June 20 is associated with the World Cup in cricket history, when Australia won the title of champion for the second time in 1999 by defeating Pakistan in the final. The Pakistani team did a great job of reaching the final but its batsmen were completely flop in the title match. Pakistan's innings was reduced to 132 runs and Australia won easily by losing 2 wickets. Legendary spinner Shane Warne was the hero of the match, taking four wickets for just 33 runs in 9 overs.
The final of the 1999 World Cup was played at the historic Lord's ground. Captain Wasim Akram won the toss and Pakistan decided to bat first. However, this decision could not be proved right and the team was reduced to only 132 runs. Ejaz Ahmed remained the top scorer with 22 runs, while he got 25 runs from extras. The six batsmen of the team could not even touch the double figure. Warne performed brilliantly and took 4 wickets while pacers Glenn McGrath and Tom Moody got 2-2 wickets. Damien Fleming and Paul Raphael took 1-1 wickets.
Australia easily achieved the target of 133 runs in just 20.1 overs for the loss of two wickets. For the Australian team, wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist scored 54 runs in 36 balls with the help of 8 fours and a six. Apart from him, Mark Waugh contributed 37 and Ricky Ponting contributed 24 runs. Waugh and Gilchrist put on 75 runs for the first wicket. Pakistan captain Wasim Akram and Saqlain Mushtaq got 1-1 wickets. Warne was adjudged man of the match.
See also, a score close to 500 made in ODIs, 21 sixes, 41 fours in an innings of England,
Australia thus achieved the distinction of becoming world champion for the second time. Earlier, he won the World Cup in 1987 by defeating England. Australia then won the World Cup in 2003, 2007 and 2015 as well.
