# Fifth ODI, Australian cricket team in South Africa in 2005–06
The fifth One Day International of Australia's 2005–06 tour of South Africa was a cricket match played on 12 March 2006 at the New Wanderers Stadium in [Johannesburg](https://www.edgepedia.org/johannesburg), in which Australia set a world-record total of 434 for 4 and South Africa overhauled it with 438 for 9, winning by 1 wicket with one ball remaining.[1](https://img.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2005-06/AUS_IN_RSA/SCORECARDS/AUS_RSA_ODI5_12MAR2006.html) It was the deciding match of a five-match series that stood level at 2–2, and South Africa took the series 3–2.[1](https://img.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2005-06/AUS_IN_RSA/SCORECARDS/AUS_RSA_ODI5_12MAR2006.html) • [2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-03-12/ponting-leads-australia-to-record-total/816798) The match is widely described as one of the greatest One Day Internationals ever played.[3](https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Articles/4/4042.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Match | ODI #2349, 12 March 2006, New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg; Australia won the toss[1](https://img.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2005-06/AUS_IN_RSA/SCORECARDS/AUS_RSA_ODI5_12MAR2006.html) |
| Result | South Africa 438/9 (49.5 overs) beat Australia 434/4 (50 overs) by 1 wicket; series won 3–2[1](https://img.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2005-06/AUS_IN_RSA/SCORECARDS/AUS_RSA_ODI5_12MAR2006.html) |
| Australia innings | 434/4, then the highest total in ODI history and the first 400-plus total, beating Sri Lanka's 398/5 against Kenya in 1996[4](https://www.espn.com/cricket/series/14676/report/238200/south-africa-vs-australia-5th-odi-14676) • [2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-03-12/ponting-leads-australia-to-record-total/816798) |
| Leading scores | Ricky Ponting 164 off 105 balls (career best); Herschelle Gibbs 175 off 111 balls[2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-03-12/ponting-leads-australia-to-record-total/816798) • [3](https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Articles/4/4042.html) |
| Match aggregate | 872 runs, passing the previous highest ODI aggregate of 693 (Pakistan v India, Karachi, 2003/04)[5](https://images.icc-cricket.com/image/upload/prd/ap6fkqrnudrf5jli4mlt.pdf) |
| Awards | Man of the Match shared by Gibbs and Ponting; Shaun Pollock was Player of the Series[1](https://img.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2005-06/AUS_IN_RSA/SCORECARDS/AUS_RSA_ODI5_12MAR2006.html) |
## Australia's innings
Australia batted first after winning the toss against a South African side missing its star opening bowler [Shaun Pollock](https://www.edgepedia.org/shaun-pollock), who suffered a back strain during the fourth match in Durban.[2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-03-12/ponting-leads-australia-to-record-total/816798) Adam Gilchrist made 55 off 44 balls and [Simon Katich](https://www.edgepedia.org/simon-katich) 79, putting on 97 for the first wicket.[1](https://img.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2005-06/AUS_IN_RSA/SCORECARDS/AUS_RSA_ODI5_12MAR2006.html) Gilchrist, on eight, was dropped by a diving [Herschelle Gibbs](https://www.edgepedia.org/herschelle-gibbs) at backward point off Makhaya Ntini when the total was 13.[2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-03-12/ponting-leads-australia-to-record-total/816798)
**Ricky Ponting's 164** came off 105 balls with 13 fours and 9 sixes, reaching 50 off 43 balls, his century off 71 balls, and 150 off 99 deliveries.[2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-03-12/ponting-leads-australia-to-record-total/816798) He shared partnerships of 119 with Katich and 158 off 96 balls with [Michael Hussey](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-hussey), who made 81.[3](https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Articles/4/4042.html) • [2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-03-12/ponting-leads-australia-to-record-total/816798) The total of 434 for 4 beat the previous world best of 398 for 5 by Sri Lanka against Kenya at Kandy during the 1996 World Cup, and it was the first 400-plus total in ODI history.[2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-03-12/ponting-leads-australia-to-record-total/816798) • [4](https://www.espn.com/cricket/series/14676/report/238200/south-africa-vs-australia-5th-odi-14676) Every South African bowler conceded more than 50 runs, and the innings finished 25 minutes late, drawing a fine for a slow over rate.[3](https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Articles/4/4042.html) • [2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-03-12/ponting-leads-australia-to-record-total/816798)
## South Africa's chase
The target of 435 required nearly 8.7 runs per over, a rate without precedent for a successful chase; the previous highest second-innings total in an ODI was 344 for 8, by Pakistan against India at Karachi on 13 March 2004.[1](https://img.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2005-06/AUS_IN_RSA/SCORECARDS/AUS_RSA_ODI5_12MAR2006.html) • [6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xgWfhWnBoA) Boeta Dippenaar fell in the second over with the total on 3, but captain [Graeme Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/graeme-smith) and Herschelle Gibbs added 187 runs off 126 balls for the second wicket.[3](https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Articles/4/4042.html)
