ICC World Cup 2019
Part 27 - Australia became inevitable after 1999 world cup
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1999 world cup is the first which was officially named as ICC World Cup'99. After a long gap of 16 years England again hosts the world cup. Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Netherland joined as co-hosts and some matches were played there. Some win can change players and even teams too. 1999 world cup is the master in that. It changed both Australia and India. At the end of tournament Australia lift the trophy for second time next to West Indies. As like previous tournament 12 teams participated and were splitted into two groups. This is the first ever world cup were Super Six stage introduced. As per that top 3 from each group has to play with 3 teams from other group. Top four from that will qualify for semi finals.
Participated Countries:
Along with 9 test playing countries 3 associate countries participated in this world cup. They were split into two Groups A and B. Bangladesh, Kenya and Scotland joined as associate nations in this world cup.
Group A:
South Africa, India, Zimbabwe, England, Sri lanka and Kenya
Group B:
Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, Bangladesh and Scotland
Each teams received two points for a win. At the end of league matches South Africa finishes at top with 8 points from Group A. India finished as second with 6 points. Surprisingly Zimbabwe finished as third and made their first ever next round appearance in world cups. Hosts England also got 6 points but lost the chance for qualifying super six by net runrate. Defending Champions Srilanka won only two matches. While Kenya lost all the matches and finished at bottom. India, South Africa and Zimbabwe got the strongest line up in this season.
Zimbabwe won against both India and South Africa. Sachin Tendulkar scored a tremendous 140 runs against Kenya after demise of his father. While Sourav Ganguly scored 183 runs against Srilanka along with a record partnership with Rahul Dravid. Ganguly scored also a 97 runs against South Africa, but Jacque Kallis 96 runs made SA win easy.
From Group B, Pakistan finished as top with 8 points. They lost only one match that too against Bangladesh. In that world cup Pakistan had the best ever bowling lineup like Wasim Akram , Waquar Younis, Shoaib Akthar and Saqlain Mushtaq. Australia, New Zealand and West Indies won 6 matches. But with the help of run rate Aussie and New Zea qualified for super six. If its kenya for group A then its scotland for group B. They lost all the matches and finished their first world cup at bottom.
Group A witnessed lot of high scoring matches. But Group B witnessed lot of low scoring matches because of bowling dominance like Gleen Mcgrath, Shane Warne, Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Damien Flemming etc., Because of that Scotland went all out for 68 runs against West Indies and registered the lowest score of that season. At the last match of group B, New zealand played against Scotland. Scotty set target as 122 runs. New Zealand has to chase the chase with in 22 overs to qualify for super six or else West Indies will qualify. But New Zealand chased the target in 17.5 overs itself. So West Indies lost the chance of qualifying super six.
Super Six:
As per the new rule in this round. Each team has to face the opponent once. Sadly India finished bottom among them. They win only one match that too against their rivals Pakistan. Venkatesh Prasad 5/27 helped India to control Pakistan with in 180 runs. India lost mainly because of their loss against Zimbabwe at group stage. Its like group stage wins taken as consideration and points were given. If India have beaten Zimbabwe at group stage. They will get 4 points in Super six and had lot of chances to qualify semi with their good runrate. Like India one more team suffered due to their loss against a team in super six. Which affects their final appearance.
Pakistan, Australia and South Africa scored 6 points and qualifies for semi finals. While New zealand came to semi with 2 wins and a better runrate than Zimbabwe.
Semi Finals:
At first semi finals Super Six topper Pakistan and fourth New Zealand played. Pakistan won the match with the help of Saeed Anwar's century 113 runs not out. Once again New Zealand lost the chance of entering finals. While Pakistan made their second finals after 1992.
In second semi, Australia beat South Africa and made their fourth finals. Aussie made two consecutive finals in a row. At the end of innings both team scored 213 runs and ends up with a tie. But Aussie qualified just because of a higher position at Super Six. At the end of super six Australia got the better runrate than South Africa and finished at second. South Africa's third consecutive semi finals also ends in failure.
Finals:
1999 finals is the competition of two bowling beasts. Pakistan looks much stronger in bowling than Aussie. But Aussie restricted the Pakistan batting for just 132 runs. None of the Pakistan batsmen played like a finals. Mystery Spinner Shane Warne picks 4 for 33 from 9 overs which made him the player of that match. Australia chased the small target comfortably with loss of 2 wickets. Adam Gilchrist scored a brilliant half century 54 runs from 36 balls with strike rate of 150. Aussie skipper Steve Waugh remains not out with 37 runs. Fans expected a heavy competitive final match. But it ends up as one sided. Australia lift the world cup for the second time next to West Indies. After that win Australia becomes strongest in the world and remains unbeatable for a decade.
Most Runs: Rahul Dravid (Ind) with 461 runs
Steve Waugh (Aus) with 398 runs
Most Wickets: Shane Warne (Aus) and Geoff Alott (Nz) with 20 wickets
Glenn Mcgrath (Aus)with 18 wickets
Interesting Moments:
1. Mark Waugh's fourth century
Australia's Mark Waugh scored a century against Zimbabwe in this world cup. This becomes his 4th century in world cup tournaments. After this world cup he got retired. In 2003 world cup Sachin equalled his record later Sachin beat his record. Till today Sachin had 6 centuries in world cup which is the maximum by any batsman in world cups.
2. Unsung Centuries
Dravid scored two centuries in this world cup 104* and 145 runs. But both went unnoticeable. Because he scored 104* against Kenya. But Sachin scored 149 runs in the match after the loss of his father went viral and everyone forget Dravid's innings.
Next one is against Srilanka, Dravid score a brilliant 145 runs in that match. But Sourav Ganguly scored 183 runs in the same match. He made the second best score in world cups next to Viv Richards. Ganguly's 183 runs made everyone to spoke about him and everyone once again forget Dravid.
3. Controversial Cronje
During a match against India, South African captain Hansie Cronje had a earpiece in his ear. With the help of that he is communicating with his coach Bob Woolmer. South African coach giving instructions to Cronje via that earpiece. Later it was found and Cronje was forced to remove that during drinks. Some how they found in the very first match for South Africa or else they may continue this for the entire season.
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