January 22, 2004 – Match 7 of the 2003-04 VB Series at the SCG – A match so good Cricket Australia put the entire Channel 9 replay on YouTube.

One of the best ODIs ever played in Australia – India blasted 296 off their 50 overs (Yuvraj Singh hit 139 off 122 and VVS Laxman anchored with an unbeaten 106) in a time when chasing 296 was utterly dauting in One Day cricket, then the rain, lightning and thunder hit Sydney during the 9th over of the Australian chase and wiped out 16 overs, reducing the target to 225 off 34 overs by the time the players got back out with the floodlights in full effect…

Gilchrist hit 95 off 72, Ponting fell for 42, the other fell cheaply, including Michael Clarke batting at No.8, so it all came down to Brett Lee with Andy Bichel up the other end, with Australia at 8/210 still needing 15 to win off the last 2 overs, and 11 off the last over.

With 9 off 4 required, then 7 off 3 required, Binga duly delivered with a sliced 6 over cover.

Thanks, to that hit, we got the great line from Bill Lawry:

“CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT – IT’S GONE ALL THE WAY!”

Which was used by Channel 9 for several years after the fact.

I remember watching the game as a 7-year-old, I think I asked my dad if Australia had won the World Cup…

He said no.

Watching back, I also noticed an ad for Carlton Sterling.

If you don’t remember Carlton Sterling I don’t blame you, but the ads featured Mel Carter’s Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me.