Top 10 greatest ODI cricket matches of all time

#3. Australia vs South Africa - Semi-Final, ICC Cricket World Cup at Edgbaston (17 June 1999)

The match was tied but Australia progressed to the final because of a superior head to head

It was the second semifinal of the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup and South Africa won the toss and opted to field first. Australia could only score 213 before they were bowled out but South Africa still had a tough job on a bowler-friendly track.

The Proteas were reduced to 4/61 at one point but recovered to 6/175 after Jacques Kallis and Jonty Rhodes scored 53 and 43 runs respectively. However, they still needed 39 runs from 31 balls.

In the final over, South Africa needed nine runs and Lance Klusener, who was the eventual player of the series, was on strike having already scored 23 runs off only 12 balls. Klusener scored boundaries off the first two balls from Damien Fleming to level the score and in the third ball, Australia nearly ran out Allan Donald at the non-striker's end as he was backing up too far.

In the fourth ball, Klusener’s mishit shot went to midwicket and although there were two balls remaining, he called for a risky run. Donald at the other end was watching the ball and did not see his partner or hear the call for the run. By the time Donald started running, Klusener was at the bowler’s end and Australia pulled off an easy run out at the striker's end.

Although the scores were tied, Australia progressed to the final because they had beaten South Africa in the Super Six stage. In that match, Australia chased a target of 272 with two balls to spare courtesy of a century from Steve Waugh.

However, Herschelle Gibbs was guilty of dropping Waugh when he was on 53. Gibbs had the ball in his hands but in his haste to celebrate, he dropped the ball. Talk about fine margins.

You can watch the highlights of the match here.