On this day in 2000: First-ever international match to be played indoors
Rains and bad light are common factors that also become a hindrance in hosting cricket matches. Stadiums with closed roofs are considered as the ideal solution in such a case. But it took about 123 years from the beginning of international cricket to witness matches being hosted in the venues with a roof. Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium created history by hosting an ODI series involving Australia in 2000.
The venue was inaugurated in March 2000 when it hosted an Australian Rules Football match. Australia hosted South Africa for a 3-match ODI series in August which was outside regular Australian cricket summer. History was created on August 16th as the Docklands stood host for the first-ever conventional indoor International cricket match. The match was played during mid-Winter season and it ended up drawing a crowd of only 25,785 out of a possible 48,000.
The roof was placed 38 meters from the playing surface and a 15-minute light show took place before the start of the match. Australia were invited to bat first only to find themselves three wickets down for 37 runs by the 12th over. Michael Bevan and Steve Waugh, who walked to bat at No.4 and No.5 respectively, rescued the hosts with a huge partnership. Both the batsmen scored runs at a good pace despite losing the top three early.
Waugh, Bevan get tons!
Bevan brought up his fifty in 57 balls while skipper Steve Waugh needed 59 deliveries. However, after his fifty, Waugh found boundaries at regular intervals and got to his ton in only 91 balls. Bevan also completed his century in 120 balls as the partnership between the two reached 200 in only 195 balls. The pair added 222 for the 4th wicket in only 35.1 before Bevan fell for 106.
Waugh remained unbeaten on 114 from 103 balls as Australia finished with 295/5 as Shane Lee struck a 15-ball 28 in the final few overs. As the pitch slowed down considerably, the South Africans found it tough to get going against the home team bowlers. Though each of South Africa’s top four batsmen faced 25+ balls, none of them ended up with a strike rate of even 70. As a result, the Proteas ended up with only 201/7 despite batting full 50 overs.
The following two matches turned out to be low-scoring ones as Australia’s total of 295 in the first ODI was the only 230+ total in this series. The second ODI ended in a Tie as Australia ended up with 226/9 in reply to South Africa’s 226/8. The series was shared between the two teams after South Africa won the last ODI by 8 runs. Batting first, the Proteas posted 206/7 while the hosts made 198/9 in 48 overs after being fined two overs for slow overrate.
