Decades Tournament - 1990s Australia v 1990s South Africa

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As the Adelaide Oval clock inched towards 7pm, South Africa quick Allan Donald prepared to bowl the final over of a pulsating Test match. Australia had been set 322 to win and had reduced that target to 6 runs from 6 balls, but lost 9 wickets in the process. In gloomy conditions,  Donald dug the 5th ball hard into the pitch, and Craig McDermott skied a catch to Brett Schultz at mid wicket. South Africa had won by 1 run!

This was a classic contest played in good spirit between 2 talented teams. Daryll Cullinan's 1st day 139 was a top class innings which put the Australians on the back foot. This was a bittersweet match for Australia captain Mark Taylor, who scored 76 and 86 but whose bold decision on day 3 to reject the offer of coming off for bad light saw his side slump from 135-2 to 166-6. He also ran out Darren Lehmann inexplicably on the 4th evening. A word must be said in praise of the Adelaide curator, who produced a beautiful batting pitch which ultimately would assist spinners. In this respect, South Africa were a tad two dimensional with their all-pace attack. Nevertheless it was their leading speedster, Allan Donald, who took the last 3 wickets and 7 in all, to deservedly be named MOM.

Australia 1990s: MA Taylor (c), ME Waugh, DS Lehmann, SR Waugh, DR Martyn, IA Healy (wk), SK Warne, DW Fleming, TBA May, CJ McDermott, MS Kasprowicz

South Africa 1990s: KC Wessels, AC Hudson, G Kirsten, DJ Cullinan, WJ Cronje (c), BM McMillan, DJ Richardson (wk), SM Pollock, PS de Villiers, AA Donald, BN Schultz

South Africa 1990s 1st Innings 456-9 (151 Ov)

DJ Cullinan 139, G Kirsten 65, DJ Richards, 61, DW Fleming 3-68, TBA May 2-97

Australia 1990s 1st Innings 300-10 (106 Ov)

MA Taylor 76, ME Waugh 40, DW Fleming 38, AA Donald 3-71, BN Schultz 2-34, BM McMillan 2-43

South Africa 1990s 1st Innings 165-5 (55 Ov)

G Kirsten 82*, KC Wessels 38, DJ Cullinan 26, CJ McDermott 3-37

Australia 1990s 2nd Innings 320-10 (110.5 Ov)

MA Taylor 86, DR Martyn 58, SR Waugh 52, AA Donald 4-56, PS de Villiers 2-54

South Africa 1990s won by 1 run

Man of the Match: AA Donald




Daryll Cullinan hit a fantastic 1st innings century to help set up South Africas famous victory


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