Story of 2003 Cricket World Cup Final
The 2003 Cricket World Cup final was a highly anticipated match between Australia and India, held on March 23, 2003, at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. Here's a breakdown of the match pointwise:
Toss: Australia won the toss and elected to bat first.
Australia's Batting:
- Australia got off to a solid start with their openers Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden.
- Both Gilchrist and Hayden played aggressive innings, laying a strong foundation for the team.
- Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain, played one of the finest innings in World Cup finals, scoring a magnificent 140 runs off just 121 balls.
- Damien Martyn also contributed with a crucial half-century.
- Australia posted a formidable total of 359/2 in their 50 overs, setting a challenging target for India.
India's Bowling:
- The Indian bowlers struggled to contain the Australian batsmen throughout the innings.
- Zaheer Khan was the only bowler to pick up a wicket, dismissing Gilchrist early in the innings.
- However, the rest of the Indian bowling attack failed to make much of an impact as Australia piled on the runs.
India's Batting:
- Chasing a mammoth target of 360 runs to win, India needed a strong start from their top order.
- However, India suffered an early setback as their batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed cheaply by Glenn McGrath.
- Virender Sehwag played a blistering innings, scoring 82 runs off just 81 balls and providing India with a glimmer of hope.
- Rahul Dravid and Mohammad Kaif put up a brief partnership, but the required run rate kept escalating.
Australia's Bowling:
- Australia's bowling attack, led by Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee, kept the pressure on the Indian batsmen throughout the innings.
- McGrath was the pick of the bowlers, picking up three crucial wickets.
- Lee and Andy Bichel also chipped in with wickets, making it difficult for India to stage a comeback.
India's Collapse:
- Despite some valiant efforts from the Indian batsmen, the required run rate kept climbing, and eventually, wickets fell at regular intervals.
- India's middle and lower order collapsed under the pressure of the mounting required run rate.
- India was eventually bowled out for 234 runs in 39.2 overs, handing Australia a comprehensive victory by 125 runs.
Result: Australia won the match by 125 runs and lifted the Cricket World Cup trophy for the third time, cementing their status as one of the greatest cricket teams of all time.
Awards:
- Ricky Ponting was awarded the Player of the Match for his outstanding century in the final.
- Australia's dominance throughout the tournament earned them the well-deserved title of World Champions once again.
The 2003 Cricket World Cup final was a memorable match dominated by Australia's formidable batting performance and clinical bowling display, while India fell short in their pursuit of the target despite some individual brilliance from their batsmen