On This Day: Australia make 434 in an ODI, yet lose in ultimate game vs South Africa

When a team makes 434 in an ODI, nine out of 10 times you would back them to win it. Especially, if you are a three-time World Cup winner, the expectations that they will win comprehensively increases. However, on March 12 2006, Australia suffered the unlikeliest of defeats in one of the most freakish games of cricket that was ever seen. Australia made 434, which was the highest score in ODI cricket at that time. Yet, they lost! Yes, this is a true story. Australia could not defend 434 as South Africa chased it down to win by one wicket.

So many records fell on that day 15 years ago. Australia notched up the highest score in ODI cricket only for South Africa to better it in the chase. The aggregate of 872 runs in an ODI remains the highest in the world. Mick Lewis, the Australia medium-pacer, was smashed for 113 runs in 10 overs which remains the most expensive spell in ODI history. The 2349^th ODI in history remains a freakish incident and one which pushed the boundaries of impossible to a whole new dimension.

With the five-match ODI series level 2-2, the final game in Johannesburg was winner takes it all. Australia chose to bat on what was the flattest wicket dished out at the Wanderer’s in Johannesburg. Simon Katich and Adam Gilchrist smashed fifties but it was Ricky Ponting who was at his brutal best. Ponting’s 164 yielded 13 fours and nine sixes while he shared a partnership of 158 with Michael Hussey who hit 81. Four fifties and a knock of 164 helped Australia become the first team to breach the 400 mark in ODIs.

15-20 runs short

For any team, conceding 434 is enough to deflate them even before the chase. But, that was not the case with South Africa. During the lunch interval, Jacques Kallis, the Proteas’ premier all-rounder stated that Australia were actually 10-15 runs short! That particular remark, whether it was made in jest or in seriousness, would never be known. But, it spurred the Proteas. When Boeta Dippenaar was bowled by Nathan Bracken for 1, it seemed South Africa would suffer a big loss.

However, Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs had other ideas. Playing cricket straight out of stick cricket, book cricket or EA Sports mode like, Gibbs and Smith tore into the bowling attack. Gibbs trumped Ponting’s score and blasted 175 which included 21 fours and seven sixes. Smith ended with 90 off 55 balls and their 187-run stand off just 125 balls put them on course. Gibbs and AB de Villiers shared a 94-run stand off 52 balls as South Africa scored at close to 10 runs per over.

Australia, stunned by the onslaught, launched a fightback by taking some quick wickets with Bracken ending with 5/67. However, Mark Boucher and Johan van der Wath kept hitting the boundaries with van der Wath hitting three sixes in his 20-ball 35. However, Boucher was still there and the veteran managed to guide South Africa calmly. On the fifth ball of the final over, Boucher launched Lee over mid-on for a boundary and South Africa completed the greatest chase in history. 

Inability to defend big scores

The inability to defend big scores for Australia would haunt them for the next decade. Against New Zealand in 2007, Australia twice failed to defend scores close to 350. In 2013 against India, Australia failed to defend 359 and 350 in Jaipur and Nagpur. In 2016, during the ODI against South Africa in Durban, Australia failed to defend 372. Thus, Australia now could not defend the highest and second-highest totals in history. In 2018, things became even more difficult for Australia as they conceded 481/6 against England in Trent Bridge, which is now the highest ever score in ODI history. 

The 400 ODI between South Africa and Australia changed the way ODI cricket would be played forever. From the period of 2006 till 2021, there have been 18 instances of 400-plus scores in ODIs. Gone was the period when 350 was considered to be beyond the realms of chasing. The 400 ODI resulted in a psychological shift among batsmen where power-hitting made even 400 look vulnerable. The seeds of modern-day power-hitting was laid on that March 12 day 15 years ago.