Fanie de Villiers was the Man of the Match as South Africa narrowly beat Australia by five runs in a Test match in Sydney in 1994.

South Africa batted first and finished on 169, Gary Kirsten top-scoring with 67. They bowled Australia out for 292, De Villiers taking 4-80.

Jonty Rhodes, who came in at 107-4, batted through South Africa’s second innings for his 76 not out as the visitors added 132 to the score to end on 239 all out.

That set the Aussies a target of a meagre 117 runs to chase. An Australian collapse allowed South Africa to take an unexpected lead in the series after the home side had made most of the running. South Africa’s unlikely hero was De Villiers. In only his second Test he took 10 wickets, and his second-innings 6-43 included the first four as Australia slumped to 56-4 before the end of the fourth day.

The last part of South Africa’s stunning success was presided over by Hansie Cronje after Kepler Wessels broke a finger attempting a slip catch. The young deputy marshalled his troops well on the tense final morning, and his turn, throw and direct hit to run out Shane Warne from wide mid-off was a devastating blow for Australia as they were bowled out for 111.