They remain the best bowling figures in Test cricket at The Oval – Devon Malcolm’s 9-57 for England against South Africa at The Oval on August 20 1994 was a display of searing pace which blew away one of the world’s most combative teams. Richard Spiller looks back
Earning the admiration of Nelson Mandela was no easy task.
But the newly-elected president of South Africa could not fail to be impressed by the way Devon Malcolm carved through his team.
The tourists arrived 1-0 ahead in the three-match series and England were desperate to strike back, calling back the country’s fastest bowler on the quickest pitch in the land.
Malcolm had been criticised for his bowling in the first innings, finishing with 1-81 from 25 overs.
His hostility was beyond doubt, hitting Jonty Rhodes on the head with the batsman kept in hospital overnight for observation. Brian McMillan was similarly struck but made 93 and with David Richardson (58) hauled up South Africa from 136-5 to 332 all out. It was Surrey’s Joey Benjamin, making his Test debut aged 33, and Phil DeFreitas who took the honours by taking four wickets apiece.
Graham Thorpe (79) and Alec Stewart (62) both relished batting on their home turf but England looked likely to fall well behind until DeFreitas (37) and Darren Gough (42) added a scintillating 70 for the eighth wicket in the final half-hour of the second day and the deficit was just 24. The final moments of that innings on the third morning were central to what would unfold later, tailender Malcolm being hit on the head by an avenging Fanie de Villiers and – depending on who you wish to believe – telling his opponents that “you guys are history”.
Within three balls of his first over of South Africa’s second innings, that threat – outright or implied – was coming to fruition. Gary Kirsten was able only to stab a viciously rising delivery vertically for Malcolm to take the return catch and then Peter Kirsten (1) – the first set of brothers to open in an Oval Test since the Graces in 1880 – was held by DeFreitas at long leg off an uncontrolled hook. Hansie Cronje’s uncertainty against pace had been obvious in the previous Test at Headingley and his hesitancy to get into line saw Malcolm castle him for a duck to leave South Africa staggering at 1/3.
Skipper Kepler Wessels (28) was joined by Daryl Cullinan in a stand worth 70 before Malcolm returned from the Vauxhall End to have him caught behind, while McMillan’s 25 contributed to a partnership of 64. But when Malcolm came back again, he had McMillan caught at slip, bowled Richardson (3) and had Craig Matthews (0) prodding at a rapid delivery to wicketkeeper Steve Rhodes. Cullinan had been battling hard but six runs short of his century edged Gough to Thorpe at slip, to end any chance of all 10 falling to one bowler.
The final three wickets went in a flash, Rhodes having gone in late, edged behind for 10 before Allan Donald was bowled second ball, Malcolm walking off to rapturous applause with the magnificent figures of 9-57 from his 16.3 overs.
South Africa’s 175 all out still left England needing 204 but the match continued on fast forward, Graham Gooch (33) showing vintage form in his final Test innings on home soil to dominate a rapid opening partnership with Mike Atherton. England were 107-1 overnight, Atherton (63no) and Graeme Hick (81no) dominating so utterly that the runs were knocked off 19 minutes before lunch to level the series and leave The Oval as a giant picnic site.
