The ball, the run out and they choke

World Cup Classics: Australia v South Africa - 2nd semi final, Edgbaston, Birmingham, 17 June 1999

Since gaining re-entry into world cricket, this was South Africa’s third straight exit from the knock-out stages in as many attempts. With the team as strong as theirs they fittingly deserved the title ‘Chokers’ especially after what happened at Edgbaston in the semi-final of 1999 World Cup which only a choker or a demon-possessed could lose.

Hansie Cronje asked Steve Waugh to bat first on a sporting deck after winning the toss. Australia’s batsman of the tournament Mark Waugh was undone by Shaun Pollock in the first over but Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist went along slowly but purposefully. Pollock and Elworthy bowled at nagging line and length giving nothing away. However when Elworthy tried to pitch it short Ponting pulled him for a six and a four while an unusually sedate Gilchrist also dispatched him for a maximum. Allan Donald got two wickets in his first over dismissing Ponting for 37 and Darren Lehmann for 1. Kallis dismissed Gilchrist two overs later for a 39-ball 20 leaving Australia in troubled waters at 68 for 4. Steve Waugh and Michael Bevan, Australia’s men of crises, pulled them out of trouble with a calculated stand of 90 in just over 22 overs. South Africa stopped Australia from running away with the match with two crucial strikes in one over bowled by Pollock. Waugh went after making 56 off 76 balls with 6 fours and a six but Bevan was at the crease to ensure a good total for Australia. Three quick wickets fell at the score of 207 and changed the complexion of the game yet again. The late flurry of wickets meant they fall short of posting a decent total. They were dismissed for 213 in the last over. Bevan was last man out for 65 off 101 balls. Pollock (5 for 36) and Donald (4 for 32) had given South Africa a great chance to reach the final at last.

In reply Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs provided a confident start to South Africa. McGrath, Reiffel and Fleming could not get the breakthrough prompting Steve Waugh to use his trump card. Shane Warne who was at that time contemplating retirement decided to unleash his magic tricks for one more time. On his 8th ball he mesmerized Gibbs with a drifter which pitched and curled back sharply to hit the off stump. The shell-shocked Gibbs did not believe for a moment that he was bowled but then left the crease in a state of trance. It was possibly the ODI ball of the century which brought Australia and Warne back into life. In his next over he bamboozled Kirsten with another viciously spinning ball which drifted away then turned in to hit his off stump while he was in the middle of his ungainly sweep shot. It became 3 wickets in 8 balls when 2 balls later Cronje was given out caught in the slips although he had missed the edge but the turn had swindled the umpire. At 53 for 3 after 15 overs match was delicately poised but it turned in Australia’s favor when Darryl Cullinan was run out by Bevan’s direct hit. Jacques Kallis and Jonty Rhodes added vital 84 runs in 20 overs to bring the Proteas back into reckoning. They required 70 from last 10 overs with 6 wickets remaining. Rhodes fell attempting a risky pull for 43 but Kallis went about his business undeterred. Pollock provided the much needed slog when 53 runs were needed off 36 balls by hitting Warne for a six and a four but Warne dismissed resolute Kallis in the same over to halt them again. Kallis made 53 off 92 balls.

Lance Klusener ‘Zulu’ came to the crease in a situation tailor-made for him but it was weird to see him coming after Pollock. Fleming removed Pollock while McGrath bowled a tidy 47th over to squash South Africa further. They required 18 from the last 2 overs. In the penultimate over McGrath clean-bowled Boucher and when Elworthy was run out 2 balls later South Africa was dependent solely on Zulu Power to win it for them. Zulu hit the next ball high over long on which Reiffel deflected over the ropes for a much needed 6. A single then meant Zulu would be facing in the next over.

Needing 9 runs from the last over Zulu hit two crushing fours on the first two balls in the covers and South Africans were ecstatic as the match was tied with four balls to go. Fleming’s attempt to bowl on the off stump because of Klusener’s strong leg side game was negated masterfully. Australia needed to dismiss the last wicket as the tie would ensure they progress to the final on the basis of net run-rate. Next ball Lehmann missed a direct hit when he tried to run out Donald who was backing up too far. Perhaps fearful of being run out Donald remained glued to his crease when Klusener called him for a run after hitting the next ball to mid off. As Klusener was yelling Donald first stuttered then dropped his bat while Klusener had almost reached his end. He then ran towards striker’s end but Mark Waugh had passed the ball to Fleming who under-armed it to keeper Gilchrist who removed the bails with Donald well short of the crease. It was an embarrassing end for the Proteas and a mind boggling sort of running from both the batsmen specially Donald. South Africa again crashed out of the World Cup in an unfortunate and sensational way while Australia who at one point were about to be eliminated had reached their 4th World Cup final. Shane Warne was named the Man of the match for his astounding leg spin bowling taking 4 for just 29.

This tied match is still considered by many as the best ever ODI match. It was a nerve-wrecking match throughout which ended in a wrist-slitting climax. The wounds inflicted by that run out will continue to haunt the South African fans along with many other that preceded or followed their World Cup campaigns till the day when they actually lift a World Cup.