Who Won the 1999 Cricket World Cup

Australia won the 1999 Cricket World Cup, beating Pakistan by 8 wickets in the final at Lord’s on 20 June 1999. Pakistan were bowled out for 132 in 39 overs, and Australia chased the target in just 20.1 overs to lift their second World Cup title after 1987. Shane Warne was named player of the match for his spell of 4 for 33.

1999 World Cup Final: Australia vs Pakistan Scorecard

The final was one of the most one-sided World Cup finals ever played. Pakistan captain Wasim Akram won the toss and chose to bat, but his side never recovered from a poor start. Both openers were dismissed inside the first six overs, and the middle order collapsed against Warne and Glenn McGrath. Only Ijaz Ahmed, with 22, reached 20 for Pakistan.

Detail	1999 World Cup Final
Date	20 June 1999
Venue	Lord’s, London
Pakistan	132 all out (39 overs)
Australia	133 for 2 (20.1 overs)
Result	Australia won by 8 wickets
Player of the match	Shane Warne (4 for 33)
Top scorer, Pakistan	Ijaz Ahmed 22
Top scorer, Australia	Adam Gilchrist 54 off 36 balls

Warne took 4 for 33 from nine overs, dismissing Ijaz Ahmed, Moin Khan, Shahid Afridi and Wasim Akram. McGrath was superbly economical with 2 for 13, and Tom Moody picked up two wickets as well. In reply, Adam Gilchrist smashed 54 off 36 balls to take Australia to 75 inside ten overs. Mark Waugh finished unbeaten on 37 and Ricky Ponting made 24, and Darren Lehmann hit the winning boundary. Pakistan’s bowlers managed only two wickets between them.

How Australia Reached the 1999 World Cup Final

Australia’s campaign is remembered as one of the great tournament recoveries. They began as favourites but lost two of their first three group matches and were close to elimination. From that point on, they did not lose another match in the tournament.

Stage	Opponent and Result
Group	Beat Scotland by 6 wickets
Group	Lost to New Zealand by 5 wickets
Group	Lost to Pakistan by 10 runs
Group	Beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets
Group	Beat West Indies by 6 wickets
Super Six	Beat India by 77 runs
Super Six	Beat Zimbabwe by 44 runs
Super Six	Beat South Africa by 5 wickets
Semi-final	Tied with South Africa (advanced on Super Six result)
Final	Beat Pakistan by 8 wickets

Because Australia had lost to both New Zealand and Pakistan in the group stage, they carried no points forward into the Super Six. Every remaining match was effectively a knockout. They beat India by 77 runs at The Oval, with Mark Waugh scoring 83 and McGrath taking 3 for 34, then beat Zimbabwe by 44 runs at Lord’s.

The defining match came against South Africa at Headingley. Chasing 272, Australia were 48 for 3 when captain Steve Waugh joined Ricky Ponting. Waugh was dropped by Herschelle Gibbs on 56, when Gibbs lost the ball while trying to celebrate the catch. Waugh went on to score an unbeaten 120 off 110 balls, and Australia won by five wickets with two balls to spare.

The semi-final against the same opponents at Edgbaston finished as a tie, one of the most dramatic matches in World Cup history. Australia scored 213, with Michael Bevan making 65 and Waugh 56, and South Africa were also bowled out for 213. With one run needed off the last four balls, Lance Klusener ran for a single and Allan Donald was run out at the bowler’s end. Because Australia had beaten South Africa in the Super Six, they advanced to the final.

Pakistan’s Route to the 1999 World Cup Final

Pakistan were the form team for much of the tournament. They topped their group after beating Australia, New Zealand, West Indies and Scotland, with their only group defeat coming in a shock loss to Bangladesh. In the Super Six they lost three matches in a row, to South Africa, India and then again to South Africa, before beating Zimbabwe to reach the semi-finals.

In the first semi-final at Old Trafford, Pakistan bowled New Zealand out for 241 and then chased the target with ease. Saeed Anwar scored an unbeaten 113 and Wajahatullah Wasti made 84 as Pakistan won by nine wickets. That comfortable win made them favourites for the final, but they were outplayed in every department at Lord’s.

Key Performers of the 1999 World Cup

The tournament’s individual honours were spread across several teams. Rahul Dravid finished as the leading run-scorer, while Geoff Allott of New Zealand and Shane Warne shared the leading wicket-taker honour with 20 wickets each. Lance Klusener of South Africa was named Player of the Tournament for 281 runs and 17 wickets.

Category	Player	Performance
Most runs	Rahul Dravid (India)	461 runs
Second most runs	Steve Waugh (Australia)	398 runs
Third most runs	Sourav Ganguly (India)	379 runs
Most wickets	Geoff Allott (New Zealand)	20 wickets
Most wickets	Shane Warne (Australia)	20 wickets
Third most wickets	Glenn McGrath (Australia)	18 wickets
Player of the Tournament	Lance Klusener (South Africa)	281 runs, 17 wickets

Steve Waugh’s 398 runs included the unbeaten 120 against South Africa and a crucial 56 in the tied semi-final. Warne’s 20 wickets included 4 for 29 in the semi-final and 4 for 33 in the final, making him the player of the match in both knockout games. McGrath’s 18 wickets came at an average of 20.83, and his economy in the final, 2 for 13, set the tone for the whole match.

Tournament Format: Groups and the Super Six

The 1999 World Cup featured 12 teams divided into two groups of six. The top three teams from each group advanced to the Super Six stage, carrying forward the points they had earned against the other qualifiers from their group. Each team then played the three qualifiers from the other group, and the top four teams on the Super Six table reached the semi-finals.

This format punished slow starts, which is why Australia’s two early defeats left them with no points carried forward. It also rewarded teams that peaked at the right time. Zimbabwe, who had beaten India and South Africa in the group stage, started the Super Six at the top of the table but failed to win another match and were eliminated.

What the 1999 Title Started for Australia

The 1999 triumph was the foundation of the most dominant era in World Cup history. Australia went on to win the 2003 and 2007 World Cups without losing a single match, building a 34-match unbeaten run in World Cup games that lasted until Pakistan ended it in 2011. Steve Waugh’s team combined ruthless fast bowling, Warne’s leg-spin, explosive batting at the top of the order and famously sharp fielding.

The 1999 title was also Australia’s second, following their first win in the 1987 Cricket World Cup under Allan Border. Pakistan, champions of the 1992 Cricket World Cup, were appearing in their second final. For Australia, the win at Lord’s confirmed a shift that had been building since 1987: from a side that had struggled through much of the 1980s to the benchmark team in world cricket.

Who captained Australia in the 1999 World Cup?

Steve Waugh captained Australia to the 1999 World Cup title, scoring 398 runs including the match-winning unbeaten 120 against South Africa.

Who was Pakistan’s captain in the 1999 final?

Wasim Akram captained Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup final. He won the toss and chose to bat, but Pakistan were bowled out for 132.

How did Australia reach the final after the semi-final tie?

The semi-final against South Africa ended 213 all out each. Australia advanced because they had beaten South Africa in the Super Six, which put them ahead under the tournament rules.

Who was the Player of the Tournament in 1999?

Lance Klusener of South Africa won the Player of the Tournament award for 281 runs and 17 wickets, despite South Africa losing in the semi-final.

How many World Cups had Australia won before 1999?

One. Australia’s first title came in 1987 under Allan Border, when they beat England in the final at Eden Gardens.