On This Day — The Day South Africa Earned the “Chokers” Tag Forever

It wasn’t just a loss — it became a lasting heartbreak. That one moment, one miscommunication, led to South Africa being labelled as ‘chokers’ in big matches. It’s a day still remembered with pain, and here’s how it all unfolded.

Australia vs South Africa: 17th June 1999

At the Edgbaston semi-final on June 17, 1999, South Africa’s captain Hansie Cronje won the toss and chose to field, hoping to exploit early conditions. Australia’s openers, Adam Gilchrist and Mark Waugh, faced a fiery Shaun Pollock, who struck in the first over, dismissing Waugh for a duck (4 balls), caught by Mark Boucher. Australia were 3/1 after 0.5 overs. Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting steadied the ship, adding 51 runs for the second wicket. By the 10-over powerplay, Australia reached 43/1, with Ponting showing intent. They hit 54 by 13.1 overs when Allan Donald dismissed Ponting for 37 (48 balls, 3 fours, 1 six), caught by Gary Kirsten.

Darren Lehmann fell soon after to Donald for 1 (4 balls), also caught by Boucher, leaving Australia at 58/3 after 13.6 overs. Gilchrist, battling for 20 (39 balls, 1 four, 1 six), was dismissed by Jacques Kallis in the 16.6th over, caught by Donald, with the score at 68/4. Steve Waugh, the captain, and Michael Bevan then forged a crucial 90-run fifth-wicket partnership off 137 balls. Waugh’s gritty fifty came off 71 balls (6 fours, 1 six), guiding Australia past 100 in 25.3 overs. By the 30-over mark, they were 123/4, with Waugh and Bevan digging in.

The partnership ended in the 39.3rd over when Pollock dismissed Waugh for 56 (76 balls, 6 fours, 1 six), caught by Boucher, at 158/5. Tom Moody’s stay was brief, out lbw to Pollock for 0 (3 balls), leaving Australia 158/6 after 39.6 overs. Bevan, anchoring the innings, reached his fifty off 90 balls (4 fours). He and Shane Warne added 49 runs for the seventh wicket. Warne, aggressive for 18 (24 balls, 1 four), fell to Pollock in the 47.6th over, caught by Cronje, at 207/7. Donald struck twice in the 48th over, removing Paul Reiffel (0 off 1 ball) and Damien Fleming (0 off 2 balls), both bowled, leaving Australia 207/9.

Bevan’s resilient 65 (101 balls, 6 fours) ended in the 49.2nd over, caught by Boucher off Pollock, as Australia were bowled out for 213. The innings included 16 extras (1 bye, 6 leg byes, 6 no-balls, 3 wides). Pollock was the star, taking 5/36 in 9.2 overs, while Donald’s 4/32 in 10 overs was equally lethal. Kallis chipped in with 1/27 in 10 overs, including two maidens, but Steve Elworthy (0/59) and Lance Klusener (0/50) were expensive. Hansie Cronje bowled a tight single over for 2 runs.

Australia’s 4.31 run rate reflected a cautious approach, with only 17 fours and 3 sixes. The innings featured a seven-ball 19th over by Kallis, called by umpire David Shepherd. Despite early losses, Waugh and Bevan’s partnership kept Australia competitive, though regular wickets prevented a late surge. South Africa’s bowlers, led by Pollock and Donald, maintained pressure, with Boucher’s five catches proving pivotal. The total of 213 was modest but defendable, setting up a tense chase on a tricky pitch.

At the start of South Africa’s chase of 214, Australia’s bowlers, led by Glenn McGrath and Damien Fleming, came out swinging. Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs opened steadily, reaching 48/1 by 12.2 overs when Shane Warne dismissed Gibbs for 30 (36 balls, 6 fours), bowled. Warne struck again in the 14.1st over, removing Kirsten for 18 (42 balls, 1 four), leaving South Africa at 53/2. Hansie Cronje’s brief stay ended two balls later, caught by Mark Waugh off Warne for 0, making it 53/3. Daryll Cullinan struggled for 6 (30 balls) before being run out by Michael Bevan in the 21.2nd over, leaving South Africa at 61/4.

Jacques Kallis and Jonty Rhodes rebuilt with an 84-run fifth-wicket stand off 115 balls. By the 30-over mark, South Africa were 106/4, with Kallis on 34 and Rhodes on 28. Rhodes fell for 43 (55 balls, 2 fours, 1 six) in the 40.3rd over, caught by Bevan off Paul Reiffel, at 145/5. Kallis, reaching his fifty off 90 balls (3 fours), kept the chase alive, but Warne dismissed him for 53 (92 balls, 3 fours) in the 44.5th over, caught by Steve Waugh, leaving South Africa at 175/6.

Shaun Pollock’s quick 20 (14 balls, 1 four, 1 six) ended in the 45.5th over, bowled by Fleming, at 183/7. Lance Klusener, unbeaten on 31 (16 balls, 4 fours, 1 six), pushed the chase forward, but Mark Boucher’s 5 (10 balls) ended in the 48.2nd over, bowled by McGrath, at 196/8. Steve Elworthy was run out for 1 (1 ball) in the 48.4th over, making it 198/9.

Last Over Drama

The real drama began in the last over when South Africa needed 9 runs off 6 balls to chase 214 against Australia at Edgbaston on June 17, 1999. Lance Klusener, batting on 23 off 12 balls with 2 fours and a six, was their last hope, alongside Allan Donald. Glenn McGrath’s 49th over had already shaken things up, giving away 9 runs but snagging Mark Boucher (bowled for 5) and Steve Elworthy (run out for 1), leaving South Africa at 205/9. Damien Fleming took the ball for the 50th over, and Klusener went big, cracking a cover drive for four, then another through wide long-off to tie the scores at 213 with 2 balls left. Just one run to win, and the crowd was electric.

But on the next ball, Klusener pulled to mid-on, where Darren Lehmann nearly ran out Donald, who’d backed up too far. With fielders crowding the infield, Klusener drove again on the 49.4th ball, but a mix-up saw Donald stranded. Mark Waugh’s throw to Fleming and Adam Gilchrist sealed Donald’s run-out for 0 (no balls faced). Australia advanced to the final due to their higher Super Sixes standing (both teams had 6 points, but Australia’s net run rate was +0.358 to South Africa’s +0.174).

Warne was the hero, taking 4/29 in 10 overs, including four maidens, earning Player of the Match. Reiffel (1/28) and Fleming (1/40) were tight, while McGrath took 1/51. Mark Waugh (0/37) and Tom Moody (0/27) supported without wickets. South Africa’s 4.28 run rate matched Australia’s but fell short in the clutch. The chase saw 21 fours and 3 sixes, with Klusener’s late blitz nearly sealing it. South Africa’s innings was a rollercoaster. Early losses to Warneb’s spin left them reeling, but Kallis and Rhodes’ partnership offered hope. The late collapse, with three wickets falling for 15 runs between overs 44.5 and 48.4, and Donald’s infamous run-out, defined the tie.