One hundred and eleven, chasing 117

Australia needed 117 to beat South Africa at Sydney in January 1994. They were 63 for four at the close of the fourth day, and at three minutes to one on the fifth, which the card records, they were all out for 111. South Africa won by five runs. The player of the match was de Villiers, the medium-fast bowler, for four for 80 and six for 43.

Warne’s match

South Africa chose to bat and made 169, Gary Kirsten 67, Warne seven for 56 in 27 overs. Australia replied with 292, Slater 92, Damien Martyn 59, and led by 123. South Africa made 239 the second time, Jonty Rhodes 76 not out, Warne five for 72 from 42 overs and Craig McDermott four for 62. Twelve for 128 for Warne in the match, and a target of 117.

Full scorecard: Australia v South Africa, 2nd Test, Sydney, 2–6 January 1994 →

The pace of it

Australia’s 292 took 141.2 overs and 596 minutes, at 2.06 an over. Slater’s 92 took 262 balls and 380 minutes, Border’s 49 took 190 balls, and Pat Symcox bowled 46 overs of off-spin for 82.

The card’s lunch and tea lines show a match that never hurried: South Africa 142 for seven at tea on the first day, Australia 145 for three at tea on the second, 271 for eight at lunch on the third. The chase, when it came, was the fastest thing in the match, and it was still under two an over.

The fourth evening

Slater bowled by de Villiers for 1 at 4. David Boon caught for 24 at 51, and Tim May, sent in as nightwatchman, leg before first ball, 51 for three. Mark Taylor caught behind for 27 at 56. Close of play: 63 for four, Mark Waugh 4, Allan Border 7, with 54 needed.

The fifth morning

Border bowled by Allan Donald for 7 at 63. Mark Waugh leg before to Donald for 11 at 72. Ian Healy bowled for 1 at 73. Warne run out for 1 at 75. Eight down, 42 needed, and Martyn, who had come in at 63, still there.

Martyn and McDermott put on 35. McDermott made 29 from 38 balls with four fours. Martyn made 6 from 59 balls in 106 minutes, and at 110 was caught by Andrew Hudson off Donald, seven short. McGrath came in, faced seven balls, and was caught and bowled by de Villiers for 1. All out 111, at 12.57pm, in 56.3 overs.

The other guy

Warne’s seven for 56 and five for 72 are the bowling figures of the match, and the card’s coverage list carries a headline for them.

De Villiers bowled 36 overs for four for 80 and 23.3 for six for 43, ten in the match, and the card gives him the award because his ten came on the side that won and the last of them ended it. Donald took three for 34, the three that broke the middle order on the final morning.

The attendance on the fifth day was 12,000, and the card notes that entry was free. It was, by the card’s own timing, less than two hours of cricket. The umpires were Bill Sheahan and Steve Randell, the match total attendance was 107,587, and it is Test number 1243.

What the card holds

Twelve wickets for a leg-spinner on the losing side. A target of 117 and a total of 111. A 6 that took 106 minutes and a 29 from the number ten that nearly did it. A time of day, 12.57pm, on a scorecard. And a match award to the bowler with ten, because the bowler with twelve lost.

••••••

No. 21 in The Other Guy, a series of 24.

NextFive for one in 28 balls