The coin toss signaled the start of what is sure to be a remarkable game. Some bright sparks had the idea to have a charity cricket match to raise money for the survivors of the tsunami tragedy.
24 cricket players from around the world have devoted their time and skills to this cause.
12 players from "Asia" - Pakistan, India, Bangledesh and Sri Lanka have joined 5 Australians, 3 New Zealanders, 3 West Indians and 1 English cricketer in a game that's unprecedented.
The teams
Rest of the World XI: Ricky Ponting (Aus, captain), Stephen Fleming (NZ, vice captain), Dwayne Bravo (WI), Chris Cairns (NZ), Chris Gayle (WI), Adam Gilchrist (Aus), Darren Gough (Eng), Matthew Hayden (Aus), Brian Lara (WI), Glenn McGrath (Aus), Daniel Vettori (NZ), Shane Warne (Aus).
Asian XI: Sourav Ganguly (Ind) (c), Marvan Atapattu (SL), Rahul Dravid (Ind), Sanath Jayasuriya (SL), Alok Kapali (Ban), Zaheer Khan (Ind), Anil Kumble (Ind), Muttiah Muralitharan (SL), Kumar Sangakkara (SL), Virender Sehwag (Ind), Sachin Tendulkar (Ind), Chaminda Vaas (SL), Yousuf Youhana (Pak), Abdul Razzaq (Pak).
The talent is astounding with the best of the best chosen to play.
Shane Warne who doesn't play one day games anymore was one of the first to put his hand up and say "I'm in that game" holds the record for most wickets taken ever and Muttiah Muralitharan who holds the record for second most wickets taken even are set to go head to head. It will be a phenomenal game.
Australian Captain Ricky Ponting who's heading the ROW (rest of the World) side won the toss and elected to bat. West Indies Chris Gayle and Aussie Adam "Gilly" Gilchrist opened the batting with Chris Gayle falling quickly to Raul Dravid (India) in the first over after just 3 balls and 1 run.
It's now up to third batsmen Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist to score the big runs -- and they're well on their way in the 4.1 overs they've put on 23 runs including 2 bounderies apiece.
I'll keep this updated but for live updates go to www.baggygreen.com.au and click on the Live Scorecard
3 Mobile will be donating $1000 per run.
*Toyota is donating $50,000 per six up to $500,000 (10). Adam Gilchrist has just started the tally by hitting a six off Chaminda Vaas to bring the score 1/50 after just 9 overs.
*And he's out - Adam Gilchrist caught out by Kumar Sangakkara for 24. 2/50 Enter Brian Lara.
*Has Lara been run out - going to the third umpire (video) NOT OUT
*2/104 (19 overs)
*Ponting has just reached his half century with his 5th 4. 50 runs off 51balls
2/117 (over 21)
*so far they've raised over $2 million.
After 27 overs the score is 2/150 Ponting (71) Lara (41) ($150,000 from 3mobile so far plus $50,000 for Gilly's 6 from Toyota)
And Ponting just hit a very expensive shot off Sehwag - $50,000 from Toyota and $6000 from 3mobile - a $56,000 six. Bringing the ROW to 2/172 (over 30)
Lara trying to duplicate Pontings six has just be caught out by Vass for 52. Enter New Zealander Chris Cairns to the non strikers end.
What the?!?!?! Prime Minister John Howard is in the commentry box with Richie and Jason Gillespie. (3/191)
Over 31 - 3/229 Ponting is on 98 from 96
Over 38 3/242 - Ponting is on 101 having hit a 2 while on 99.
And now Chris Cairns has just struck another $56,000 ball. 3/251
Pontings second 6 - 3/257
third - 3/263
OUT - Ponting out for 115 from 100 deliveries, after 3 sixes and 8 fours.
Check out this over it's amazing.
38.6 Kumble to Ponting, OUT: advances to a quicker one, tries to drive,
misses and is well stumped
38.5 Kumble to Ponting, SIX, short, brilliantly pulled over the rope
just inside the fence, for another six!!!!
38.4 Kumble to Ponting, SIX, advances and lofts over mid wicket, well
hit, no crowd catch but anotther 50 gees from Toyota
38.3 Kumble to Ponting, two runs, cuts behind point, 250 up
38.2 Kumble to Cairns, one run, pushes wide of mid wicket
38.1 Kumble to Cairns, SIX, advances, lofting over mid wicket great hit
that lands in the members stand, another 50 large from the Toyota
Company
The AFL club has donated $300,000 and the NRL club is donating $100,000 on top of what they've already donated.
It's 4/263 as Glenn McGrath enters the crease.
Chris Cairns hits a single to bring him to 50 (from 38) and McGrath into the strikers end. Who is out for a duck (0) - 5/264. Enter Stephen Fleming
Chris Cairns hitting his second 6 to bring ROW to 5/283 and his score to 66 off 44.
STUMPED! - Chris Cairns 69 (47) bowled by Muralitharan who gets his first wicket on the way to over take Warne as the leading wicket taker. 6/286 (over 42)
Hayden gone for 2. 7/292
Daniel Vettori is on the board for 2.
7/301 (over 45) (5 overs to go)
Over 46 - 7/308
Over 47 - 7/319
Over 49 - 3/336
- 1 over to go- just 6 balls left.
Stephen Fleming is out for 30 (28) bringing Victorian Shane Warne to the crease with just 4 balls left to make a name for himself.
Oh what a beautiful innings. Daniel Vettori not out for 27 and Shane Warne not out for 2. ROW - 8/344.