On this day in 1992: South Africa host an ODI for the first time
The Indian tour of South Africa in 1992-93 was historic in quite a few ways. Not only was the visit the first by an Indian team on the South African land, but the tour was also significant in the sense it was South Africa’s first official international cricket series at home since the apartheid ban. The tour is also remembered for the introduction of the ICC panel of independent umpires and the decision to use TV replays to settle difficult decisions – an innovation that later took shape as the third umpire’s concept in the sport.
South Africa’s superiority was visible in the ODI series which they won 5-2. The first one of the 7-match ODI series was played on 7th December 1992 at the Newlands cricket stadium, Cape Town, in what was a day/night encounter between the two teams and the resumption of cricket after South Africa’s readmission.
The historic game
Winning the toss, skipper Azharuddin opted to bat first. The Indian openers – Ajay Jadeja and Woorkeri Raman – started sedately but constructed a solid platform as they added 92 for the first wicket. The first wicket opened the doors wide for the Proteas, and they barged in with great vigour. Later, Mohammad Azharuddin was undone by Allan Donald, as he nicked one into the wicketkeeper’s gloves.
Losing two wickets in a space of three overs, the tumbling was ceased by Sachin Tendulkar and Sanjay Manjrekar for a brief while before Brian McMillan knocked over the young Sachin for 15, while Cronje got Manjrekar caught by Craig Matthews. Indians were reeling at 140 for 6, as Pravin Amre became the 4th scalp for Cronje after scoring 4. Though Kapil Dev showed some resistance through his run-a-ball 27, the Indian tail was wrapped without adding much.
Chasing 185 in 50 overs, openers Kepler Wessels and Andrew Hudson added 56 for the first wicket. That is when Tendulkar got India the first breakthrough as Hudson – after scoring 33 from 56 – deposited the ball straight to Manoj Prabhakar. Wessels anchored from one end as he scored 43 from 100 and got involved in another crucial stand with half-centurion Peter Kirsten for the second wicket. Though Ajay Jadeja’s direct throw led to the end of Wessels, slight contributions from Jonty Rhodes (13 from 28), Dave Callaghan (unbeaten 17 from 19), and the destroyer-in-chief with the ball Hansie Cronje (unbeaten 12 from 5) proved sufficient for the Africans to chase down the target at the loss of 4 wickets and with three balls to spare.
