A view from the Gully (19 June 1999)

19 June 1999

A view from the Gully

The Daily Star

In 1992 the equation was 22 runs from ONE delivery. In 1999 it was ONE run from 4 deliveries. While the former was a cruel joke, the latter was a distinct possibility for the South Africans specially with Lance Klusener on strike. But the hard-hitting allrounder lost his cool at a time when it was most needed and attempted an impossible run with the last man - Alan Donald as non-striker at the other end and seven Aussie fielders inside the circle to prevent a single. Donald, thoroughly perplexed, took a leaf out of Inzamam's book and was pitifully stranded in the middle. The number 13, lucky for some as the saying goes proved otherwise for South Africa.

This was a match that kept the fans on the edge of their seats biting nails. We have had very few occasions to enjoy such an exciting cricket match in the recent past. Victory for South Africa was so near yet it was so far. It was again a miss between the cup and the lip. South Africa were yet to break the Australia jinx. Cronje must have had his homework right as he put the Aussies in to bat and restricted the strong batting lineup within a reasonable limit. This definite advantage was frittered away by their top order batsmen as they not only handled Warne in an amatunish manner but helped set in panic in the dressing room and then made another mistake by allowing less time to their most dangerous and at the same time most innovative batsman Klusener. They were also unlucky when umpire David Shepherd, normally an astute judge, gave his controversial nod against Cronje that was of vital importance for both the teams.

The Aussies in their turn made a number of mistakes that almost took the match away from them.

It was a great day for the two South African fast bowlers Shawn Pollock and Alan Donald, bowling almost on their 'home track' struck early blows and once again it was left to Steve Waugh and Michael Bevan to put the innings on the track. Almost half the Aussie side could not score against Pollock and Donald. At the end South Africans were happy with their performance with the ball.

It was a very modest total indeed to chase until Shane Warne appeared quite early in the innings and took three vital wickets with four deliveries. Gibbs fell to an absolute beauty, Kisten perished with a horrible shot and Cronje out to a controversial judgment. But Kallis, Rhodes and Pollock kept the Proteas hopes alive but Warne came back and sent Kallis home. It was the last straw on the camel's back. The flamboyant Klussner, man of the match in four previous games went berserk and almost took his team out of the woods. But that one run stood between victory and defeat, Australia made it to their fourth final on better result (victory over the same team in the Super Six match).

Source :: The Daily Star