5 greatest run chases in ODI history

1. South Africa Produce Triumph of Belief vs Australia (Johannesburg, 2006)

South Africa chasing down 435 against Australia in 2006 was hard to believe

No other match proves the truism of cricket being ‘a game of glorious uncertainties’ than this one. The stage itself was big – the final and deciding one-dayer of a 5-match series between hosts South Africa and Australia.

The first innings itself was historical. Australia became the first team to break the 400-barrier when they posted 434/4 on the board. Ricky Ponting’s big hundred – 164 off 105 balls – led the way and was aided by half-centuries from Adam Gilchrist, Simon Katich and Mike Hussey.

Having just become the first team to concede a total of 400+, the Proteas must have been deflated. The South Africans were sitting in their dressing room, licking their wounds, when Jacques Kallis made his now legendary comment: “they are 15 runs short.”

This was 2006 when a target of 300 was still considered a winning total. But the South Africans came out to fight and win. Herschelle Gibbs produced a magnificent knock that outdid Ponting’s heroics earlier. His 175 of just 111 balls made sure that the South Africans were not only in the game but looking very capable of winning it.

When Gibbs got out, the hosts already were at the score of 299 in just 31.5 overs. The following batsmen kept the innings going at a good pace but Australia were able to pull things back. Eventually, it was left to Mark Boucher to take his team to victory when the no. 11 batsman, Makhaya Ntini, managed to sneak a single in the last over and give him the strike with scores level. A pull shot over the in-field took the team to a most memorable victory.

What had seemed impossible had been made possible on a glorious day for cricket.