Dubai: During the 1999 ICC cricket World Cup, most of the matches were held in England but some games were played in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and the Netherlands. Apart from all the major teams, three associate teams also took part in the event – Bangladesh, Kenya and Scotland.
For the first time, the Super Six stage was introduced and the top three teams from each group formed the Super Six.
South Africa experimented with a radio system in their first game against India. Hansie Cronje and Allan Donald were wired up to coach Bob Woolmer in the dressing room but match referee stepped in to bar the method.
Favourites Australia faced an uphill task to qualify after losing to Pakistan and New Zealand and thereafter needed to win every game to avoid elimination. However, they scraped through after their match against the West Indies where they aimed for a narrow win keeping in mind the complex point system. Australia and New Zealand went through at the expense of West Indies after being equal on points.
Hosts England failed to make the most of the home advantage and were eliminated after Zimbabwe pulled off two major upsets, winning against India, depleted in the absence of Sachin Tendulkar who had to leave the World Cup campaign to attend his father’s funeral, and South Africa.
Defending champions Sri Lanka were far from repeating their performance and Bangladesh produced one of their biggest wins when they shocked Pakistan.
Despite that blow, Pakistan made it to the Super Six stage and met New Zealand in the first semis at Old Trafford. The Kiwis failed to get going with Shoaib Akhtar doing the damage with figures of 3 for 55. Opener Saeed Anwar (113) and Wajahatullah Wasti (84) put on a 194-run partnership for the opening wicket.
The second semi-final was easily the best match of the tournament and one of the finest in ODI history. Australia batted first and struggled their way to 213 after Shaun Pollack and Allan Donald claimed five and four wickets respectively. Australia gave it everything later and kept taking wickets at crucial moments, Shane Warne taking four. Jacques Kallis (53) and Jonty Rhodes (43) put the Proteas in line for a win, but it all came down to that last over. The Proteas needed one run, but a horrible mix-up between Lance Klusener and Donald sent Australia to the final.
The final was just a cake walk for the Aussie as Pakistan were blown away at Lord’s and managed just 132 with Warne again showing his magic with ball claiming four wickets. Australia won comfortably after Adam Gilchrist smashed 54 from 36 balls as they won by 8 wickets.
