18th January, 2000: A Fixed Test match ended


In the 5th test match between England and South Africa, the play on day 2, 3 and 4 were abandoned due to rain. On the 5th day South Africa finished their first innings on 251. In response, England declared their innings for 0 without facing a ball. And surprising everyone South Africa also declared their innings on 0 (forfeit more appropriate term). In the end England chased down 252 and won the match which was expected to be a dull draw earlier. This was the first time in the history of test cricket that a team declared their innings on 0 and that too twice in a test match

In fact even before the start of the play on Day 5, Hansie Cronje offered Nasseer Hussain to forfeit their innings to make the match interesting which Nasseer Hussain accepted only after the completion of South Africa's innings.
Later it was found that Cronje did it all after accepting money from a bookie. Nasseer Hussain who was very happy with the win later said that, "It will always be remembered as test match which was fixed"



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