Editing Hansie Cronje (section)

===1999 World Cup and life ban===

In the West Indies series of 1998–99, Cronje captained South Africa to their only whitewash in a five Test series.<ref>{{cite web|title=Test matches – Team records – Winning every match in a series (whitewashes)|url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283942.html|publisher=Cricinfo|access-date=21 October 2010}}</ref> His best batting against West Indies came when playing for Free State; he scored 158* as they chased down 438 and made up a first innings deficit of 249.<ref>{{cite web|title=Free State v West Indians, West Indies in South Africa 1998/99|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/66/66723.html|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=21 October 2010}}</ref> In the ODI series he was South Africa's top scorer and took 11 wickets at 14.72 as South Africa won 6–1.

In March 1999, they toured New Zealand, beating them 1–0 in the Test series and 3–2 in the one-dayers.

At the [[1999 Cricket World Cup|1999 World Cup]], Cronje finished with 98 runs at 12.25 as South Africa were eliminated after the famous tied semi-final against Australia at [[Edgbaston Cricket Ground|Edgbaston]]. In the first match of the tournament versus India, Cronje came onto the field with an earpiece wired to coach [[Bob Woolmer]], but at the first drinks break match referee [[Talat Ali]] ordered him to remove it.<ref>{{cite news|title=Earpiece row mars South Africa win|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/1999_cricket_world_cup/general_news/344904.stm|publisher=BBC|access-date=20 October 2010|date=15 May 1999}}</ref>

In October 1999, Cronje became South Africa's highest Test run scorer during the first Test against Zimbabwe.<ref>{{cite web|title=South Africa v Zimbabwe, 1999/00, First Match, Scorecard|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63852.html|publisher=Cricinfo|access-date=21 October 2010}}</ref> The two Test series was won 2–0 thanks to innings victories. South Africa won the series with England in the fourth Test at Cape Town, Cronje's fiftieth as captain.

The [[English cricket team in South Africa in 1999–2000#5th Test|fifth test of the 1999–2000 South Africa versus England series]] at [[Centurion, Gauteng|Centurion]] was ruined by rain, entering the final day only 45 overs had been possible with South Africa 155/6. On the final morning as they batted on, news filtered through that the captains had met and were going to "make a game of it". A target of 250 from 70 overs was agreed. When South Africa reached 248/8, Cronje declared; both teams then forfeited an innings leaving England a target of 249 to win the Test, which they did with two wickets left and only five balls remaining. It ended South Africa's 14-game unbeaten streak in Test cricket. It was later learnt Cronje accepted money and a gift from a bookmaker in return for making an early declaration in this Test (see below).

Cronje top scored with 56 after South Africa were left reeling at 21–5 in the Final of the triangular tournament which featured England and Zimbabwe.<ref>{{cite web|title=South Africa v England, 1999/00, Final, Scorecard|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/66097.html|publisher=Cricinfo|access-date=21 October 2010}}</ref>

On 31 March 2000, his cricket career finished with a 73-ball 79 against Pakistan in the final of [[1999–2000 Coca-Cola Cup|Sharjah Cup 1999/2000]]. The following month, Delhi police would charge him with match fixing. After confessing to the South African board about accepting money for information, but not match fixing, he was sacked on 11 April 2000, before being banned for life in October after further information regarding his guilt came to light.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pakistan v South Africa, 1999/00, Final, Scorecard|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65788.html|publisher=Cricinfo|access-date=21 October 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Cronje chronicles|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/a-timeline-of-the-hansie-cronje-match-fixing-scandal-654219|publisher=Cricinfo|access-date=22 July 2013}}</ref>