Follow UsSouth Africa’s emphatic five-wicket win over Australia in the World Test Championship Final marked more than just a trophy win - it marked the end of a decades-long wait for an ICC title, the nation’s first since the 1998 ICC Knockout Trophy victory. And for legendary fast bowler Allan Donald, this triumph holds deep emotional significance.
Donald, who experienced some of the most painful lows of South Africa's ICC tournament history, believes this win brings long-awaited closure to a generation haunted by near misses.
“It’s a massive, massive day in South African cricket, it’s a massive day in South African sport. It’s something that unites this country so closely. To get that over the line shuts the door that’s over 30-odd years old,” Donald is quoted as saying by Cricblog.
“Or maybe I’ve jumped the years a little bit, but it’s something that’s taken a lot of pain away, as you know. Not really going to go into that detail [laughs], but you know what I’m talking about with us and ICC events.”
Donald was at the heart of two of South Africa’s most infamous ICC heartbreaks. In the 1992 World Cup, a rain-rule mishap derailed their semi-final against England. Needing 22 runs from 13 balls, a rain delay saw the target inexplicably revised to 22 from one, leaving no chance of a win.
Then came the 1999 World Cup semi-final. With one run needed off four balls against Australia, Lance Klusener sprinted for the winning run. But Donald, at the non-striker’s end, hesitated, lost his bat, and was tragically run out, resulting in a tie and elimination due to Australia’s superior position in the Super Six stage.