Cricket World cup unforgettables South Africa Vs England 1992

South Africa, the african nation saw its first major event after its ban for 21 years from International events due to the racism came to sydney for cricket world cup 1992. They were in top form after a welcome series in India with the young guns who became the pillers of South African Cricket. this world cup showed the legendary fielding of Jhonty Rhodes, the flying machine.

On 22nd March 1992, It was a perfect day to start for South Africa. They are just one step behind from where they dreamt for 21 years. The second semi finals of cricket world cup 1992. The opponents are strong enough to hold the dreams of South Africa. England lead by Graham Gooch with his fiery eleven waiting for their first break down to enter into finals.

For south africa it was on complete confidence to win the game by their precise fielding and the bowling attack. The bowling attack was lead by Alan Donald, the legendary fast bowler who bowls with exact precision to stumps. South Africa was lead by Kepler Wessels who is is well known for his fielding positions.

South Africa won the toss and elected England to bat. It was a day night and Graham Gooch and Ian Botham took the crease and started to demolish the south african team. Rhodes had a big job in the field whose presense was found everywhere. During the initial overs it looked like a wrong of South Africa to put England in the crease first. But the First break thro' from Alan Donald who bowled a superb ball to Gooch. It was mis judged by Gooch and went with a nick in the bat to the safe hands of Dave Richardson. The First trouble of England went back to pavilion. South Africa was over joyed and celebrated the wicket. But they also aware of the beast in the crease, Ian Botham, who was an all rounder with both bat and also ball one of the finest cricketer in the world during that time.

Ian Botham, again got struck to Alan Donald for a straight ball and gave the castle at 21. Whow what a wicket in quick session. Really it is a great wicket for Alan Donald. It was then Graeme Hick and Alec Stewart who started to build the innings from the scratch. Both played sensible cricket and the partnership starts to build. at 33 Alec Stewart mis judged the bounce of the ball which again went to the safe hands of Dave Richardson. England now had a hope on Stewart who anchors the another end. But he was unable to build a much needed partnership with other players as everyother players are throwing away the wicket in quick sessions.

At 83, Hick went out with a superb catch by Jhonty Rhodes, It was a great wicket for Smell who removed biggest threat of that day's game. With that none other players performed as much as like Hick on that game. England scored 252 for 6 in 45 overs. and south africa went with a target of 253 in 45 overs. With the batting lineup of South africa it looked like an achievable score. Will they do it? with 45 overs remaining in the game, it looked like South africa has a better chance than england in finals.

After the break Both Wessels and Hudson was in crease looked invincible went to hammer the bowling of England. Runs started to flow as hudson was on fire and Wessels is on defensive mode and rotating the strikes. The Ghost of wickets struck South africa in the form of Ian Botham. Botham removed Wessels for 17 and then wickets started to fall at regular Intervals. at one stage South africa was 90 for 3 with huge target to go. It was then Kupier and Hansie Cronje, took the responsibility of bringing the innings back to south african side.

They played safe hands and started to build the innings slowly. they partnered for 40 runs when Kupier fell for small to hick. Rhodes joined Cronje and started to bat aggressively. Rhodes took a valuable 43 at faster pace with 3 fours in his credit.

It was after the fall of Rhodes the Ghost of Curse caught south africa, Just before 44th over, When Dave Richardson and McMillan was batting the run need is 22 and the overs to spare is 2 more I.E. 22 of 15 Balls. It looked as a easy target since both Richardson and McMillan looked confortable and moving ahead. The curse brought a heavy rain for 10 minutes and the game stopped. Everyone was thrilled to know the result of the game. Entire stadium frooze to see the results. Calculations went on based on duckworth Lewis method and everyone was looking the scorecard for the revised score to take.

It is after 10 minutes the score card came to life, Oh my God Target is unchanged but, to the south african fate, overs got reduced by 2. My lord, south africa needs 22 Runs in 1 ball. How can that be possible, the entire south african fans went into tears, It is Dave Richardson who need to bat came to crease with a huge tears in face. England overjoyed with the target because they know now the match is won.

It was just a formality to be completed for england but for south africa the hope of winning a major cup got shattered into peices. What an unforgettable moment in the cricket. First team which lost the match because of the rain rule. Whom to curse, the Ghost or the Rain. But this world cup showed a new team with a fighting sprit which defines new rules in the field with its fielding and batting went back to pavilion as a loosers.

Will the same ghost catch South africa this time in cricket world cup 2007? With the ODI ranking as 1 will south africa beat other countries this time. Lets wait till the end of cricket world cup 2007?