The Greatest of All Time

When one thinks of 'choke' one thinks of South African cricket. The two have been inseparable for a considerable number of years and not to forget, a considerable number of World Cups. This team has been hounded by ill luck more than any cricket team on the international circuit. So it was befitting that this team featured in the greatest match international cricket has ever seen and that too on the winning side.

12th March, 2006 was the day that the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg witnessed the first 400 plus total by any team in cricketing history. With the help of Gilchrist's 55, Katich's 79, Mike Hussey's 81 and Ponting's brilliant 164, Australia posted a total of 424 for the loss of 4 wickets. The star of the Australian innings was the skipper, Ricky Ponting. Armed with impeccable technique and dextrous shot selection, his innings was a treat for the eyes. His brilliant knock of 164 off just 105 balls came to an end when his cover drive was caught by Dippenaar at boundary in the 48th over.

After the first innings even the most ardent of South African fans wouldn't have bet their money on a successful chase by their team. But Graeme Smith and company had some other plans for the night. Graeme Smith with a sparkling 90 off 55 balls gave the chase a solid start. But it was only befitting that the real hero of the innings was the player who infamously 'dropped the World Cup' when he dropped Steve Waugh at Headingley in the 1999 World Cup. Yes, our very own, Herschelle Gibbs. His blistering 175 came off just 111 balls to give Ponting’s innings a run for its money. However, Gibbs departed when South Africa were one run short of the 300 mark and there was still a long way to go.  It took cameos from Boucher and van der Wath to see South Africa through. The crowning moment came when Boucher hit the fifth ball of the ultimate over for a boundary with the scores tied, taking South Africa's total to 428 for 9. And that triggered a wave of celebration at the Wanderers.

The Australian fans were shocked and the South African fans were celebrating in sheer jubilation. But regardless of which team they supported, every witness of that match was taking home an important lesson of life: "Impossible in Nothing". With nothing to lose, the South Africans had given all they had and clinched the series 3-2 with a resounding victory. A victory that would be recounted for years to come. A victory in a match that would go into the history of the game as the greatest match ever played. And lo and behold, with that victory the South Africans put their chokers tag to rest (in peace or not, only time can tell)