Cricket World Cup History: 3 batsmen who got out on 99
The biggest carnival in world cricket - the World Cup 2019 - has got off to a thunderous start, with several unexpected events happening within a week's time.
All the predictions which were made before the start of the World Cup turned irrelevant as underdogs Bangladesh and Pakistan emerged victorious against strong outfits South Africa and England respectively.
With all the talks about South Africa's fierce bowling line-up and England's fearsome batting unit, none would have foreseen the kind of results which unfolded last week.
Now, let's have a look at such unexpected and unluckiest moments regarding players getting out for 99 at World Cups.
#3 AB de Villiers (vs UAE, ICC CWC 2015)
AB de Villiers, the man whom the South African team are missing the most now! Leading from the front in the 2015 World Cup, De Villiers and company had a wonderful run in the tournament until they got heart-broken in the semi-finals by the co-hosts New Zealand.
Playing against a weaker opposition in United Arab Emirates, South Africa were in a spot of bother at 96-3 in 18 overs until De Villiers joined hands with David Miller. Both of them resurrected the innings and put their team in line for a mammoth total.
With six boundaries and four sixes, De Villiers unfortunately got out for 99 off 82 balls by slicing a wide length ball to the short third-man.
#2 JP Duminy (vs Ireland, ICC CWC 2011)
JP Duminy acted as the saviour for South Africa throughout the 2011 World Cup. One of such match-saving moment happened in a group match against Ireland.
Back from a memorable victory against England, Ireland nearly pinned South Africa to the mats when they restricted them to 117-5 after 27 overs. But a determined knock from Duminy, along with cameos from Colin Ingram and Johan Botha helped South Africa to a respectable total of 272.
Being a team man, Duminy's selflessness paved way for his fall on 99 as he tried to accelerate the score in the last over. Trying to clear the ground, Duminy holed out at long-off where Kevin O'Brien pulled off a one-handed diving catch.
#1 Adam Gilchrist (vs Sri Lanka, ICC CWC 2003)
Being in brutal form after winning all the six Pool-A matches, Australia faced Sri Lanka in the first Super-6 match of the 2003 World Cup.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, the Australian top order steam-rolled the Lankan bowlers, courtesy of blistering knocks from Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting. Though Matthew Hayden got out for a cheap score, Gilchrist and Ponting stitched a crucial 106-run partnership for the second wicket.
Batting on 99, Gilchrist was gearing up for his first World Cup century. But a slight misjudgment by Ponting and him, and sheer brilliance in the field from Chaminda Vaas led to Gilchrist's run-out at the non-striker's end.
With that, Gilchrist became the first batsmen in World Cup history to get out on 99.
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