Watch the highlights of England vs South Africa 2nd Semi-Final Benson & Hedges World Cup 1992 - Benson & Hedges World Cup tournament of the 2nd Semi-final played between South Africa and England at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney on 22nd March 1992.
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| The scoreboard says it all, as South Africa's inaugural World Cup campaign comes to a bitter end © Getty Images |
England seal a controversial 19-run win over South Africa and third time enter into the finals in a rain-affected remarkable and confusing end to an intriguing second semi-final of a Benson and Hedges World Cup.
England scored decent total of 252-6 in the allotted 45 overs with top scorer by Graeme Hick struck 83 off 90-balls including 9-fours.
Alec Stewart cracked a 33 off 54-balls including 4-fours, Neil Fairbrother scored 28 off 50-balls included a boundary.
Dermot Reeve blasted a unbeaten 25 off 14-balls including 4-fours with strike rate of 178.57, Ian Botham hit 21 off 23-balls including 3-fours.
Allan Lamb scored 19 off 22-balls including a boundary and Chris Lewis hit a unbeaten 18 off 16-balls contained 2-fours with strike rate of 112.50.
South Africa best bowler by Meyrick Pringle, Allan Donald both took 2-wickets and one for Brian McMillan - Richard Snell.
South Africa scored 232-6 in 43 overs - South Africa needed just 22 runs from victory, when rain interrupted play with South Africa at 231-6 in 42.5-overs and 13 balls remaining. A 17-minute interruption resulted in a revised target of 252 from 43-overs. That left just one ball for them to score 21 runs for victory.
South African top scorer by Andrew Hudson hit 46 off 52-balls including 6-fours, Jonty Rhodes blasted a 43 off 38-balls including 3-fours.
Adrian Kuiper cracked a 36 off 44-balls including 5-fours, Hansie Cronje scored 24 off 46-balls included a boundary.
Brian McMillan scored a run-a-ball 21-runs without a boundary and Kepler Wessels hit 17 off 21-balls contained a boundary.
England best bowler by Richard Illingworth, Gladstone Small both took 2-wickets and one for Phil DeFreitas - Ian Botham.
This match reported by The Canberra Times Staff (Third Party Reference from The Canberra Times)
England scored a controversial 19-run win over South Africa in the semi-final of the cricket World Cup at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
In a remarkable and confusing end to an intriguing match, England booked its berth against Pakistan in Wednesday's tournament final.
England compiled a huge total of 252 for the loss of just six wickets from 45 overs in its innings.
South Africa took up the challenge and was 6-231. just 22 runs from victory, when rain interrupted play with 13 balls remaining.
To the overwhelming disapproval of the 28,410-strong crowd, umpires Brian Aldridge from New Zealand and Steve Randell from Australia led the players from the field.
A 17-minute interruption resulted in a revised target for the South Africans an impossible 252 from 43 overs. That left just one ball for them to score 21 runs for victory.
All-rounder Brian McMillan played the Chris Lewis delivery gently to the on side to take a single and present England with Victory, much to the disapproval of the SCG crowd.
The calculation for revised targets in rain-interrupted matches has been heavily criticised throughout the tournament, and its glaring inadequacies were highlighted again in last night's match, which exceeded most expectations.
South Africa's task was always going to be difficult after England batsman Graeme Hick thrashed the attack for 83 in just 90 balls.
He had excellent support from Alec Stewart (33), Neil Fairbrother (28) and Dermot Reeve who hammered 25 off just 14 balls to round off the big total.
The Englishmen were assisted by some wayward South African bowling, particularly by paceman Allan Donald who went for 69 runs off his 10 overs, including 18 from his last, when Reeve was on the rampage.
However, South Africa took up the challenge right from the top of its innings, racing to 61 in the 12th over. Some hard hitting by Andrew Hudson (46), Adrian Kuiper (36) and Jonty Rholes (43) kept South Africa in the hunt until the confusing and controversial climax.
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