The 438 Game: -Life Lessons from a Cricket Match

"Zindagi kaisi ha pahlei haye kabhi to hasaye kabhi yeh rulaye”. Life is a mixed bag where sometimes there are happy moments but then there also comes a time when everything isn't going the way you want. Everywhere there are failures, disappointments etc. and then one feels hopeless and decides to give up and then that one moment arrives which becomes a big turning point and changes the whole attitude towards something.

12th March,2006 was a such day. It was a red letter day in the history of international cricket, a day which no cricket lover would ever forget. It was the final one day international of the five match bi-lateral series between Australia and South Africa held at the Wanderers stadium, Johannesburg. The winner would win the series as both teams were leveled at 2-2. The match started with Australia winning the toss and electing to bat. The five-time world cup winners scored a mammoth 4/434 in their 50 Overs with the skipper Ricky Ponting scoring 164 along with support from Michael Hussey, Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich all scoring half centuries. When I saw the scoreboard it was a big shock for me. Above 400 runs scored in a one-day game for the first time in cricketing history, absolutely unbelievable! The South Africans now had to chase an impossible target of 435 to win the bilateral one-day series, all of us knew that this would be a one sided contest and the Aussies were clear favourites to win. The South African reply started with Boeta Dippenar being dismissed for 1 by Nathan Bracken, the scoreboard 1 wicket for 3 runs. It became evident that the second innings won't last long, but then came Herschelle Gibbs who had other ideas. He took the attack to the Australians along with his skipper Greame Smith and the match was now getting interesting until Smith got out for 90. Even though Smith was out, Gibbs hammered the Australian bowlers all around the park and scored his career best 175 from 111 balls and along with AB DeVilliers took South Africa to 2/284 at the 30 over mark needing another 151 to win. Unfortunately, Gibbs departed for a well-made 175 along with De Villiers. However, the match wasn't over yet as it still could have been any body's game. Although Jacques Kallis and wicket keeper Mark Boucher had a steady partnership of 28 in six overs to keep the south African hopes alive,but after Kallis's dismissal for 20 and Justin Kemp getting out cheaply for 13 the match slightly started to shift in Australia's favour. The Scoreboard was 6/355, still a long way from the target and then came a little cameo from Johan Van der Wath who hit some sixes of Mick Lewis and Nathan Bracken's deliveries.Van der Wath departed for a little but crucial 35 and the required run rate dropped from 77 from 42 to 36 from 22 which was gettable thanks to Boucher-Van der Wath partnership,the scoreboard now 7/399.While the target was within reach, Boucher was the only recognized batsman and had to play with the tailenders. Then came Roger Telemachus and added an invaluable 12 runs of 6 balls before falling to Bracken,the scoreboard 8/423.This was nothing more than an epic,crowd getting their money's worth.It was now to the final over of the innings where seven runs had to be defended by Brett Lee,7 runs or 2 wickets the match could go either way.First ball Andrew Hall took a double and went back on strike.Second ball,Hall smashed a boundary ,everyone was hoping for a South African victory ,but as they say cricket is a game of uncertainty and this came to be true when Andrew Hall was caught at mid on by Micheal Clarke.Only two runs were needed of the last three deliveries and on strike was Makhaya Ntini the last batsman,no one left the wanderers stadium and the viewers across the world were stuck to their television sets as something dramatic was about to happen.Ntini took a cheeky single and gave the strike back to Boucher.The scores were tied and it was left to Boucher to be a hero,and the last two balls of the innings everyone shouted woow!woow! Boucher smacked a boundary and the Proteas won a thriller by 1 wicket.The final score Australia -4/434 South Africa-9/438.

What a day it was,new records were made.872 runs made in a single day,the highest run chase ever in an ODI and the most expensive bowling analysis 10 overs none for 113 by Mick Lewis.Cricket experts terming it the greatest match of the century.Although its just a cricket match but there is something which can be learnt through this match.Positive attitude,self belief and the never say die attitude.If the South Africans had a pessimistic approach they would have already lost the game without even batting.However, they stood positive.Self belief is also very important to achieve something and that's what the Proteas showed that how self belief can do wonders.When one believes in something then it can be achieved rather than giving up and that's what exactly we witnessed through the South African chase.Obstacles will be there but the never say die attitude makes the difference between champions and mediocres.

These things if all of us implement in our lives we can also achieve the unthinkable. It is easier said than done but at least we can try. So, if at any point in your life you feel that you can't achieve anything because it's impossible just remember 12th March,2006 because Anupam Kher once said “agar yeh bhi ho sakta ha to kuch bhi ho sakta ha”