Drama, Emotion, Climax and Anti-Climax ... all demonstrated in this final over with SA needing 9 to win from 6 balls.
#LanceKluesener banged deliveries #1 and #2 to cover and long off fences for boundaries.
8/9 runs scored.
Scores leveled
1 to win from 4 deliveries.
Cake walk. right?
Ball #3 - Kluesener mistimes one to mid-on, Donald out of his crease, Throw misses stumps. Life for Donald. Life for SA.
Ball #4 - Kluesener again mistimes one straight down the ground, bowler misses, mid-off intercepts and back handles a throw. Kluesner starts running and reaches non-striker's end, Donald (probably stunned by the previous ball) doesn't move an inch. Then decides to run very late.
By the then the backflick has reached the bowler who slides it back to the wicket keeper. He removes the bails and Donald is miles out.
Game Tied.
Australia through to the finals (because they beat SA in their super sixes game just a few days ago in another humdinger)
Venue: SCG, Sydney (D/N match) In what has to be termed as the biggest "joke" in history of one day cricket, the funny rain rule applied to matches then, turned an absolute cliff hanger into a farce! That's the best way to describe this incredible semi final between Eng and SA. Both teams had it fairly easy enroute the semifinals, #England winning 6 of their 8 games while SA winning 5. #SA had just been readmitted to cricket after the #apartheid ban on them for 20 odd years. Hence, there were no expectations from them as such. However, under #KeplerWessels, this team rewrote history by appearing in the semis of a Cricket World Cup on debut! On a gloomy SCG afternoon, SA won the toss and inserted England into bat. Considering forecast of showers later in the day, the #Proteas wanted to know their targets and revisions just in case (little did they imagine about the cruel realty that was about to strike them later that evening). SA broke through the openers very cheaply. #Gooch edged behind off #AllanDonald for 2 and #IanBotham was castled by Meryck Pringle for 17. Eng 39 for 2. #GraemeHick joined #AlecStewart and both of them started repair work of the English innings. Steadily they reached 100 before deciding to open up and take charge. #BrianMcMillan snapped their partnership claiming Stewart for 33 but Hick had settled down by then and he unleashed a barrage of strokes to push the England scoring ahead briskly. Middle order support from #NeilFairbrother (28), #AllanLamb (19) and #ChrisLewis (18) ensured England breezed past 200 through small but quick partnerships. Hick was dismissed for a solid 83. But, it was #DermotReeve who stole the late order show for the #Poms. His quickfire 25 of 14 (including 3 consecutive boundaries in one over) ensured England reached a respectable 252 at the end of their 45 overs. (Match had to be shortened due to rain interruptions at the top leading to time overrun of the first innings cut off of 6:10 pm) At 5+ runs per over (in the 90s this was a big deal!!), the target was definitely stiff and everyone felt England would nail the game swiftly. SA had different ideas though. Wessels and #Andrew Hudson made a breezy start before Wessels was claimed by Botham. #PeterKirsten, their best technical batsman, didnt last too long either and was out for 11. SA 61 for 2. Hudson was in fine nick though and he was just appearing to open up when he was trapped leg before by #RichardIllingworth for a well compiled 46. SA 90 for 3. It was now left to the younger generation of SA cricket to steer their ship. And boy did they march? #AdrianKuiper struck a super 36, #HansieCronje 24 and #JontyRhodes a breezy 43 to inch close to their target. A victory was in sight. Although all these youngsters eventually got out, the score was reading .. SA 206 for 6 Very even contest. #DaveRichardson and McMillan then put a very steady partnership of 29 to reach 231 in 42.5 overs. Victory in sight. 23 to win in 13 balls. You'd put your money on SA the way these two were batting. Gooch looking clueless and desperate for a breakthrough. And then it happened... the heavens opened up. Play had to be stopped due to the showers. When play resumed, the rain rule was applied to adjust the time lost in the break. The scoreboard read 22 runs to win in 7 balls. Bah! the target was revised by just 1 run but 6 balls were taken off the batting team. Then more drama .... The officials had actually made a mistake displaying 7 balls. They corrected the scoreboard again. Now it read .... 22 runs to win in 1 ball
What? What the $#%@? Speechless.. there was a dead silence in the crowd. How on earth was that possible? But, it was a rain rule being applied those days and had to be put into force. What a shame! The game was tantalizingly poised for a humdinger of a finish and then this farcical rain rule spoilt it all. Chris Lewis sent down the one delivery and McMillan tapped it down to long on for a single. The match had ended, technically. No one was happy. The Englishmen knew victory was handed over to them by the rain rule. The Proteas knew it was pure divine intervention that didnt want them to win the game.
England qualified for the final against Pakistan at the #MCG. SA returned home, bruised but not humiliated. They had put up an amazing performance throughout the tournament and were only robbed of a possible finals berth by rain gods. MOM: Graeme Hick Watch the game highlights here...
