On This Day in 2011 (11/11/11): South Africa Needed 111 Runs To Win Against Australia at 11:11 AM

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Since cricket is a numerical game, it occasionally results in strange coincidences. An instance of this kind occurred on this day in 2011 (11/11/11) at the Cape Town Test Match between Australia and South Africa. An intriguing statistic occurred on the third day when South Africa was 125 for 1, needing 236 to win.

On November 11, 2011, at 11:11 am, South Africa needed a mere 111 runs to win. Interestingly, umpire Ian Gould and the spectators stood on one leg for the whole of that minute in a bizarre superstition.

The match ended on that very day with South Africa chasing down the total with eight wickets to spare as skipper Graeme Smith scored an unbeaten century (101*) while adding 195-run stand with another centurion Hashim Amla (112) for the second wicket. Nathan Lyon was the most successful Aussie bowler in the second innings with a spell of 1/11.

Earlier on Day 1 of the match (9/11/2011), South African pacers bundled out Australia for 248 on a fast Cape Town surface with speedster Dale Steyn taking 4/55 while Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander took three wickets each. Aussie skipper Michael Clarke was the sole performer from the innings with a splendid knock of 151.

However, South African batting-order soon caved in for just 96 runs. Shane Watson took 5/17 in five overs while Ryan Harris took four-for as Proteas lost their last nine wickets for just 47 runs. Australia couldn't utilise the big lead they took from the first innings as they folded for just 47 runs in the second innings.

Vernon Philander did the bulk of damage this time around with a spell of 5/15 while Morne Morkel (3/9) and Dale Steyn (2/23) took care of the rest of the Australian batting order. Tailenders Nathan Lyon (14) and Peter Siddle (12*) were the only batters to score in double digits. The duo had the highest stand in the innings for the 11th wicket of 25 runs after Aussies were down at 21/9.