On March 12, 2006, cricket fans witnessed the most thrilling One Day International (ODI) match in history! South Africa played against Australia in Johannesburg and chased down a record-breaking 434 runs, making it the highest successful run chase in ODI history. Let’s dive into the exciting details of this legendary match!
Match Summary
- Date: March 12, 2006
- Venue: Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Teams: South Africa vs Australia
- Match Type: 5th ODI (Deciding match of the series)
- Result: South Africa won by 1 wicket
Australia Sets a Huge Target (434/4 in 50 Overs)
Australia batted first and created history by scoring 434/4 in 50 overs, which was the highest ODI total at that time!
Top Performers for Australia
- Ricky Ponting (Captain): 164 runs off 105 balls (13 fours, 9 sixes)
- Adam Gilchrist: 55 off 44 balls
- Simon Katich: 79 off 90 balls
- Michael Hussey: 81 off 51 balls
Australia’s batting was simply unstoppable, and everyone thought this score was impossible to chase. But South Africa had other plans!
South Africa’s Unbelievable Run Chase (438/9 in 49.5 Overs)
South Africa started strong and stunned the cricket world by chasing down 434 runs with just one ball to spare!
Top Performers for South Africa
- Herschelle Gibbs: 175 off 111 balls (21 fours, 7 sixes)
- Graeme Smith (Captain): 90 off 55 balls
- Mark Boucher: 50* off 43 balls (hit the winning runs!)
- Johan van der Wath: 35 off 18 balls (crucial late innings contribution)
When Mark Boucher hit the winning boundary, the stadium erupted with joy! South Africa had done the impossible!
Records & Interesting Facts
✅ First-ever ODI match where a team scored 400+ runs
✅ Highest successful run chase in ODI history (438 runs)
✅ Most sixes in an ODI match at that time (26 sixes total)
✅ Highest aggregate runs in an ODI match (872 runs combined)
✅ Ponting’s 164 was the highest score by an Australian captain in ODIs at the time
✅ Herschelle Gibbs played one of the greatest ODI innings ever
Why Is This Match Special?
This match is often called the greatest ODI ever because:
- No one thought a team could chase 434 runs!
- Both teams played fearless cricket.
- It changed the way ODIs were played, making high scores common.
- Fans were glued to their seats from start to finish!
Even today, cricket fans love watching highlights of this match! 🏏🔥
FAQs About the 438 Match
1. What is the 438 match in cricket?
The 438 match refers to the historic ODI between South Africa and Australia on March 12, 2006, where South Africa chased down 434 runs to win the match.
2. Who scored the most runs in this match?
- For Australia: Ricky Ponting (164 runs)
- For South Africa: Herschelle Gibbs (175 runs)
3. Why is this match so famous?
This match is famous because no team had ever chased such a big total in ODI history. It showed that anything is possible in cricket!
4. Who won the 438 match?
South Africa won by 1 wicket in the final over of the match.
5. Where can I watch highlights of the 438 match?
You can find highlights of this match on YouTube or cricket streaming websites like ICC’s official site.