Additionally, this victory had great emotional meaning for Allan Donald, the renowned fast bowler. More than merely a trophy win, South Africa’s decisive five-wicket victory over Australia in the World Test Championship Final signalled the conclusion of the country’s decades-long quest for an ICC title—its first since winning the ICC Knockout Trophy in 1998.
Donald feels that this victory provides much-needed closure to a generation plagued by near-misses, having gone through some of the most agonising low points in South Africa’s ICC tournament history.
“South African cricket is having a huge, huge day. It’s a huge day in South African sport.” It’s what binds this nation together so strongly. Cricblog quotes Donald as saying, ‘To get it over the queue slams the door that’s over thirty-odd years old’.
Or perhaps I’ve skipped a few years, but as you know, it’s something that has relieved a lot of suffering. I won’t go into too much detail (laughs), but you understand what I mean when I mention us and ICC events.
Two of South Africa’s most notorious ICC heartbreaks involved Donald.
Their semi-final match against England in the 1992 World Cup was ruined by a rain-rule incident. Due to a rain delay, the target was strangely changed from 22 runs from 13 balls to 22 from one, eliminating any prospect of victory.
The World Cup semi-final in 1999 followed. Lance Klusener ran for the winning run against Australia when he needed one run off four balls. However, due to Australia’s stronger position in the Super Six stage, Donald, the non-striker, hesitated, misplaced his bat, and was sadly run out, resulting in a draw and elimination.
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