Tied in knots

They don’t unnecessarily call them chokers. The South Africans needed 36 runs off 30 balls to reach 270 and there were seven standing. Then it was eight runs and six balls with Boucher and Pollock on. Kabir Ali gave five without bowling a ball. Three runs to go. Boucher pulled the ball to square leg fence (three off six balls needed), Hall got stumped when one run was required off the last ball.

Sri Lanka Vs South Africa
March 3, 2005

The usual suspects again. A victory would ensure them a place in the Super Six. Pouring rain meant that South Africa would have to keep track of the D/L target at respective stages. They could not lose wickets too. With two balls remaining in the 45th over, Boucher hit a six to take the score to 229, the D/L cut-off. The heavy rains would mean a cancelled play. Boucher blocked the next ball to protect the wicket. It was in the dressing room that he came to know 229 was the ‘par score’. Somebody, shoot the messenger.

South Africa Vs Australia
March 27, 2002

Australia needed 37 off 28 with a wicket in hand. They had earlier slumped from 3/178 to 9/223. The last over. Jacques Kallis began with a full toss which yielded two runs. The next six balls saw six Aussie singles. This makes it the third tie that South Africa should have won.

South Africa Vs Australia
August 18, 2000

Australia should have won this. They were 146/2 in the 34th over and they kept losing wickets. Shane Warne and Jason Gillespie required 13 off the last over. Warne started Pollock’s over with a boundary over cover. Then Gillespie shot an inswinging yorker for a four. Gillespie fell. Warne required two off the last ball. Only a single could be run when the scorching straight drive hit the stumps at the bowlers end.

Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka
October 15, 1999

Sri Lanka — 172/2, target — 197. Then Abdul Razzaq ‘reversed’ the game. Shoaib Malik started the rot by taking out half-centurion Russel Arnold. Wasim Akram followed with wickets of Sanath Jayasurya and Aravinda DeSilva. Razzaq bowled out three tailenders and got Romesh kaluwitharana’s (75) scalp. Razzaq’s inswinging yorker claimed the last victim. A tie.

Australia Vs South Africa
June 17, 1999

The most heartbreaking of ‘em all. One would have hated to be a Lance Klusener or Allan Donald then. Klusener’s hard work saw them needing nine runs off the last over. Two continuous boundaries, a dot ball, and a run-out later, the Aussies, who believed in themselves, were in a huddle. Klusener would have seen end of life, then and there.

— Sidharth Monga