The duo had met once before in the same World Cup. There, Herschel Gibbs' strange Miss and Steve Waugh's unspoken words have become part of the cricketing folklore. Four days later, Australia and South Africa meet again in the semifinals in Edgbaston. What happened this time, surpassed everything. From Shane Warne to Alan Donald, from Damiel Fleming to Lance Klusner - everyone got into a cricket-fairy tale match. Would you mind saying the best match of the World Cup so far?
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Unpredictable Australia!
It started with Mark Waugh's 'Duck'. Ricky Ponting-Adam Gilchrist's partnership broke down, Lehmann returned in the same over. Steve Waugh took the helm with Michael Bevan, breaking the 90-run partnership at Waugh's out. Tom Moody was out again in that over. 1 wicket for 54 runs and 4 wickets for 56 runs, 4 wickets for 158 runs, and 6 wickets for 158 runs. The last blow is even stronger, the team was all out for 213 runs from 6 wickets for 207 runs.
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Warne Magic
Australia is chasing for wickets. Herschel Gibbs has scored 30 runs by 6 fours. Shane Warne is bowling from over the wicket. The ball drifted out of the leg stump, Gibbs played the dodge. Turned into the top of the off stump! Stunned, Gibbs stood still for a while, as if he did not understand what was happening!
Gary Carsten became a fool in the next over. Went to slog, the ball went with the bottom of the bat. As usual, Turn, Drift before that, Carsten's off stump also broken. Then it was Hansie Cronje's turn. Full length, turn and play and catch in the slip. Cronje also stood for a while with a look of disbelief, just like Gibbs. Replay showed, not the bat, the ball touched Cronier's boot! What is the greatness of Warne-magic diminished! Warne bowled a spell of 8 balls, did not give runs, took 3 wickets.
14 runs came from the first 4 balls of his last over. Warne then tricked Kallis into flying. Kallis, who made the third fifty in a row, just gave the catch to Steve Waugh!
Run Out is Curse??
30 balls, 6 runs. How many want to keep the memory of batting in the World Cup semifinals? Kalinan has such memories. The end of the innings was also disappointing. Kallis played mid-off, the two went to pick up the single, who knows why! Bevan made no mistake, breaking the stumps in a straight throw and ‘released’ Kalinan! South Africa does not have 4 wickets to go from 46 to 61 runs! But that was a run-out and just the beginning of his potential!
Kallis-Rhodes, both could have been run out. Shawn Pollock could have been too. The run-out seemed to give a different signal to South Africa that day.
Reiffel - Hero - Villain
Steve Elworthy was run-out for a throw by Paul Rifle. He threw again at Glenn McGrath's hand and changed direction on the stumps! The last batsman, Donald Ellen, was smiling. Need 16 runs off 8 balls. Klusener could not play McGrath's full shot properly, he was caught on the lawn, near that rifle. He missed, just melted his hand, and went out. He may have suffered a momentary tension over whether his good fielding had failed a while ago. However, he is the one who can give a description of the tension.
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Over no. 50!
6 balls, 9 runs. The best player of the tournament is batting. One wicket is left. Ready stage, ready to see the thrill. But what happens in the next four balls, you will find the thrill, or watch the tragedy, or get a taste of comedy, you have to take care of it.
In the first ball of Damien Fleming's full length, Klusener's bat went at lightning speed, the timing was great. Four with cover. Fleming ate four off Richie Richardson's bat in the first over in the last over of the semifinals four years ago. The next ball, again four, this time with a wide long-off. One run between South Africa and the World Cup final!! Klusener asked the umpire about the score. Maybe this put extra pressure on them. Flemming went over the wicket from round the wicket.
Klusener failed to do proper timing in the next ball. The ball went mid-on. In the meantime, who knows why Donald left the crease! That pressure? Lehmann could not throw a straight throw, Donald's smiling face would have been filled with sadness!
Klujner could not play the next ball properly, he just ran around. Donald stood almost there. At first, he turned towards his crease, the bat fell from his hand. Klusener, Donald - both standing on the same end! The mid-off fielder gave Fleming, Fleming gave Gilchrist like underarm bowling. Donald seemed to run for control, but he had to give up halfway through. Klusener is running, the crease is over. Once he looked back, he stopped running. Started Walking.
Australia, on the other hand, is in a wild frenzy, winning against South Africa against the Super Sixes head-to-head to top them to a place in the final. A security guard escapes Klusener from the clutches of the field-filled spectators of Edgbaston.
What Happened Next?
Australia beat Pakistan in the final. After 1992, South Africa has stuck in the semi-finals again, they did not cross the barrier until 2019. Maybe with this match, the 'choker' tag was smeared on them.
Brief scores
Australia 213 in 49.2 overs (Michael Bevan 65, Steve Waugh 56; Shaun Pollock 5 for 36, Allan Donald 4 for 32) tied with South Africa 213 (Jacques Kallis 53, Jonty Rhodes 43, Lance Klusener 31*; Shane Warne 4 for 29).
Australia qualified for the final as they finished above South Africa on the Super Six table.
Hi, your post has been upvoted by @sc-keloka courtesy of @boss75 to support the sports-related contents.
Herschelle Gibbs missed a vital catch on the last meet up on the same world cup against Australia. That leads to defeat. However, the match was really thrilling. Klusener still regrets this match.
South Africa always presented upset moments in the knockout matches they have played.
I was a 3-year-old kid at that time. But have heard about these stories from my brothers. Thanks for sharing your experiences here
You are welcome.
Very unlucky team South Africa. They played well. Still we couldn't how he couldn't run in that ball. May be he was nervous.