Ricky Ponting, Australia's cricket captain hit 164 to help his team record the highest total in one-day international cricket history. Punters flocked to their betting outlets to put their money on the Aussies beating South Africa in Johannesburg on Sunday 12 March 2006. With odds of 1-100, money was bet on a near-certain win.

It was obvious, the Aussies had hit 434 runs off their allotted 50 overs, with 4 wickets lost, breaking the one-day record set by Sri Lanka in 1995. But this is sport, and nothing is ever certain, even with the penultimate ball, the result was not known.

But it ended with Mark Boucher hitting a winning boundary and seeing South Africa with 438 runs off 50 overs with the loss of 9 wickets, and another new record set. But where there are losers there are winners, whether on the pitch or in a betting shop, and punters who put money on South Africa at pre-match odds of 6-4, which moved to 149-1 were certainly smiling. Around £10 million was wagered at Betfair, and probably lots more elsewhere..

13/3/2006