Flashback
England beat South Africa in last ball of match
By A.C. de Silva
Ever heard of a Test Cricket match ending in the last ball of the
match? Well it did happen when England beat South Africa in the last
delivery of the first Test of the 1948-1949 'Rubber'-the only time a
Test has been decided on the last ball.
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Len Hutton made the top score of 83 in England’s score of
253
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Richie Benaud match-winning bowler with 5 for 12 in 25
balls.
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Alex Bedser look 4 for 39 for England in South Africa’s 161
and he also batted well. |
The final day of the match was 20th December at Kingsmead, Durban in
South Africa in 1948.
South Africa won the toss and batted first. They made 161 and England
had a champion bowler in Alec Bedser who took 4 wickets for 39. England
then replied with 253 all out. With Len Hutton making the top score of
83.
The South Africans had a top bowler in Tufty Mann who was struck with
cancer at the tragically young age of 31 four years later. Mann was the
'king pin' of England's bowlers and be had a haul of 6 for 59.
Came South Africa's turn to bat a second time and they made 219 and
this left England to make 128 for victory and they progressed steadily,
but needed eight runs from the last eight-ball over for victory.
At the crease were Alec Bedser and Cliff Gladlin and bowling for the
springboks was Lindsay Tuckett.
England's Bedser levelled the scores at 127 off the sixth ball but
then Gladwin missed the seventh delivery. It was down to the last ball.
Gladwin missed again, but the ball hit his thigh and he and Bedser
rested a leg-bye to ensure victory for England.
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