#kluesner

It has been 2 decades since Australia started their dream of world cup wins in England. I had just finished my Engineering when world cup had kick started. India had a dream run till 1998 when Sachin and Kumnle had inspired India to series of wins. 1999 world cup started a on a poor note for India. India faced SA in first match in Brighton. India started off well. Sachin and Ganguly had a fifty plus stand before Kluesner dismissed the former. Sachin and Dravid then had 130 run stand. By the time Dravid was dismissed, India were 197-2 in 42nd over. Score of 270 looked likely. But India just managed 253-5. Ganguly’s 142 ball 97 was a point of discussion as he slowed down immensely in 90s. India reduced SA to 68-3 as Srinath had dismissed both the openers. But Kallis’s 96 and some late hitting by Rhodes gave SA 4 wicket win with more than 3 overs to spare. India then lost of Zimbabwe as well. Sachin missed that match as his father had expired. India had to make a serious run to make it to Super 6. They did. They beat Kenya, Lanka and England to make it to Super 6. Sachin scored century against Kenya , a day after he returned from his father’s funeral. India had to literally win all 3 matches in super 6 to make it to SF. They lost to Australia in first match thanks to masterly ton by Mark Waugh and Mcgarth’s early spell. India came back by beating Pakistan in a tense match. Venkatesh Prasad grabbed a 5-fer. By the time India faced NZ in final match, it was clear that India cant make it to SF. They lost to NZ.

Australia also had a poor start. They had lost to NZ and Pakistan in league matches. They needed to beat SA and they did. Gibbs dropping Steve Waugh was critical as Australia gained lot of confidence form that. Australia looked supreme in super 6. In SF, Pakistan outclassed NZ. Kluesner had won handful of matches for SA till this point of time. In SF, Australia struggled as they just managed 213. Shaun Pollock grabbed 5 fer. Steve Waugh and Bevan scored fifties to Australia some chance. SA started confidently as they reached 48-0 in 13th over. In 2 overs, Shane Warne changed the complexion of the match. He castled Gibbs and Kisten and later dismissed Cronje. Cronje later claimed that he had not hit the ball. SA 53-3. Kallis 50 and calm Rhodes took SA closer to target. By the time Kallis was dismissed by Warne for 53, SA needed 39 from 32 balls. It was Kluesner time again. He took the match to the last over. SA needed 13 runs of the last over. Only 1 wicket was left. He smashed 3 back to back boundaries of Fleming. Nobody moved when he hit those boundaries. Scores were tied. SA had to beat Australia and not just tie as Australia would advance to finals based on the fact that 1987 champions had beaten SA in league match. 3 balls were left to score 1 run. SA looked like progressing to finals. But they did the unthinkable. Kluesner hit the ball towards mid on and went for the run. Donald at the non striker was ball watching. He eventually was run out. Kluesner’s 31 from 16 was not enough as Australia progressed to finals. They outclassed Pakistan in finals. Australia never looked back till 2007 . They won 3 back to back world cups. They in fact were unbeaten in 2003 and 2007 world cups. Those 2 moments of madness by SA  (Gibbs drop catch and Donald ball watching) had triggered an Australian domination. They went from strength to strength post that world cup win. Kluesner was star of the world cup but Australia played intense cricket when it mattered the most.