ICC Cricket World Cup 1999: Australia Reclaim the Title in England
Australia won the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales, defeating Pakistan in a one-sided final at Lord's with Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath starring.
The 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup was held in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the Netherlands. Australia, under Steve Waugh, won the tournament for the second time, defeating Pakistan in a one-sided final at Lord's by eight wickets.
South Africa's Heartbreak
The tournament's most memorable moment came in the semi-final between Australia and South Africa at Edgbaston. The match ended in a tie after Allan Donald was run out attempting a bye off the last ball — leaving South Africa level with Australia, but eliminated because Australia had qualified ahead of them in the Super Six stage.
Pakistan's Road to the Final
Pakistan were the defending champions and fielded a strong side with Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, and Saeed Anwar. They surprised South Africa in the semi-final but arrived at Lord's in disarray, having lost a group match to Bangladesh — one of the great World Cup upsets.
The Final at Lord's
Pakistan were bowled out for 132 at Lord's. Glenn McGrath took 2 for 13 and Shane Warne 4 for 33. Australia won in just 20.1 overs, with Adam Gilchrist and Mark Waugh dispatching the Pakistan attack. It was Australia's second World Cup title and the start of their three-tournament dominance.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 1999 Cricket World Cup?
Australia won the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup, defeating Pakistan by eight wickets in the final at Lord's on June 20, 1999.
What happened in the Australia vs South Africa 1999 semi-final?
The match ended in a dramatic tie. Allan Donald was run out off the last ball, and because Australia had a better Super Six record, they advanced to the final while South Africa were eliminated.