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On Tuesday, Australia took on Afghanistan at the Wankhede Stadium in a match that would shape the top four race of the World Cup.
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Afghanistan scored 291/5 batting first, thanks to the country’s first-ever World Cup century from opener Ibrahim Zadran who scored an unbeaten 129. In reply, they reduced Australia to 49/4 and 91/7, seemingly wrapping up the game.
However, Glenn Maxwell ended up playing one of the game’s greatest-ever knocks, scoring an unbeaten 201, with captain Pat Cummins for company, to drag Australia over the line and secure a semifinal spot.
MORE: Glenn Maxwell or Kapil Dev? Fans react to Aussie star’s stunning double ton
The result meant that Australia and South Africa would meet in the second semifinal at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Here, The Sporting News brings you a look at the famous semifinal between the sides in 1999.
South Africa vs Australia World Cup semifinal: A look back at 1999 classic
On 17 June 1999, Australia and South Africa met in the second semi-final of the World Cup in Birmingham. Australia had secured their spot in the top four with a win over South Africa just four days prior, chasing down 272 with 4 balls to spare.
Proteas skipper Hansie Cronje won the toss and put Australia in to bat. His side was rewarded almost instantly as Shaun Pollock dismissed Mark Waugh for a duck on the fifth ball of the innings. South Africa went on to reduce Australia to 68/4 in 17 overs.
At that point, Michael Bevan (65) and Steve Waugh (56) stitched together a 90-run partnership to take the Aussies out of trouble, and they eventually finished with 213. South African pacers Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald finished with five and four wickets respectively.
MORE: ‘Belief is always there’: Maxwell reacts to record-breaking 201
When South Africa came out to bat, they also lost early wickets, slipping to 61/4 with three of the wickets falling to the bowling of Shane Warne. Jacques Kallis and Jonty Rhodes then took them out of trouble and the time the latter was dismissed in the 41st over, the Proteas needed 68 runs off 57 balls.
After some lusty blows from Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener, the target came down to 18 from the last two overs with Klusener still in the middle. Glenn McGrath bowled Mark Boucher, and Steve Elworthy was run out in the 49th over, off which the Proteas got 9 runs.
Klusener smashed two boundaries off the first two balls of the final over, taking the equation down to 1 run from 4 balls. After a close shave off the third ball of the over, disaster struck for South Africa the very next delivery.
Klusener hit the ball down the ground and called last man Allan Donald through for a single. South Africa’s No 11, ball-watching, responded extremely late to the call before dropping his bat on the way. By the time he could attempt to make his ground, the ball had gone from mid-off to the bowler to the keeper who ran him out.
The game was tied and Australia went through to the final thanks to their superior rank in the Super Six standings, agonisingly sending South Africa out.
It was the first-ever tie in a World Cup match, and far the most iconic until the 2019 final between England and New Zealand at Lords was tied, and the home team won the trophy after winning the Super Over.
Who will win the 2023 World Cup?
India and Australia are among the favourites for the 2023 World Cup title. The odds from Dafabet are as follows.
| Team | Odds (Dafabet) |
|---|---|
| India | 2.00 |
| Australia | 4.50 |
| South Africa | 5.50 |
| New Zealand | 10.00 |
| Pakistan | 21.00 |
| Afghanistan | 67.00 |
Think you know who will win the 2023 Cricket World Cup? Place your bets here with Dafabet!