Excerpts of the final report carried on June 21, 1999
The Australians' collective effort cracked the nerves of a team that had the look of a bastion. There was an inevitability to the end result after Australia’s clinical showing in the first session of the final had quietened things at Lord's.
Adam Gilchrist's blitz was quite a contrast to the Pakistan batsmen's nightmares when they faced Glenn McGrath and man-of-the-match Shane Warne.
The left-hander's half-century crushed Pakistan’s hopes of turning the low-scoring match into a contest of sorts. It was a lacklustre end to the World Cup, which many had imagined, including the two captains, would provide a classic finish.
In the end, Pakistan and Wasim Akram were left shell-shocked and Steve Waugh's Australia in an euphoric state of mind.
The light-green brigade went off kilter in the first session itself. For the Aussies and Waugh, who proved to be a master-tactician, things went smoothly in the morning session.
After overnight rain delayed the start by 30 minutes, Australia bowled out Pakistan for 132 in 39 overs, the lowest in a World Cup final.
Akram, who had won the toss, was so confident of winning the final, reasoning that Waugh's team must have been drained out after playing two close matches against South Africa.
But, the Aussies were geared up for the big occasion. What the skipper needed was disciplined opening spells from McGrath and Damien Fleming on a wicket with bounce and seam movement.
Saeed Anwar appeared to be getting into the groove when he cut McGrath's third ball to the fence. But the speedster was able to hit the right length and soon beat Wajahatullah Wasti with a climbing delivery.
Just when it appeared that Anwar would take command, Fleming bowled him - the dismissal was like a body-blow, considering that the opener had scored centuries in the previous two matches.
Pakistan was under considerable pressure now, with Ijaz Ahmed and Abdul Razzaq struggling to beat the field.
The arrival of Warne changed the course of the innings completely in Australia's favour. Waugh kept a 6-3 off-side field and gave protection to the bowlers at sweeper-cover, mid-wicket, third-man and long-leg. This move cut off the boundaries.
The leg-spinner picked up two wickets in his first three overs - Ijaz was bowled by a leg-break and Moin Khan snapped up by Gilchrist after a casual shot.
The innings hastened to a disappointing finish, with Warne taking two more for his second consecutive four-wicket haul.
The scores: Pakistan 132 in 39 overs (Shane Warne four for 33) lost to Australia 133 for two in 20.1 overs (Adam Gilchrist 54, Mark Waugh 37 n.o.) by 8 wickets.
Toss: Pakistan.
Man-of-the-match: Warne.
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