The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) continues to compete at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London and Australia in the finals of 2023-25. The Australian team is playing the second consecutive final in the World Test Championship and is trying to defend the title. On the other hand, the South African team has reached the DubyC final for the first time. The South African team is trying to win the ICC title after 27 years.

… when this cricketer ‘not a catch, lost the World Cup’

The rivalry on the cricket field between South Africa and Australia is not hidden from anyone. High voltage matches have been held between the two countries. Exactly 26 years ago i.e. on 13 June 1999, a memorable match was also played between the two countries at the Handingley Cricket Ground in Leeds. That match was of Super Six Stage in the 1999 Cricket World Cup.

In that match, South Africa scored 271 runs for seven wickets while batting first. Opener Harshal Gibbs scored 101 runs on 134 balls with the help of 10 fours and a six. Derryl Kalinan (50 runs), Jonty Rhodes (39 runs) and Lance Clusher (36 runs) also made useful contribution with the bat. For Australia, fast bowler Demian Fleming took the maximum three wickets and Shane Warne took 2 wickets.

Chasing the target, the Kangaroo team started very poorly and lost three wickets on a score of 48 runs. Mark was run out by scoring 5 runs. At the same time, Steve Elvarthi performed Adam Gilchrist (5 runs) and Damian Martin (11 runs). Australia Captain Steve Waugh at the crease after Martin was dismissed. Steve and his successor Ricky Potting got a 126 -run partnership for the fourth wicket and made Australia a return to the match.

However, when Steve Waugh was playing on 56 runs, his catch was dripped by the century of that match by Gibbs. Gibbs had taken the catch, but in excitement, he immediately wanted to bounce the ball up, due to which the ball fell on the ground. The umpire admitted that the catch was not completed and Ballabez was called notout.

It is believed that after that creature, Steve Waugh had taunted the Herschelle Gibbs and said, ‘Friend … you have not catch, the World Cup has dropped.’ However, Steve Waugh later claimed that he had thought of this, but did not say. However, by then this line had become famous in the cricket world.

Steve Waugh, taking advantage of that life, won Australia by five wickets with 2 balls left. Steve scored an unbeaten 120 off 110 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes. At the same time, Ricky Ponting contributed 69 runs, facing 110 balls. Ponting hit 5 fours and 2 sixes in his innings. Michael Bevan (27 runs) and Tom Moody (Notout 15 runs) also played an important role in taking the team to the finishing line.

Australia’s entry on tie and Australia’s entry in finals

Due to the victory, Australia reached South Africa in the Super Six stage. Then after 4 days, both teams compete in the semi -finals. He leaves the match on the tie as both teams scored 213 runs. Since Australia defeated South Africa in Super Six, it reached the final. That is, that mistake of Herschel Gibbs was really heavy to the South African team. The Australian team then won the ODI World Cup for the second time by defeating Pakistan by 8 wickets in the final.