Cricket South Africa Dropped a World Cup Final Chance by NRR

The 1999 World Cup edition was played three years after the 1996 World Cup.  The World Cup series normally held every four years, was held three years later in 1999.  New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Pakistan advanced to the semi finals. The first semi-final match was held between New Zealand and Pakistan.  In the first semi-final match, Pakistan defeated New Zealand easily and advanced to the final.

Australia vs South Africa - 1999 WC Semi Final:

The second semi-final match was held between Australia and South Africa.  South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first.  The Australian team who played first, lost the wicket of Mark Waugh early in the very first over and stumbled.  Then both Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist started slowly to accumulate the runs together. Allan Donald shocked the Australian team by picking the wickets Ricky Ponting and Darren Lehmann in the 14th over. At the end of 14 overs, team Australia struggled with 58/3.  Then captain Steve Waugh and Michael Bevan both started playing calmly together. They both played responsibly and scored half centuries together. Due to their crucial innings,  the team's score started to rise slightly. At one stage, Pollock brilliantly departed the captain Steve Waugh. Followed by Steve Waugh wicket, the rest of the Australian players lost their wickets in the very quick span. Michael Bevan who played till the end scored 65 runs. At the end of the first innings Australia scored 213 for the loss of 10 wickets.

Then the South African team started playing very brilliantly in the beginning. South African openers Kirsten and Gibbs, both played very calmly.  In the 13th over of the game, Warne took the Gibbs wicket. An over later, again Warne stepped up to bowl the 15th over. And in that particular over he picked Kirsten and captain Cronje's wicket. Due to his brilliant bowling, the South African team started to stumble a bit after losing three wickets by scoring only 53 runs. Jhonty Rhodes and Jacques Kallis both joined their hands together and gave the pressure to Australian bowlers. Rhodes lost his wicket in the 41st over and Kallis lost his wicket in the 45th over. Both well settled batters departed after the under pressure situation. At the end of 45 overs South Africa scoreboard was 176/6.

Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusner combined together in a pressure situation. Particularly Lance Klusner gave the South African team huge confidence by hitting sixes and fours in the last two overs. At the 50th over of the match South Africa scored 213 for 9. They needed just one run to win the match with Four Balls & one wicket remaining in their hand. Unfortunately at the 49.4th over Allan Donald who wasn't able to complete the single run lost his wicket. At the other end, Lance Klusner remained not out with 31*(26). The Score was leveled.

By the Rules and regulations formulated by ICC in that edition, Australia advanced to the final match due to their best Net run rate in the Super Six table. Luck was favorable with team Australia. And Lance Klusner's spectacular innings went into vain. Australia, who advanced to the finals, beat Pakistan very easily and registered their second world cup win.