Five instances where teams scripted a comeback from certain defeat or elimination
There's a saying that Sports tests an individual's character to its hilt- Well, in my view sports doesn't test your character, it rips you apart live in front of a packed crowd plus millions watching at home.
Sports indeed is a reflection of life, the way a sportsman reacts to adversity on the field defines his character of it, and in the process creates a legacy for a lifetime. And Cricket, of course, bores no exception to the aforementioned fact.
There have been several instances in coveted history of this beautiful game of ours, where individuals, as well as the teams, have stood up in face of adversity to embark on a heist barely imaginable by allies and contemporaries.
In this blog, we will have a look at five such instances where teams scripted sensational comebacks from the dead:
#5 The Australians rise in the ICC Cricket World Cup 1999
Australia's 1999 World Cup triumph is mainly remembered for their twin epic battles against the Proteas, but few would recall their horrendous start to their campaign.
After having lost to Pakistan and New Zealand and barely scratching to a win against Scotland, Australia entered the Super-Six stage with no points.
But they proceeded to steamroll each of their three opponents to set up a semi-final clash against South Africa.
Chasing 214 in the semis, the Proteas looked on course at 0-48, before the mercurial Shane Warne's 4-29 broke the game wide open and it took a moment of madness by Lance Klusener and Alan Donald in the last over after the latter stroked two fours to level the scores.
Klusener stroked the ball past Damien Fleming when a massive miscommunication ensued with both batsmen stranded at one end. Austalia escaped with a tie, to set-up a finale with Pakistan.
Buoyed by a pulsating clash in the semi-finals, the Aussies proceeded to steamroll Pakistan in the finals by eight wickets to kickstart their streak of World Cup wins, a stranglehold that lasted with the 2007 World Cup win.