On the fifth and final match of a ‘five match’s one-day series’ between South Africa and Australia at Wanders Stadium in South Africa recently, two world records were created in the history of one-day international cricket. The series was at two all each. Both the teams had to win the last one to clinch the series title. The atmosphere was perfect for the grand finale, which fell on a Sunday. The stadium was packed with a 32,000 home crowd roaring for the South Africans.

Australia elected to bat after winning the toss and made first use of what proved a perfect batting pitch, with the batsmen aided by a fast outfield. Ricky Pointing and his Australian team went on a world record rampage. Every partnership was scored at better than a run a ball. Gilchrist and Katich made their 97 off 93 balls, the same number that was needed for the second wicket stand of 119 between Katich and Pointing. The innings went into overdrive when Pointing and Hussey hit 158 for the third wicket of 96 balls. Pointing slammed a career best 164 off 105 balls as Australian thrashed 434 for four. It was the highest total in one-day international history. The whole stadium turned into pin-drop silence by the Australian rampage. There was no more hooting as the Kangaroos had already taken the match away. Some fans appeared sleeping while the others started leaving.

The second innings started awkwardly. As South Africa lost its opener Boeta Dippenaar cheaply in the second over but captain Graeme Smith and Gibbs launched a full-scale assault in a second wicket stand of 187 off 127 balls. Smith was out for 90, made off 55 balls, but Gibbs went on to make the highest score by any batsman in one-dayer against Aussies. He reached 175 off 111 before he chipped off spinner Andrew Symonds to mid-off. M Boucher hit Bret Lee for four over long on to beat Australia by one wicket in the highest ever scoring limited over math. The total was 438 for nine. The whole stadium came alive, as their home team had created history. Gibbs and Pointing shared the man of the match trophy. The crowd roared South Africa to a 3-2 series win after being stunned into silence by the Australians. One placard in the crowd read, “Kangaroo’s meat for tonight’s dinner”.