Exactly 26 years ago, during the second Semi-final of the ICC Cricket World between England and South Africa at Sydney, South Africa were put to shame by their luck as an intriguing content was brought to a dead end by the then rules of the game.
Having lost their group match against England by 3 wickets at Melbourne, Kepler Wessels, the then South African captain, had won the toss and chose to field. The match was reduced to 45 overs due to bad weather. There was a prediction of more rain during the day.
England did not get off to the best of starts as they lost both their openers in Graham Gooch (2) and Ian Botham (21) without any substantial impact. Alec Stewart and Graeme Hick shared a 71-run stand to provide some solidarity to the English batting line-up.
After Stewart was dismissed on 33 by Brian McMillan, Hick stitched a 73-run partnership with Neil Fairbrother (28). Hick ended up top-scoring for England as he registered his fourth ODI half-century, 83 (90), with the help of nine fours. In their allotted quota of 45 overs, England scored 252-6 at an impressive run rate of 5.60. With bowling figures of 9-2-36-2, Meyrick Pringle was the pick of the South African bowlers.
Just like England, South Africa also lost their captain in Wessels (17) cheaply. The South African batsmen got starts, but none of them went on to play an innings similar to what Hick played for England. What would have hurt them more than the loss would have been the manner in which they lost.
With McMillan and wicket-keeper batsman David Richardson batting in the middle, South Africa required 22 runs to win off 13 balls. A rain interruption saw the players walking back to the dressing room. After a slight delay, the played walked back on the field.
By this time, the situation of the match had turned on its own. The then rain rule meant that South Africa needed to score 21 runs off one ball to win the match. The dejected South Africans were left with no option than to expect their fate for the dream of playing a World Cup Semi-final had been shattered.
Watch the highlights of the match:
