Cricket Recap: The thrilling 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup victory by Australia

The 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup, also known as England ’99, was the sixth Cricket World Cup hosted by the International Cricket Council. England hosted the majority of the matches, with others taking place in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and the Netherlands. Australia won the tournament, defeating Pakistan by eight wickets in the final at Lord’s in London.

The competition took place three years after the last Cricket World Cup, as opposed to the usual four-year gap.

It included 12 teams who played a total of 42 matches. In the group stage, the teams were divided into two six-person groups, with each team playing each other once. The top three teams from each group advanced to the Super Sixes, a new concept for the 1999 World Cup; each team carried forward the points from their games against the other qualifiers in their group and then played each qualifier from the other group (that is, each qualifier from Group A played each qualifier from Group B, and vice versa). The top four teams in the Super Sixes made it to the semifinals.

Also read: Taking a look back at Australia’s 1987 ODI World Cup victory

What happened during the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup?

Steve Elworthy shocked Australia early in a massive chase, losing Adam Gilchrist and Damien Martin to leave them 48-3. Ricky Ponting (69) and Steve Waugh spearheaded the Australian innings with a 126-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

South Africa had a chance to dismiss Steve Waugh in the 31st over, but Herchelle Gibbs dropped a stunning catch, giving the Australian captain a huge reprieve. Waugh smashed Lance Klusener’s delivery straight to Gibbs at midfield, who first retrieved the ball but fumbled it while attempting to celebrate the dismissal by throwing it up in the air. Waugh went on to score 120 as Australia moved to the semifinals against the same team.

Australia suffered another setback as South Africa bowled them out for 213. Steve Waugh (56) and Michael Beven (65) were the only hitters who could withstand the Proteas’ bowling and help Australia produce a competitive total.

South Africa got off to a solid start, with Gibbs and Gary Kirsten each scoring 48 runs. Shane Warne bowled both openers in short succession, bringing Australia back into the game. The wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, and despite valiant efforts from Jacques Kallis (53) and Jonty Rhodes (43), South Africa were bowled out for 213, ending in a draw.

The Proteas were on their approach to triumph when Lance Klusener struck the first two deliveries of Damien Fleming’s 50th over for boundaries, giving South Africa four balls to win and one wicket in hand. However, Allan Donald’s brain-fade moment ended in him being run out, giving South Africa an excellent chance to play in the final. Australia got to the finals by defeating South Africa in the league stage. Australia defeated Pakistan in the final and won their second World Cup.

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