On this day in 1999, the two giants of world cricket produced the greatest match in cricket history that will be remembered for years.
It was the second semi-final of the 1999 World Cup played between Australia and South Africa at Edgbaston. And after the complete 100 overs of the game, the result shocked the fans of both teams and gave a mini heartbreak to the viewers.
South Africa, who won the toss invited Australia to bat first, and their decision turned out right, when they dismissed four of Australia’s main batters at the score of just 68. However, Steve Waugh and Michael Bevan somehow manage to steady the ship by adding 90 runs for the sixth wicket before the skipper Waugh got out after playing a responsible knock of 56.
Bevan, on the other hand, continues to play his role and adding more runs to the scoreboard, with his efforts the Australian team able to post a 200 plus score, totalled 213 in 50 overs.
Chasing a target of 214, South Africa, who started well with 48 for no loss 12.1 overs outshined by the magic of the legendary spinner Shane Warne, who dismissed both the openers and then took 2 more wickets to put the Proteas on back foot.
South Africa lost their 4 wickets for just 61. A similar kind of story repeated in the second innings of the match as this time the Proteas batters added 84 runs for the 6th wicket.
Jacque Kallis, who posted a brilliant half century, walked back to pavilion when South Africa still required 39 off 31.
At 183, they lost Pollock and on 196 they lost their wicket-keeper batter Mark Boucher as well, and the only hope for the South Africa side was with the all-rounder Lance Klusener, who was all alone playing big shots with only 1 wicket in hand and the team required 16 off 8 balls.
Klusener then with his power packed hitting turned the table towards his team’s side as South Africa only required 1 run off 4 balls with Klusener on strike.
What happened on the final 4, not 4 as the match was ended with 2 balls to spare. Neither Australia nor South Africa won the game.
On the 3rd ball of the 50th over, Klusener tried to hit a power packed shot but was unable to time that one that ended in dot ball.
Damien Fleming then bowled the Yorker outside the off stump that Klusener hit it at the toe end of the bat and it passed through the bolwer to mid-off Klusener run, but Donald at the non-striker end and was watching ball instead of running. Klusener reached non-striker end, Donald then started to run lost his bat in the meantime ball reached to Adam Gilchrist’s gloves and he whipped the bails off and the nail-biting match ended in a tie.
