3 minute read

From one-day cricket's most famous run out to its best known catch, Australia and South Africa have built up a catalogue of memorable World Cup matches.

BEST OF AUSTRALIA-SOUTH AFRICA AT THE WORLD CUP

SOUTH AFRICA STUN THE HOSTS, GROUP MATCH 1992

Just months into their return from the Apartheid, the Proteas left Australia's title defence and home World Cup campaign in tatters with a nine-wicket win. Allan Donald made his first impression on the Aussies with 3-34, after being unlucky not to have Geoff Marsh in his opening spell. The Proteas cruised to victory, with Kepler Wessels (81no) guiding them there.

GIBBS DROPS THE WORLD CUP, SUPER SIX STAGE 1999

Has there been a more famous dropped catch in one-day history? With Australia still needing 120 from the last 19 overs and Steve Waugh guiding the innings, Gibbs appeared to remove Australia's captain with a dolly at mid-wicket. However was ruled to never have control of the ball before he fumbled his celebration, allowing Waugh to hit an unbeaten 119 as the Aussies won with three balls to spare to scrape into the semi-finals. Making the win even more impressive was the fact Australia were 3-48 early chasing 272 for victory.

THAT RUN OUT, SEMI-FINAL 1999

Arguably still the finest one-day match ever played. Just four days after the Super Six classic, Australia and South Africa squared off in a game that ebbed and flowed from the outset. Batting first, the Aussies fell to 4-68 early before Michael Bevan (65) and Steve Waugh (56) guided them to 213 all out. South Africa were 0-48 in reply, before Shane Warne's heroics kickstarted a collapse of 4-13. South Africa rebounded to 5-145, before a steady stream of dismissals left them needing nine from the final over with one wicket left. Lance Klusner whacked two boundaries through the covers and then the rest was history. Klusner and Allan Donald had two mix ups, with the second resulting a run-out and the Aussies making the final with a tie after finishing higher on the ladder.

MCGRATH AND TAIT RATTLE PROTEAS, SEMI-FINAL 2007

The Aussies and Proteas met in a semi-final again four years later that wasn't so tight. Bowling first, Glenn McGrath took three early wickets to leave South Africa 5-27 at St Lucia. Shaun Tait finished the job with 4-39, before Australia cruised to victory with 18.3 overs to go. It was a win symbolic of the most dominant World Cup campaign in history, as the Aussies marched into a final where they eventually disposed of Sri Lanka.