Top 5 ODI matches between South Africa and Australia

#2 ICC World Cup, 2nd SF: Australia v South Africa at Birmingham, Jun 17, 1999

Ask a South African fan about this game, and to date, he or she would put their head down and wonder how Lance Klusener and Alan Donald did not manage to grab the victory.

This particular match is one of the main reasons for the tag of “chokers” being attached to South Africa. Whereas for Australia, they were lucky even to be in the semifinals of the ICC World Cup in 1999. The two sides met in the super six stage, where Australia managed to beat South Africa, thanks to Herschelle Gibbs dropping a catch which would have led to Steve Waugh’s dismissal. Instead, Waugh went on to score a match-winning knock of 120 to take the Aussies to the semifinal, and that too, with a superior net run rate as compared to the Proteas.

The two sides met in the 2^nd semifinal as well, and the stakes were obviously much higher. After opting to bowl first, South Africa had restricted the Australians to a lowly 213. The Kangaroos had no answer to the impressive bowling display by Shaun Pollock and Alan Donald who took a combined total of 9 wickets. Michael Bevan and Steve Waugh were the saving grace for Australians, scoring 65 and 56 respectively.

With 214 to win, South Africa got off to a good start with a 48 run opening partnership between Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith. After the dismissal of Gibbs, they began to crumble and were in grave trouble at 65-4. However, Jacques Kallis and Jonty Rhodes’s partnership of 84 runs got them back into the game. Shaun Pollock and Mark Boucher provided useful contributions as well but were both dismissed in the penultimate over, thus leading to a final over showdown. Lance Klusener and Alan Donald were at the crease, with the former on strike to face Damien Fleming’s bowling. With 9 needed off 6, Klusener showed his class as he smashed the first two balls of the over for a four.

One of the most iconic moments in cricket history

1 run. 3 balls. 1 wicket in hand. That was what South Africa required to reach their first ever World Cup final.

Heartbreaking would be a gross understatement to describe as to what happened in the next ball. A mix up between Donald and Klusener took place as Klusener called for a run, Donald did not listen, and before they knew it, both of them were at the non-striker's end.

"There it is, this will be out surely - oh it's out, it's gonna be run out...oh, that is South Africa out - Donald did not run, I cannot believe it. Australia go into the World Cup Final - ridiculous running with two balls to go. Donald did not go; Klusener came - what a disappointing end for South Africa. What a match for our viewers right around the world,” Bill Lawry’s commentary resonated amongst every single person watching the game on T.V.

The match was a tie, and Australia were through to the final based on their superior net run rate in the Super Six stage.

This particular match changed the course of cricket journey for the nations involved. Australia embarked on a streak of successive World Cup victories spanning across a decade and South Africa never got the better of a knockout game in World Cups to come.

Australia 213 (SR Waugh 56, Bevan 65) tied South Africa 213 (Kallis 53, Rhodes 43)

Australia went through to the final due to superior net run rate in the Super Six stage.