Day 5 : South Africa shock Australia : Chase 414, batting 4th. -> Itsonlycricket, is only cricket!

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Day 5 : South Africa shock Australia : Chase 414, batting 4th.

Filed under SA in Aus 2008-09 AUSvSA Perth Test 2008

15th December 2008 : India broke into 4th position on highest targets ever chased in test cricket = 387.
21st December 2008 : South Africa went 2 steps ahead by chasing 414 in this Perth test match against de-accelerating world champs Australia. 2nd best effort ever (record list).

What a test match it was.. glorious shots, inspirational bowling spells, exceptional fielding and we even witnessed a few healthy edges not carrying to wicketkeeper on this famous Perth Pitch that is supposed to be fastest in the world. chasing the game all the way through - Proteas dug up a big hole for themselves on Day 2 when Mitchell Johnson removed 5 wickets in last hour of the day, giving away only 2 runs. Losing a lead of 94, African team struck back with quick wickets of struggling Mathew Hayden and Ricky Ponting and also pillar like Simon Katich.

That wasn't enough. Brad Haddin chewed his way to 94 rallying around formidable Aussie tailender and visitors were left to chase down 414 in last 5 sessions.

All right! said Captain Graeme Smith and made controlled 108, and being an opener - he showed the way to make impossible possible. Veteran Jaques Kallis did his part, contributing both wickets and crucial runs in partnership with Abraham Benjamin de Villiers who made century of his life - not out 106 runs.

Debutant Jean Paul Duminy did little but passed the tricky phased to remain unbeaten (50*) and saw his team home. More than session were left unplayed.

Fact : Australia have not lost a test series at home since they lost to West Indies more than 17 years ago. Now South Africa has the 1-0 lead (scorecard)in this 3 Mobile test series and it'll be interesting to see if they indeed have the metal to do what no other team has done in nearly 2 decades!