On June 16, 1999, Saeed Anwar carried his bat through Pakistan's innings, scoring 113 not out off 148 balls to set up a nine-wicket win over New Zealand at Old Trafford and put Pakistan into the World Cup final. It was his second hundred in successive World Cup matches, after 103 against Zimbabwe four days earlier — a feat previously achieved only by Mark Waugh in 1996.
Anwar had scored 194 in Chennai in May 1997, the world ODI record at the time. By 1999 he was 30, the senior left-handed opener in world cricket. The 1999 World Cup was his fourth and the only one in which he reached the final.
Pakistan had topped the Super Six stage, beating Australia, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. Anwar's 103 vs Zimbabwe four days earlier had begun his hot run. New Zealand had qualified for the semi-final after a turbulent campaign featuring Geoff Allott's joint-record 20 wickets.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl. New Zealand made 241 for 7 in 50 overs, with Roger Twose 46, Chris Cairns 44 not out and Stephen Fleming 41. Pakistan's reply began with the partnership that defined the campaign: Saeed Anwar and Wajahatullah Wasti added 194 for the first wicket — the highest opening stand in World Cup semi-final history at that time. Wasti made 84 off 138 balls, supporting Anwar through the dangerous Geoff Allott opening burst. After Wasti fell, Inzamam-ul-Haq joined Anwar and added 48 in just 7 overs. Anwar himself was technically perfect: leaving everything outside off, driving Allott and Cairns down the ground, working the singles in the V. He reached his hundred in 130 balls and finished 113 not out from 148, with 11 fours. Pakistan reached 242 for 1 in 47.3 overs — a nine-wicket win, fastest semi-final chase in World Cup history. Anwar carried his bat: he was the only Pakistani out of the top order to face the entire innings.
New Zealand 241/7 in 50 overs
Anwar-Wasti opening stand of 194 — World Cup semi-final record
Wasti out for 84 off 138
Anwar 100 off 130 balls
Anwar 113* off 148 balls; Inzamam supports late
Pakistan 242/1 in 47.3 overs — nine-wicket win
Pakistan into final at Lord's
June 12, 1999
Anwar scores 103 vs Zimbabwe in Pakistan's Super Six match.
June 16, 1999
Semi-final at Old Trafford. NZ 241/7; Pakistan 242/1; Anwar 113*.
June 20, 1999
Final at Lord's — Pakistan 132 all out, lose by 8 wickets.
“He played within himself. He didn't need to take risks. He just kept going.”
“When Saeed bats like that, no one in the world can stop him.”
Pakistan went to Lord's for the June 20 final against Australia. The campaign collapsed in the final — Pakistan all out 132 in 39 overs, beaten by eight wickets — but Anwar had delivered Pakistan to within one match of the trophy. He scored 368 runs in the tournament at an average of 52.57. He was named in the 1999 Wisden Cricketers of the Year shortly after.
A masterclass in semi-final batting — calm, technically immaculate, finishing not out in a chase. Anwar's purest World Cup innings and the high point of his ODI career outside the 194 in Chennai.
Anwar's 113 not out is regularly listed among the great World Cup knockout innings — alongside Aravinda 107 (1996 final), Lance Klusener 31* (1999 SF), Ricky Ponting 140 (2003 final), MS Dhoni 91 (2011 final). Carrying the bat in a semi-final chase is unique to Anwar in World Cup history.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
Days after the 1934 Oval Test, Bradman fell seriously ill with appendicitis that progressed to peritonitis. With antibiotics not yet available, he was given little chance of survival; his wife Jessie left Adelaide on a sea voyage to England prepared for the worst. He recovered after weeks of intensive nursing in a London nursing home and returned to first-class cricket the following Australian summer.