Exactly 19 years ago, the second semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 1999 between Australia and South Africa at Birmingham took place. The tied encounter ended in Allan Donald’s infamous run-out which saw Australia qualifying for the final as they had defeated South Africa by 5 wickets at Leeds earlier in the tournament.
Hansie Cronje, the then South African captain, had won the toss and chose to field. Australia got off to a shaky start as Shaun Pollock got Mark Waugh (0) out caught behind by Mark Boucher. A 53-run partnership between Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting (37) was followed by Australia losing wickets in a flurry.
At the end of 20 overs, they were reduced to 81-4. At the halfway mark, they had scored 90-4. It was a 90-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Steve Waugh (56) and Michael Bevan which brought the Australians back on track. It seemed as if runs were hard to register on the board on that day as Australia were eventually bundled out on 213 in 49.2 overs. Bevan, who came in to bat at No. 6, top-scored with 65 (101). On the back of his second five-wicket haul (9.2-1-36-5), Pollock was the pick of the South African bowlers.
The Proteas got off to a decent start. However, much like Australia, they too lost wickets in bulk, being reduced to 61-4 in the 22nd over. The match was wide open at this point in time without both teams standing a chance to qualify for the final match.
Jacques Kallis and Jonty Rhodes (43) stitched a 84-run stand for the fifth wicket. That said, the slow turn of events saw them needing 69 runs to win from 57 balls when Rhodes walked back to the pavilion. Runs being scored and wickets being taken multiplied the tension manifold times.
The equation went down to the last over when South Africa required 9 runs off six balls with a solitary wicket in hand. Having scored a couple of boundaries off Damien Fleming, Klusener had brought the equation down to 1 run in four balls. Mayhem struck in the middle when Klusener and Allan Donald were involved in the most ill-timed run-out in the game of cricket. Perhaps, it was nerves which got the better of the South African duo which was so close to a World Cup final.
Kallis, who came in to bat at No. 5, top-scored with 53 (92). With bowling figures of 10-4-29-4, Shane Warne was adjourned the ‘Man of the Match’.
Watch the finishing moments of the match:
