1999

1999

WINNERS: Australia

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Runners-up: Pakistan

After hosting World Cup in 1975, 1979 and 1983, the International Cricket Council brought the World Cup back to England after a gap of 16 years. Apart from the nine Test playing nations, minnows Scotland, Kenya and Bangladesh participated in the competition. The tournament was categorized into two groups of six. South Africans started as the favorites after their splendid form in 12 months prior to the World Cup.

The first World Cup final held at Lord’s in 1975 lasted almost a full day, nearly 10 hours. This one was over shortly after it started. The final between Pakistan and Australia had the no-smell of contest to it, but to suggest it was fixed was absolutely absurd.

At the beginning of the World Cup, Aussies looked strangely out of sorts losing to New Zealand and Pakistan. Thereafter, they went on to win seven successive matches.

When Australia had gone to Old Trafford earlier for their final group match, they were in severe danger of the earliest possible exit. In the last Super Six match, Australian journalists and officials had been making calls to check on airline seat availability, which would have been firmed up had Herschelle Gibbs not celebrated too soon and thrown away a catch offered by Steve Waugh. Waugh went on to make 120 off 110 balls with 10 fours and two sixes and chased 271.

In the semi-final four days later, as Damien Fleming prepared to bowl to Lance Klusener – the player of the tournament – with South Africa needing just one to win, there came the biggest laughable error in the World Cup history. Klusener and Allan Donald had a horrendous running mix-up, the match was tied, and Australia went through on net run-rate..

Australia’s improbable lurch into the final after winning those cliffhangers was in total contrast to their opponents’ confident march. The Pakistanis lost three successive games which did not matter, but returned to form in time to earn their place at Lord’s by blowing Zimbabwe and New Zealand away by huge margins.

Wasim Akram elected to bat and failed to cope up with some fine bowling by Australians. Pakistan lost wickets at regular stages and pressure kept mounting on them only to be shout out for 132, Pakistan had effectively reduced the finals to an anti-climax and there was only entertainment that was provided by Adam Gilchrist. Aussies romped home with eight wickets to spare.

Warne, declared man of the match, lived up to his captain’s expectations, claiming the important scalps of Izaz Ahmed, Shahyid Afridi, Moin Khan and Wasim Akram.