On this day in 2003: Matthew Hayden slams 380 in an innings against Zimbabwe
On 10th October 2003, Australian batting legend Matthew Hayden shattered the record books at Perth. The left-handed opening batsman smashed the then highest ever individual score in the history of Test match cricket. Let us see what happened in this eventful match between Australia and Zimbabwe, and delve deep into Hayden’s breath-taking knock as well.
Zimbabwe won the toss and decided to field first. And, the man who absolutely pulverized the Zimbabwe bowling attack was Matthew Hayden. In an innings that lasted 437 balls, Hayden plundered his way to 380. His innings was embellished with 38 fours and 11 sixes.
Hayden also put on two mammoth partnerships with Steve Waugh and Adam Gilchrist. While the Hayden-Waugh duo stitched together a sensational partnership of 207 runs for the 4th wicket, Hayden put on a 233-run stand with Adam Gilchrist.
While Steve Waugh scored 78, Gilchrist blazed away to 113* off just 94 deliveries. And, the Australian side piled up a humongous total of 735/6 on the board. Sean Ervine was the pick of the bowlers for Zimbabwe and scalped 4 wickets.
In reply, Zimbabwe was bowled out for just 239. And, the highest run-scorer for the visitors was Trevor Gripper, who scored 53. Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie scalped 3 wickets each, while Andy Bichel and Stuart MacGill gobbled up 4 batsmen together.
The Zimbabwe side was asked to follow on. And this time, they produced a slightly better performance with the willow, but still could not avoid an innings defeat. In the second essay, Mark Vermeulen, Sean Ervine and Heath Streak scored half-centuries, but the Zimbabwe side was shot out for 321 and went down to the kangaroos by an innings and 175 runs.
Andy Bichel scalped 4 wickets in the second innings, while Darren Lehmann picked up 3 wickets. Needless to say, Matthew Hayden won the Player of the Match award for his ravishing knock. In the following year (2004), Brian Lara went past Hayden’s record and scored 400*, but we shall delve deep into this knock on another day.
