The greatest one-dayer, and the mother of all upsets

Warne again, and Kenya come good

Warne weaves his web

Gary Kirsten falls to yet another magic ball from Warne © Getty Images

Generations of grandkids will know of the greatest one-day match of all, and of the man who scripted it. It's the stuff of folklore; the bizarre last over, with the two boundaries hammered by Lance Klusener, the inexplicable mix-up with Allan Donald, the scores tied. But without a doubt, every soul who was at Birmingham that lovely day will say it was a pudgy blonde's day.

Five months after a return from shoulder injury, Shane Warne bowled a spell uncannily reminiscent of the semifinals of the 1996 World Cup, when victory had threatened to slip out of Australia's reach. South Africa, chasing 213 to walk into their first such final, were 43 for 0, with Herschelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten looking good. Enter Warne.

With the second ball of his second over, he ambled in, tongue protruding; eyes fixed firmly on Gibbs, he unleashed a beauty. It was mesmerizing to watch live at the ground - it looped up, drifted away, landed in the rough outside leg stump, and fizzed past a dumbfounded Gibbs to clip off. The ball of Warne's ODI career. As canary-yellow bodies swooped in and embraced red-faced bowler, batsman stood in disbelief, refusing to acknowledge that he had been bowled.

Five deliveries later, Warne floated another one up in the footmarks outside leg, Kirsten went down to sweep, missed and the ball hit off again. As he let out a war-cry heard all the way back in Ferntree Gully, Warne was a sight to behold. Hansie Cronje lasted just two deliveries, as an attempted flick to the onside went to first slip - replays suggested there was no edge - and Warne had three wickets in eight balls.

Warne was taken off after eight overs, but every South African knew that he'd be back for 12 deliveries. The 43rd over was a quiet affair, but in Warne's final one, Shaun Pollock slammed a six and a four before stealing a single into the covers to bring Jacques Kallis, on 53 from 91 balls, on strike. You can never count Warne out of a contest, and sure enough, conventional wisdom was upheld.

One last time, Warne tossed it up, Kallis checked his drive and sliced straight into the waiting hands of Waugh at cover. A spell of 4 for 29 had been completed. Warne's captivating display inspired his flagging team-mates, changing the mood in a way that only born champions could.
Jamie Alter

Kenya stun the former champions

Maurice Odumbe celebrates with a team-mate in better times © Getty Images

Kenya arrived at the 1996 World Cup as 500-1 outsiders with few expectations. West Indies, twice winners, were a shambles with Richie Richardson under pressure to quit as captain and the side in complete disarray. Nevertheless, none of the 5000 inside the Nehru Stadium expected anything other than a routine win for the double World Champions. The first half of the game went according to plan, as Kenya struggled to 166 all out after being stuck in. Even when West Indies lost both their openers cheaply, it seemed nothing more than a hiccup. But Brian Lara, batting at No.3, proceeded to throw that bat as if he was in the nets, and his dismissal for 8 - caught behind by an astonished wicketkeeper, the portly bespectacled Tariq Iqbal - triggered a remarkable collapse as Maurice Odumbe's gentle offspin ripped through the middle order and West Indies were bowled out for 93.

"It's like winning the World Cup," Odumbe beamed after leading his side on a euphoric lap of honour. "It's a dream come true. The West Indies are our idols, and to beat an idol is a great thing." Richardson walked out of the post-match media conference after making a terse statement. "My congratulations to Kenya for winning a very important match," he said. "We did not play the way we should have. I am very, very disappointed. I have nothing more to add." His team-mates, meanwhile, posed for photographs with the victorious Kenyans in their dressing-room.

The Caribbean media were more forthcoming and the team was savaged. In Nairobi, where cricket was regarded as the preserve of the white and Asian elite, the upset was not even mentioned on TV or radio. And in the days that followed, there were calls for Lara to be sent home after it was alleged he had told the Kenyans that he didn't mind losing to them as much as a white team like South Africa. He later claimed his comments had been taken out of context and issued an apology.
Martin Williamson

© Cricinfo

Add to del.icio.us | digg this | Stumble It What's this? If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content on cricket, you may use these buttons. When you add them to any of these sites, you "social bookmark" them for others to find and rate. More on del.icio.us>> More on digg>> More on stumbleupon>> Close

Current Cricinfo fantasy games - SL v Ind, Eng v SA & County Cricket Login and check the standings Live scores, results, news, features and more - a click away Download the Cricinfo Toolbar Live scores, ball-by-ball commentary & news direct to your phone Cricinfo's mobile services

Matches

Australia v South Africa at Birmingham

Kenya v West Indies at Pune

Players/Umpires

Gary Kirsten

Brian Lara

Maurice Odumbe

Shane Warne

Series/Tournaments

ICC World Cup