'438' game voted best ever by fans

The epic '438' game between the Proteas and Australia has officially been voted the greatest One-Day International ever, according to the results of an International Cricket Council (ICC) fans survey released on Wednesday.

The match at the Wanderers Stadium was the last of the five-match series between the two countries in the 2005-06 season and enabled the Proteas to win 3-2.

Australia made 434/3 and the Proteas replied with 438/9 to win by one wicket. It is the only instance of both sides making more than 400 runs in a match.

The vote is a result of a public opinion survey held by the ICC on their website to mark the 40th anniversary of the first ODI between England and Australia on January 5, 1971.

This game took place after the Test match between the two countries had been abandoned through bad weather without a ball being bowled.

Fans from 97 countries cast approximately 600 000 votes and also chose the all-time ODI team.

Former Proteas fast bowler Allan Donald was chosen for the team along with Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Kapil Dev (all India), Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath (all Australia), Viv Richards and Brian Lara (West Indies), Wasim Akram (Pakistan) and Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka).

Michael Bevan of Australia, who gathered the most votes outside of the chosen XI, was named as 12th man.

Others Proteas considered for the team were Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis, Lance Klusener and Mark Boucher.

The dramatic tied World Cup semifinal between the Proteas and Australia at Edgbaston in 1999 also made the short list for the "best ever match" award.

"This is magnificent recognition of one of the great moments in our history," Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola said in a statement.

"Nobody who was at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium that day will ever forget it.

"We all have very fond memories of Herschelle Gibbs' stunning innings of 175, Makhaya Ntini's single to level the totals and Mark Boucher's winning boundary.

"Not least of the memories was the wonderful outpouring of emotions by all the Proteas' loyal fans.

"It is not only a tribute to the players on both sides who produced such a stirring and captivating contest but also to the Wanderers Stadium which remains one of the great theatres of world cricket.

"It is also absolutely fitting that Allan Donald's magnificent career should be acknowledged in this fashion."