Cricket's greatest comebacks - Australia vs South Africa, '99 World Cup semi-final

Jonty Rhodes during the World Cup Semi-Final between Australia and South Africa at Edgbaston

Kallis and Jonty Rhodes rebuilt the innings and, with around 70 to get at the start of the last 10 overs with 6 wickets in hand and the likes of Boucher, Klusener and Pollock still to bat, South Africa was still very much in the game. When Jonty fell to Reiffel, Cronje did a double-take by sending Pollock ahead of Klusener and Boucher.

The seasoned all-rounder did not disappoint though as he walloped Warne for a boundary and a sixer – just before the blond leggie accounted for the set batsman Kallis. Still with 40 to get off the last 5 overs and the big-hitting Pollock and Klusener at the crease with Boucher to follow, South Africa would have more than fancied their chances.

However the miserly duo of McGrath and Fleming had other plans in store. Fleming took out Pollock’s stumps and McGrath responded with Boucher’s. All this while Klusener was blazing away at the other end apparently in the fear of running out of partners. When Elworthy was run out by Reiffel with South Africa still short of 200 and 8 balls to go, one sensed the game was slowly slipping from their grasp.

Only for Reiffel to parry a powerful Klusener hit over the boundary ropes off the next ball. At the end of that over, South Africa needed nine from the last over with Klusener on strike. The bowler was the same one who had bowled the last over against West Indies in the semi-final three years earlier – Damien Fleming.

Australia’s plan was to bowl off-stump yorkers to the predominantly leg-side favouring Klusener but he responded with two crashing cover drives to level the scores. In a matter of 4 balls the match had turned. It was the Aussies now who were under the pump.

In response, Steve Waugh brought the ring up. Klusener could go for the big shot and, if he connected, the match was South Africa’s. They had to win in any case – a tie would send Australia to the final on a superior run rate.

The third ball was forcefully hit to Darren Lehmann and the last man Donald set off for the triumph-securing single – only to be caught like a deer in the headlights as Klusener refused the single. Lehmann took underarm aim – and missed the stumps. The stinkiest piece of underarm cricket for the Australians since Trevor Chappell. Three balls to go.

The fourth ball was almost a carbon copy of the ball before – a near perfect yorker meeting an almighty thump. Only this time Klusener chose to run.

Donald this time chose not to. He had been ball-watching and had missed Klusener’s call. When he did recall his wits, the first thing he did was to drop his bat as he set off for a long walk down the pitch. In the meantime, Mark Waugh, who had pounced onto the ball, rolled it to the bowler who rolled it back to the keeper Gilchrist. The stumps were knocked off well after Klusener had reached the other side – but well before Donald had reached this side.

Australia celebrated like they had done never before. This time, unlike the last, they capitalised on their efforts to reach the World Cup final by winning it as they thrashed Pakistan in the process. For South Africa, it was the start of the “Big Choke” – they would lose many more important matches at crucial junctures over the years to come – with or without Hansie Cronje’s efforts.

The match also marked Woolmer’s last as South Africa’s coach. Eight years later, another thrilling World Cup match between Pakistan and Ireland would be his last in this life. He ended as South Africa’s most successful ODI coach – they won 73% of their matches under his tutelage. But even Steve Waugh would not deny that his blend of science and spirit deserved more than a percentage.