The ODI World Cup 1999 semi-final involving Australia and South Africa stands out among the many thrilling One-Day International matches that have been played. The two cricketing superstars of today played in one of the most famous games in the sport’s history on the current day, 24 years ago.
In their opening innings of this winner-takes-all match in Birmingham, Australia was held to only 213 runs in 49.2 overs by the Porteas. The bowler of choice for South Africa was Shaun Pollock, who finished with remarkable numbers of 5/36. In the meantime, Allan Donald also played exceptionally well with the ball, taking 4 wickets for merely 32 runs during 10 overs.
A total of as many as five Australian batters were removed for a duck as their team’s batsmen dropped like ninepins. The 90-run partnership featuring Steve Waugh (56) as well as Michael Bevan (65), which was more than instrumental in the Australians’ ultimate total, was the lone saving grace for them.
Herschelle Gibbs as well as Gary Kirsten, the Proteas’ openers, came to the crease as they chased the small target, and the team was off to a great start. However, when Shane Warne (4/29) entered the attack and decimated the top-order, the match’s circumstances suddenly shifted.
South Africa moved closer to the target thanks to Jacques Kallis (53) with Jhonty Rhodes (43), but the two both left in rapid succession.
Australia needed merely one wicket to guarantee a spot in the competition’s final, while the Proteas required nine runs off the last over. Damien Fleming’s bowling was used by Klusenar to smash back-to-back boundaries, which left South Africa needing only one run from the final three deliveries.
Klunenar struck the ball towards mid-off, but Donald did not go for a run despite being nearly inside the crease on the non-striker’s end due to a “brain fade” episode. Donald dropped his bat, along with the World Cup, and Adam Gilchirst removed the bails. Australia advanced to the final despite the game being tied because they placed higher on the Super Six rankings.