Who was the man of the match in the 1999 Cricket World Cup final?

Shane Warne was the man of the match in the 1999 Cricket World Cup final. At Lord’s on 20 June 1999, his four wickets helped Australia defeat Pakistan by eight wickets.

Pakistan were bowled out for 132, with Warne helping trigger the collapse of their middle order. Australia then chased the target in only 20.1 overs, reaching 133 for two. Adam Gilchrist set the tone with a rapid 54 from 36 balls, but Warne’s decisive spell earned him the individual award.

The final is sometimes remembered mainly for Australia’s batting chase or for the dramatic tied semi-final against South Africa, which preceded it. Steve Waugh was Australia’s captain and Glenn McGrath also played a major role in the tournament, but neither received the final’s man-of-the-match award. Warne’s four-wicket performance is the specific reason he is the canonical answer.