While the COVID-19 or coronavirus has brought the challenging situation in the world, former South African cricketer Herschelle Gibbs has brought out his iconic bat that helped his national team to chase down the record ODI target in 14 years ago. Gibbs has decided to auction that bat to raise funds to fight against the coronavirus.
Herschelle Gibbs was one of the most successful cricketers in South African cricket history. While he represented the national team from 1996 to 2010, the right-handed batsman played 90 Tests, 248 ODIs and 23 T20Is. In his long international career, Gibbs had many memorable incidents and created many unforgettable records.
Similarly, he played an unforgettable knock during the last game of the early 2006 five-match ODI series against the visitors Australia at The Wanderers Stadium (Johannesburg). Chasing down the record ODI target of 435 runs, Gibbs scored the match-winning 175 runs as South Africa scored 438/9 in 49.5 overs.
Gibbs revealed his latest auction news on his official social media accounts. On his official Twitter account, Gibbs wrote, “Supersport showing the #438 game. The bat I used that day will be up for auction to raise funds for COVID. Kept it all these years.
https://twitter.com/hershybru/status/1256179385876590592?s=20
Ricky Ponting and Herschelle Gibbs won the Player of the Match awards after that game
They played that match on 12th March 2006 which was a series-decider game (before that fifth match of that ODI series, the series scoreline was 2-2). Australian captain Ricky Ponting‘s 164 runs (105 balls) helped his national team to manage then record ODI total of 434/4 (50 overs) in the first innings of that match. However, more drama left in the second innings as Gibbs did something unthinkable with the bat during that match.
Coming to bat at the no.3 position after Boeta Dippenaar (1) was bowled in the second over of that innings, Gibbs smashed the Aussie bowlers all-over the ground. The right-handed batsman scored 175 runs off 111 balls with 21 fours and seven sixes, and his extraordinary batting performance inspired the entire team members who started to believe in winning that impossible-like game.
Finally, the hosts South Africa snatched an extraordinary victory by surpassing the record ODI total and creating a new record total in the ODI cricket history. With that victory, South Africa also secured that thrilling ODI series.