The Miracle Match

1998-99 First Grade Grand Final · Bayswater-Morley v Midland-Guildford · WACA Ground

On the fourth day of the 1998-99 WACA First Grade Grand Final, Bayswater-Morley were 9/154 chasing 330. Midland-Guildford needed one wicket for the pennant. The lady with the microphone was already climbing onto her rostrum in front of the Prindiville Stand to sing the winners' song.

Matthew Garnaut was 24 not out. Bret Mulder, the No. 11, walked out to join him.

They did not lose another wicket. 177 runs later — Garnaut 127 not out, Mulder 70 not out — Bayswater-Morley had won the premiership at 9/331, and went on to complete the double with the one-day title.

This four-part special is the original radio ball-by-ball commentary of that last-wicket stand, preserved from the broadcast tapes and published here in full for the first time. It runs a little over three hours — very nearly the length of the partnership itself.

The four parts

Part 1 · 47 min · Out 16 Mar 2027

One wicket to go

Part 1 of the original radio commentary of the 1998-99 First Grade grand final. Bayswater-Morley are 9/154 chasing 330 and Midland-Guildford need one wicket, as Bret Mulder walks out to join Matthew Garnaut.

Part 2 · 47 min · Out 23 Mar 2027

The ice starts to melt

Part 2 of the 1998-99 grand final commentary. The last pair survive a chinaman and a dropped catch at first slip, the 50 partnership arrives and the target slips under 100.

Part 3 · 47 min · Out 30 Mar 2027

One hand on the cup

Part 3 of the 1998-99 grand final commentary. The stand passes 100, another edge goes down in the slips, and the No. 11 Bret Mulder brings up a half-century nobody saw coming.

Part 4 · 46 min · Out 6 Apr 2027

There's the pair, they've won it

Part 4 of the 1998-99 grand final commentary. Matthew Garnaut's century, the light fading, the scores level, and the winning runs to backward square leg at the WACA.

The final numbers

Target	330 (Midland-Guildford 196 in their second innings)
9th wicket fell at	9/154
Final score	9/331
Last-wicket partnership	177 not out
Matthew Garnaut	127 not out (dropped on 14)
Bret Mulder	70 not out — the only First Grade fifty of his career
Result	Bayswater-Morley won the A-grade premiership and the one-day double

"This has been one of the most remarkable grand finals in football, cricket or soccer you would ever, ever have." — the commentary box, moments after the winning runs

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