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland A batting superstar has arrived .... Best way to describe this match. Against all odds Pakistan managed to scrape through to the semi-finals of this edition's #WorldCup semifinals (Remember the 1 point they gained from the hopeless performance against England, 74 all out, allowed them to move ahead of Australia and West Indies). Their opposition? The deadly in-form team, New Zealand. Unbeaten until their last league game (ironically their only loss came at the hands of Pakistan). Stage was set. Eden Park, Auckland all set to stage its first ever World Cup semifinal game. The home team buoyant and clear favorites going into this game. But, as they say ... take Pakistan team granted at your own peril as the #Kiwis were to soon find out. On a sunny March morning and a jam-packed stadium, NZ captain #MarttinCrowe won the toss and elected to bat first. Runs on the board was the clear plan. #MarkGreatbatch and #JohnWright opened the innings. Greatbatch was is great form and had blasted oppositions into submission during the course of the tournament. Danger man truly. But, the Pak bowlers had done their homework brilliantly. They pinned him and Wright by cramping them for room and no width to free their arms. #AquibJaved and #WasimAkram were awesome in that first spell. Aquib castled Greatbatch on 17.
#MushtaqAhmed then took over and had Wright and #AndrewJones caught to reduce NZ to 87 for 3. This is when captain Crowe and #KenRutherford took charge. Slowly, they built the innings before unleashing a counter-attack on the Pak bowling. Crowe's brilliant run in the world cup continued. He scored a fluent 91 before being run-out in the end stages of their innings. Rutherford's steady 50 and some late blows for the Kiwi tail enabled them to score a very competitive 262 for 7 in their stipulated 50 overs. Wasim was the pick of the bowlers with an effective 2 for 40. More than enough, you'd think as a Kiwi fan then. Considering Pak's fallibility chasing scores or Kiwi tactics during the world cup to keep shuffling bowlers quickly were all stacked against Pak. Will they pull it off or would this be an end to their on-off campaign? Then drama. Captain Crowe who suffered cramps and dehydration wasn't fit to take field. A big blow considering his audacious tactics and skill captaincy had brought them this far. His deputy John Wright certainly wasn't an inspirational figure on the ground but had to lead his side. #AmeerSohail and #RameezRaja opened the innings for Pakistan. As usual #DeepakPatel, the offie opened NZ's bowling. This move to open with a spinner had brought them huge success all throughout. The trend continued when he had Sohail caught by Jones. Pak 30 for 1. Captain Imran promoted himself at No.3 to show his men how to lead from the front. He and Rameez slowly pushed things along. Plan was clear. Build and hold wickets for a late onslaught. They added 54 before Rameez fell to #WillieWatson. That brought in the wily old fox #JavedMiandad to the crease. Both him and Imran took it forward by adding 50 runs before Imran fell to #ChrisHarris. Pak 134 for 3. However, all this build-up was leading to required run-rate blowing up. Something had to give in. To add to their woes, Mr. Dependendable, #SalimMalik fell cheaply to #GavinLarsen reducing Pak to 140 for 4. Will Javed pull off a miracle with youngsters to follow? or Kiwis choke them? What Auckland and rest of the world witnessed after that was sheer magic! In walked a 22 year old tall and burly youngster #InzamamUlHaq With Javed at the other end, he unleashed an extraordinary counter attack on the Kiwis. This type of audacious strokeplay and power was never seen before!
His breathtaking hitting stunned the Kiwis. They were clueless. They were bamboozled. Javed held his end and encouraged #Inzi (as he later popularly came to be known) to play one of the finest match winning innings of all time. His 37 ball 60 became part of cricket folklore. But there was still some drama to come. Inzy was run out trying to steal a single. Wasim was castled by Watson raising Kiwi hopes yet again. It needed someone to put the finishing touches from either side. #MoinKhan did it for Pakistan. Again, with Javed's astute presence in the middle.
His massive six and couple of boundaries deflated the Kiwis and Pakistan romped home with an improbable win. Amazing scenes at the Eden Park as Pakistan team engulfed Moin and Javed.
Heartbreak for the Kiwis and more so for Martin Crowe. A golden chance to reach the finals had been lost.
But, the game belonged to the gentle giant, Inzamam. A superstar had arrived ... in style! MOM: Inzamam Ul Haq Watch highlights here....
Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham Arguably the greatest one dayer of all time. There have been many classics over the years but for sheer drama, importance of the game and world cup stage, this game stands out from the rest. The great rivals of the 1990s clashed in this high voltage drama on the back of another classic in their last league match in the same tournament. Needing to win at all cost to stay alive in the tournament #SteveWaugh single handedly won that game for the Aussies against SA. That game had the famous altercation between him and #HerschelleGibbs when the later dropped his catch. Steve's words "Son, you just dropped the world cup" are part of cricketing folklore! We've covered that game on this blog as well. Back to the semi-final. South Africa the clear favorites on form and domination displayed throughout the tournament. On a lively wicket, #HansieCronje, the SA captain, won the toss and elected to field. Vindicating his decision, #ShaunPollock got #MarkWaugh to nick behind in the first over. 3 for 1. #RickyPonting and #AdamGilchrist steadied the ship for a while before #AllanDonald broke through the top order to reduce the Aussies to 68 for 4 in 17 overs. Australia in trouble. This brought the two battle veterans to the crease (Steve Waugh and #MichaelBevan). Both, not the classically elegant stroke makers, saw the need of the hour to perfection. Slowly but steadily they pushed the score towards a decent total. Steve completed his fifty and Australia braced past 150 around the 36th over. Enter Shaun Pollock. First Steve Waugh. In the same over, #TomMoody. Superb over. 2 wickets. Australia reeling again at 158 for 6. Shane Warne in company of Michael Bevan carried on gainly to cross the psychological 200 run mark in the 46th over. They now had a great launch pad to cut loose and post a decent total on board. But, everytime Australia seemed to pull away, the #Proteas seemed to claw back. Pollock had Warne caught at mid on with superb slower delivery. Then Donald produced to absolute beauties to knock back #PaulReiffel and #DamienFleming's stumps off consecutive deliveries. Australia were rocked from 207 for 6 to 207 for 9. None for 3 in two overs! It was left to Bevan to strike some late blows to get them to 213 before he was out caught behind to hand Pollock and much deserved 5-for. Donald was superb for his 4 wickets. Brilliant performance from South Africa to restrict Australia to that score. Going by their form and battting strength, it looked like a cake walk. Or was it? With the Aussies, you never relax as the SA were about to find out. High on confidence and chasing a really modest total, SA openers #GaryKirsten and #HerschelleGibbs started in cautious fashion to ensure no quick wickets were lost to Aussie pacers. In 12 overs, 48 for no loss. Great start .. and target looks pretty easy. Anyone heard of someone called #ShaneWarne? What a magician he is with the ball in hand. Steve Waugh brought him on and boy did he strike? First Gibbs bowled round the legs .. a peach of a delivery. Then Kirsten, trying to sweep from outside off misses the line and bowled through the gates. In walks captain #HansieCronje, promoted to up the ante and throw Australia off guard. However with Warne in such hot form and tasted blood, he pounced on Cronje too. He had his edge behind to slips for 0. A decision that still rings controversy. The ball had clearly clipped Cronje's shoe toes. No where near the bat but the umpire thought otherwise and gave it out. Cronje is most unhappy. From 48 for 0, suddenly SA were 53 for 3 and the game in balance. #DarrylCullinan, already struggling against Warne was run out needlessly reducing them to 61 for 4. Australia on top now. But the game was such that everytime a team pulled away, the other came back strongly. SA did too. Through #JacquesKallis and #JontyRhodes doing the same job as Waugh-Bevan partnership had done earlier in the day. Mixing caution (Kallis) with some aggression (Rhodes), both not only steadied the ship but also laid a great foundation to push SA to victory. After 40 overs and around 140+ on board, SA were clear favorites? or there was another twist in the tale? There was! Jonthy literally threw his wicket away pulling a Reiffel delivery to deep square leg where Bevan gleefully accepted it. Even steven yet again!! Another surprise move. Pollock promoted ahead of #LanceKluesner! (Remember Klusener was the butcher finisher in this world cup killing all teams with his power hitting in the end game to clinch vitory for SA almost every time). The move almost paid off. Pollock launched Warne into the stands for a huge six, followed with a boundary. At the other end, Warne claimed Kallis for a well made 53 leaving around 40 odd for his teammates to get. In walks the crusader Klusener wielding his heavy bat and ready to throw his bat around to take away another victory. However, in haste, Pollocak gifted his wicket to Fleming. Match back on even keel. SA 183 for 7. In comes #MarkBoucher. #GlennMcgrath keeps him check and Kluesner away from strike. In a rush of blood, Boucher loses his head and cleaned up by Mcgrath. 196 for 8. 18 runs to win from 10 balls. Australia need two tail-end wickets. Its that close and anyones game. To add to SA's woes, #SteveElworthy is run out in the 49th over trying to keep Kluesner on strike. 