WTC Final: South Africa eye glory, Aussies target back-to-back titles

Defending champion Australia faces South Africa, a perennial underachiever

- TridIb Baparnash

The scars of June 17, 1999 could still haunt South Africans across generations. Exactly 26 years ago, what promised to be a triumphant march to their first-ever World Cup final turned into a collective nightmare after a narrow one-run loss to Australia in Birmingham.

With one run needed from four balls, Lance Klusener, having bludgeoned Australia to the brink, it appeared victory was within touching distance as South Africa stood on the cusp of history. Then panic descended when it mattered most. Klusener, seeing a chance, bolted but Allan Donald, his partner, did not, and that moment of miscommunication turned into a full-blown calamity, knocking the Proteas out, tied on score but losing on a technicality.

The scars of that day haven't healed, and open every time the South Africans reach an ICC knockout, every close finish, every time the Proteas dare to dream again.

Come Wednesday, South Africa face a familiar foe at Lord's, and over the next five days, have a golden opportunity to heal that lasting wound when they face each other in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final.