All-round performance Klusener named Man of the Tournament Click here for more on this story Posted: Monday June 21, 1999 03:18 PM   Lance Klusener's unbeaten 31 off 16 balls against Australia in the semifinal nearly gave South Africa a berth in the final. Adrian Murrell/Allsport LONDON (CNN/SI) -- With a an average of 140.5 runs and 17 wickets, South Africa's Lance Klusener was awarded the title of the Cricket World Cup's Man of the Tournament on Sunday. The all-rounder earned the title with match winning ability to turn a match around with his explosive late order batting. In the course of the tournament Klusener, who batted eight times scored 281 runs and claimed 17 wickets. In his eight innings he was dismissed only twice, the first time by New Zealand's Geoff Allott for four when he batted at No.3 and the second time for 36. In his unbeaten innings Klusener scored 12, 52, 48, 52, 46, and 31 for an average of 140.50 and a strike rate of 122. Klusener's unbeaten 31 off 16 balls against Australia in the semifinal nearly gave South Africa a berth in the final, but he ran out of partners with scores of both teams level at 213. The tied game was awarded to Australia. "When it comes to a crisis, look no further than Klusener. [He] wielded his excalibur of a bat to daunting effect, taking South Africa to the brink of the World Cup final," a World Cup statement said. The left handed batsman and right arm bowler was unbeaten for a world record 10 innings and 396 runs, when Allott finally dismissed him Klusener had amassed a new world record of 400 runs between one-day dismissals. Klusener's 17 wickets are the third highest in the tournament behind Australian Glenn McGrath's 18 and 20 by Allot and Australian Shane Warne. "If the 27-year-old arrived for this World Cup as a solid international performer, he departed with the reputation as the most devastating player any side might hope to possess in a tight finish," the statement said. The faster the bowling, the harder Klusener hits. Pakistan's pace line up of Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram and Abdur Razzaq learned it the hard way as Klusener's 2 lb 11 oz bat smashed an unbeaten 46 to lead South Africa to a three wicket victory at Trent Bridge in the Super Six stage. Klusener was raised on a sugar cane farm in Eshowe in northern Natal and went to the same Durban High School that produced such master batsmen as Barry Richards. His man of the tournament award is a four-wheel drive from the South Korean car maker Daewoo.   Related information Stories CNN/SI Player Page: Lance Klusener Aussies won World Cup, tied 'real' final South Africa mourns semifinal defeat Australia advances, World Cup semi ends in tie Lance Klusener's Last 10 Innings Ball-by-ball finish of Australia-South Africa semifinal Multimedia Click here for the latest audio and video Search our site Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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