate of 9.3 runs per over. This left the Australians shell shocked. It was too late for Bracken et al to do anything. Mick Lewis now has the dubious distinction of the worst bowling figures in One Day Games. Apart from Nathan Bracken who seemed like the only one who did not panic, the rest of the Aussie bowlers were guilty of bowling too full and too wide on most occasions. This sure should reduce all the clamor about the South Africans being 'Chokers". At least for now it should be stop.

In the Aussie innings, all the batsmen did their bit in particular Ponting (160) and Hussey (81) were outstanding. The South Africans also seemed lost while bowling. The pitch at Wanderers was as flat as a pancake. It was an absolute batsman's paradise. A pretty consistent one though, unlike a few that change dramatically in the second innings.

We do have to give credit to both teams for making this a memorable match, although only the Proteas go home elated. And they are going into the Test Series with a huge psychological boost. Although that a completely different ball game.

posted by Sreedhar @ Sunday, March 12, 2006