16 from 8 balls. The next delivery from Mcgrath is smashed by Kluesner towards long on where Paul Reiffel completely messes it up. First he drops the catch, then in all that mess-up, he parries the bowl over the fence for a 6. Wow !! Kluesner steals a run on the last ball to keep strike. 9 from 6 balls. Steve Waugh throws the ball to Damien Fleming, his trusted death bowler. Facing him is red hot Kluesner who's ready to finish the game. First ball. Crunnccch.... the bowl zooms long on for a four. Mark Waugh has no chance to stop it. Second ball. Swoooooosh ... the bowl creams through extra cover. Another boundary. No fielder moves an inch. No need to. Thats perfection. 1 from 4 balls with Kluesner on strike. Game over you'd say. But, never discount an Aussie side. That day watching these tense moments with my mother (from whom I inherited this passion for sports) and she said, "This is Australia, just one wicket to go son. I am backing them". I was obviously rooting for SA. Third ball. All fielders brought in ofcourse to stop the single. Kluesner mistimes it to mid on. Crazily, his non striker #AllanDonald had backed out too far. #DarrenLehmann back flicked his throw at the non-stikers end. The ball passes the stumps by inches and Donald is stranded out of his crease. Oooohs and Aaaahhs all around. Hands on heads for Aussies who certainly may have thought, this is not their day! Discussion between Donald and Kluesner to take it easy. 1 from 3 balls. Still pretty easy with Kluesner on strike. The commentators on air #BillLawry (Australia) and #MikeProcter (SA) kept going at each other in jest and tension seemed to be getting to them as well. Fleming delivers a good yorker, Kluesner doesnt connect well and ball rolls straight down the pitch where mid-on intercepts. Kluesner is already way down the pitch to complete the run. Donald seems clueless as there is no communication whatsover. He starts when Kluesner is almost at his end. The flick from mid-on misses the non-stiker stumps. Fleming sees Donald way out of his ground and rolls the ball to Gilchrist. He cooly collects and whips off the stumps, Donald way out of his crease!! Scores tied. Match tied. The Aussies celebrate because they qualify for the final (owing to their win against SA in the group stage). Kluesner walks back a dejected man. What a choke for SA. They seem to be hold that tag even till date especially with World Cups. Cronje is distraught. Waugh is excited. Cronje keeps claiming that he was not out. In response, another of Steve Waugh's now famous responses "Yes Hansie you are out. Read the newspaper tomorrow" What an amazing game. No team deserved to lose (or win either) and it did end a tie. But Aussies walked away with all the accolades. SA had all the wounds to carry. My mom was over the moon .. as if she was an Aussie! MOM: Shane Warne Watch some of the terrific highlights of this game here:
Venue: Mohali, India Can it get better? The traditional arch rivals, sub-continent giants clashing in a World Cup semi final !! WOW. The stage was set for a magnificent showdown and the teams didn't disappoint. Prime ministers of both countries greeted and wished players from either teams before the game. Dignitaries, bureaucrats, film stars, top corporate biggies and who's who from both countries made the game even more electrifying!
#MSDhoni won the toss and elected to bat. #Sehwag and #Tendulkar provided a stunning start for the Indians. Sehwag smashed #UmarGul for 20 runs in an over. Tendulkar opened from the other end too. 50 struck in no time.
A bowling change did the trick for Pakistan. #WahabRiaz, the lanky left hander trapped Sehwag leg before for 38. #GautamGambhir joined in and run-rate slowed down. #Hafeez flummoxed him in the air and he was stumped for 27. When #ViratKohli and #YuvrajSingh got out of consecutive delivers by Riaz, India were in a spot of bother at 141 for 4. In the meanwhile, Sachin had quietly crept past 50 (thanks to butterfingers by Pakis on 4 occasions) and holding fort. By the time he departed on 85, Pakistan had staged a comeback and were hoping to keep India under a manageable total. Some late flurry by Dhoni, #SureshRaina and #Harbhajan helped India reach 260 in their 50 overs, way below par considering the start they had. Wahab Riaz's 5-for a fitting reward for gutsy and disciplined bowling. But, as they say in big games runs on the board are crucial. Is 260 enough or Pakistan will easily chase it down considering the superfast Mohali outfield? Pakistan started their run chase steadily through #KamranAkmal and #MohdHafeez. #ZaheerKhan broke through their partnership with score on 44. Young #AsadShafiq joined Hafeez to take the innings forward. A moment of madness from Hafeez led to his downfall, Yuvraj claimed Shafiq and the ever reliable #YounisKhan and suddenly Pakistan were 106 for 4. #UmarAkmal and #MisbahUlHaq then put on a partnership and started rebuilding. Umar upped the tempo with some lusty blows. Harbhajan struck at a timely moment for India clean bowling Akmal. #MunafPatel followed suit to get the very dangerous #AbdurRazzaq. #ShahidAfridi started throwing his bat around while Misbah concentrated on holding his end. The required run rate was creeping up all the time. Something had to give way... India knocked Afridi, Riaz and Gul to snatch the game away from Pak. Misbah's late heroics only delayed the inevitable. India won the game by 29 runs. Although the margin for victory was comfortable, a India-Pak game is always tense, combative and electrifying. India moved ahead to the final of the World Cup to play #SriLanka. MOM: Sachin Tendulkar