**Gibbs's 175** off 111 balls, with 21 fours and 7 sixes, was his 16th ODI hundred, reached off 79 balls and beating his own South African record for the fastest hundred, previously 84 balls against Zimbabwe.[3](https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Articles/4/4042.html) He was fourth out at 299 in the 32nd over, at which point Australia appeared in control.[3](https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Articles/4/4042.html) Johan van der Wath then struck 35 off 18 balls, and [Mark Boucher](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-boucher) finished 50 not out off 43 balls, hitting the winning four.[3](https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Articles/4/4042.html) South Africa reached 438 for 9 in 49.5 overs, the highest successful chase and the highest second-innings total in ODI history at the time.[1](https://img.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2005-06/AUS_IN_RSA/SCORECARDS/AUS_RSA_ODI5_12MAR2006.html)
Nathan Bracken took 5 wickets for 67, the only Australian bowler with a wicket haul of note, while Mick Lewis conceded 113 runs in his 10 overs and became the first bowler to concede more than 100 runs in a 50-over ODI.[1](https://img.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2005-06/AUS_IN_RSA/SCORECARDS/AUS_RSA_ODI5_12MAR2006.html) • [3](https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Articles/4/4042.html)
## Records and significance
The two innings produced 872 runs, surpassing the previous highest match aggregate in an ODI of 693, set when Pakistan met India at Karachi in 2003/04.[5](https://images.icc-cricket.com/image/upload/prd/ap6fkqrnudrf5jli4mlt.pdf) The ICC's year in review described the decider as an incredible climax between the two leading sides, with South Africa clinching the home series three matches to two.[5](https://images.icc-cricket.com/image/upload/prd/ap6fkqrnudrf5jli4mlt.pdf) ESPNcricinfo's match report called it a match that built to a pulsating finale, and the CricketArchive article on the game states that it will go down in the history of the game as the greatest match ever.[4](https://www.espn.com/cricket/series/14676/report/238200/south-africa-vs-australia-5th-odi-14676) • [3](https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Articles/4/4042.html)
The records did not all stand for long.
## Series context
The match was the decider of a five-match series in which South Africa had won the first two matches, at [Centurion](https://www.edgepedia.org/centurion) by 6 wickets under the D/L method and at [Cape Town](https://www.edgepedia.org/cape-town) by 196 runs after Australia was bowled out for 93, before Australia won at Port Elizabeth by 24 runs and at Durban by 1 wicket to level the series at 2–2.[7](https://cricstats.in/349620/australia-in-south-africa-odi-series)
## References
1. [5th ODI: South Africa v Australia at Johannesburg, 12 Mar 2006, Cricinfo scorecard](https://img.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2005-06/AUS_IN_RSA/SCORECARDS/AUS_RSA_ODI5_12MAR2006.html)
2. [Ponting leads Australia to record total, ABC News (12 March 2006)](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-03-12/ponting-leads-australia-to-record-total/816798)
3. [The Greatest One Day Game between South Africa v Australia, CricketArchive (Arshad Chughtai, 17 March 2006)](https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Articles/4/4042.html)
4. [Recent Match Report, South Africa vs Australia 5th ODI 2006, ESPNcricinfo](https://www.espn.com/cricket/series/14676/report/238200/south-africa-vs-australia-5th-odi-14676)
5. [International Cricket year-in-review, ICC](https://images.icc-cricket.com/image/upload/prd/ap6fkqrnudrf5jli4mlt.pdf)
6. [South Africa VS Australia 5th ODI 2006 Full Highlights (World Record Run Chase), YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xgWfhWnBoA)
7. [Australia in South Africa ODI Series 2006 Schedule & Results, Cricstats](https://cricstats.in/349620/australia-in-south-africa-odi-series)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Cricket › Cricket competitions and records › Individual matches and results › Limited-overs series and standalone ODI/T20I fixtures › Standalone named ODI and limited-overs fixtures*
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