Player of the Match
Player of the Match
2097dThe Report by Daniel Brettig

Australia hold nerve to win thriller

Pat Cummins, the man most likely, and Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin, two of the least likely, delivered the most magnificent victory to Australia as the tourists chased the highest ever fourth innings total at the Wanderers, to square the series with S

Match Centre

Statistics

Best performances - Batsmen

HM Amla
HM Amla
105(243) 14x4 - 0x6
Control %86%
  • Productive Shot
  • leg glance
  • 43 runs
  • 6x4 - 0x6
10 14 11 13 27 7 2 21
SR Watson
SR Watson
88(140) 14x4 - 2x6
Control %85%
  • Productive Shot
  • off side drive on front foot
  • 40 runs
  • 9x4 - 0x6
0 8 7 10 31 1 6 25

Best performances - Bowlers

PJ Cummins
PJ Cummins
O29
M5
R79
W6
Eco2.72
RHB
OFFLEG
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
VD Philander
VD Philander
O20
M3
R70
W5
Eco3.50
RHB
OFFLEG
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF

Match Details

Toss

South Africa , elected to bat first

Player Of The Match

Player Of The Series

Series result

2-match series drawn 1-1

Match number

Season

Hours of play (local time)

10.30am start, Lunch 12.30-13.10, Tea 15.10-15.30, Close 17.30

Match days

17,18,19,20,21 November 2011 (5-day match)

Test debut

TV Umpires

Reserve Umpire

Match Referee

Scorecard Summary

SOUTH AFRICA 266(71 OVERS)
1ST INNINGS

AUSTRALIA 296(76.4 OVERS)
1ST INNINGS

SOUTH AFRICA 339(110 OVERS)
2ND INNINGS

AUSTRALIA 310/8(86.5 OVERS)
2ND INNINGS

Scorer: Binoy George | Commentator: Nitin Sundar

Right, that winds up our coverage of the most outrageous Test series we have seen in a while. Firdose Moonda and Brydon Coverdale must be dazed at the end of it all, but I trust they will soon be in a position to send us insights, comments and plenty of analysis. On behalf of the gang, this is Nitin Sundar checking out. I really am out of words now, and my fingers are hurting. As Vincent Vega would have said it, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go home and have a heart attack."

Clarke: "What an amazing series for all the supporters of Test cricket. Some ups and downs through out the series, but it has been really exciting. I was yelling and carrying on like an absolute goose, but we were cheering every run. It is about now managing Cummins and making sure he becomes one of the all-time greats. We are working our backsides off and trying our best, but what a performance today .. I am proud of the boys. Tremendous courage and great batting from Ponting, it is great to have him around."

"I have to give a 10 minute speech on Australia's Constitution in 12 hours, but I have barely started because of this match. I stand by my choice." Wow, Caillan.

Smith: "The last few series we have played with Australia have been good adverts for Test cricket, and it was no different this time. They played really well today. It is wonderful to see Test cricket played like this, but right now there is disappointment with the result."

Vernon Philander is Man of the Series. "There were huge expectations from me, and I enjoyed it. The conditions here had a little more overhead than Cape Town, but not very different otherwise."

Pat Cummins is Man of the Match, no surprises there. And Mike Haysman asks him about the 13 runs, not the six wickets! "Mitch asked me to keep a cool head, and I took that for swinging," he says with that unbelievable grin. "Great to bowl them out yesterday, and to contribute was even better. I was looking up to Sidds and Johnson through out for support and they bowled beautifully."

You thought Cape Town was extraordinary? Johannesburg suppressed a quiet snigger and gave us this. How does one even begin to explain what we have seen today! Australia were down for the count, with Ponting, a shade of what he used to be, trying hard to piece together an innings. He got partial redemption, but couldn't finish things. Haddin got redemption, but still SA seemed set to take the win. Mitch had his redemption too, but it was down to that giggly babyface of a champion in the making to seal the win. What. A. Game.

"Productivity at work hit an all time low because of this thrilling test!! Long live test cricket!," says Rene.

Sidvee tweets the way only he can: "What a finish! Test cricket is thriving. The series is over! Test cricket is dead." A two-Test series. What a cruel joke!

"Oh my god! Is this the most remarkable test match in history? Khawaja's first 50, Ponting, Haddin under IMMENSE pressure, then Johnson, Philander getting second 5 for in a row, and the 18 year old sensation with the winning runs after a 6 for! THAT'S why these two are the best cricketing nations," says Timmy.

"Absorbing contest...in the end, how crucial was Australia's first innings lead of 30" - that came from Grant.

"Just saw the tour schedule which reads Aus.. SA.. Aus.. SA.. Aus.. SA.. Aus.. Incredible." - that's just a given when these teams play, eh Jagadesh.

Meanwhile, India slip back to second in the Test championships table, while SA have gone down to third.

86.5
4
Imran Tahir to Cummins, FOUR, There's Cummins and there's goings! Australia have levelled the series. Tahir loses control and delivers a marginally short ball, and Cummins carts it away through midwicket for four. That huge smile is in place, Cummins pumps his fists and runs into Mitch and gives him a bear hug. Langer and the rest of the Aussie balcony go up in unison. Australia are back ...... and the series is over.
86.4
0
Imran Tahir to Cummins, no run, I have seen everything now! Cummins leaves a ball barely half a foot outside off. No. 10 on debut leaves a ball alone. In this situation. Test cricket, you little beauty!
86.3
0
Imran Tahir to Cummins, no run, Huge appeal for lbw, given not out and it is referred. Googly from Tahir, it lands well outside off but turns in sharply. Cummins did well to thrust the front pad outside the line, though he missed it. Two reds light up, but he was hit a couple of inches outside the line! Lyon has a minor heart attack in the dressing room! Spare a thought for him!

The field comes in as if this is a grand vulture party. Slip and short leg are the catchers, and there's short cover.

86.2
1
Imran Tahir to Johnson, 1 run, too short, Mitch quietly goes back in the crease and pushes a single into the covers. Four to win!

Round the stumps now.

86.1
0
Imran Tahir to Johnson, no run, googly on off stump and breaking away, Mitch quietly plays it to the off side.

Where did this come from? Imran Tahir has a ball. Boy, this is more bizarre than that spaceship landing we were taking of. Five to win, the field is back, there's a slip. Over the stumps. He did run through the tail last time around ...

END OF OVER:
86 | 4 Runs | AUS: 305/8

  • Pat Cummins9 (12b)
  • Mitchell Johnson39 (45b)
  • Dale Steyn23-1-98-1
  • Vernon Philander20-3-70-5
85.6
0
Steyn to Cummins, no run, beaten outside off now Is there anything else that can happen in this over? Typical Steyn ball, shapes in, lands on off stump and lurches away. Cummins drives down the ground, but the ball keeps going away and misses the edge.

Australia 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st0SR WatsonPJ Hughes
2nd19UT KhawajaPJ Hughes
3rd122RT PontingUT Khawaja
4th4RT PontingMJ Clarke
5th20RT PontingMEK Hussey
6th50MEK HusseyBJ Haddin
7th72BJ HaddinMG Johnson
8th5MG JohnsonPM Siddle
9th18MG JohnsonPJ Cummins