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Waugh’s warriors on top again

1999, Lord’s: Much as Lloyd’s West Indians must have set off a sense of foreboding amongst cricketing teams after their 1975 win, so did Steve Waugh’s Aussies signal their dominance of the next decade through the 1999 final of the ICC Cricket World Cup. by R Prasad | Direct Link

Waugh’s side showcased talent, resilience and innovation in ample measure, and defeated Pakistan in style in the fourth final of the tournament held at newly-refurbished Lord’s.

The Aussies were tied with South Africa in a nail-biting semifinal at Edgbaston and made it to the final only by virtue of having finished higher up than the Proteas in the Super Six stage.

The Australians produced top-drawer stuff against Pakistan to emerge triumphant with an emphatic eight-wicket margin and nearly 30 overs to spare. The allowed Pakistan only 132 in 39 overs, the lowest total in an ICC Cricket World Cup final, and then knocked off the required runs in 20 overs to regain the crown they had lost at home in 1992.

In the lop-sided contest, the Australian bowling – with Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne being the lynchpins - simply blew away the Pakistan batting in helpful conditions with the gangly McGrath snapping up two for 13 in nine overs.

Man of the match Warne finished with 4 for 33 by slicing through the middle order, his victims including top-scorer Ijaz Ahmed (22).

Support for the champion bowlers was provided by Paul Reiffel and Tom Moody.

Pakistan’s only chance was to hit back hard at the Australians with the red-hot pace of Shoaib Akhtar, but the Rawalpindi Express had an off day and was clouted for 37 in four overs, pulverized by Adam Gilchrist who dazzled in making 54 in 36 balls – with eight fours and a six.

Skipper Wasim Akram also proved ineffective with the new ball barring the wicket of Ricky Ponting for 24 and the total was too small to defend as the Pakistanis found out.