WC Remembrances - 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup

Indian captain Saurav Ganguly was quoted as saying "They played as real champions". Yes! The Aussies led from the front by Ricky Ponting, won 2003 ICC cricket world cup defeating India in the finals. The Aussies remained invincible through out the tournament. The final just like the 1999 world cup final came up as a one sided match with India facing a humiliating 125 runs defeat just like that of Pakistan in 1999. Australia, batting first, plundered a hefty 359 in the given 50 overs loosing just 2 wickets. Their captain, Ricky Ponting did the blunder for India. His blistering 140 and Damein Martyn's 88 took Australia well past the previous highest score in a final - the West Indies' 291 (off 60 overs) in 1975. In reply India made a shaky start as man of the tournament, Sachin Tendulkar, lasted for just 4 balls. Except Sehwag, no one could make a considerable contribution to the teams total.

This world cup saw 14 teams contesting with Namibia, Holland and Canada being new to the world cup cricket. Except a 10 group matches being played in Zimbabwe and Kenya, other were played in South Africa. The world cup had all the 14 teams being divided into two pools of 7 teams each and they had a match with each other's. 4 points were awarded for each win and 2 for NR/Tie. The top 3 teams of each pool went into the super-six stage. There each team played 3 matches against the teams who qualified for the super six stage from the other pool. And then the top four teams went to the knockout stage, semifinals, and then came the finals.

The world cup started with a somewhat a rough note as New Zealand and England refused to play their group matches against Kenya and Zimbabwe respectively due to security reasons. Thus these matches were awarded to Kenya and Zimbabwe by walkover. Also Shane Warne tested positive for a banned steroid. Beside this issue the world cup was a grand success. The world cup was full of interesting events. For the first time a non test playing nation(Kenya) reached the semifinals and looked it was ready to carry the trophy before it was defeated by India in the semifinals. Shoiab Akhtar touched the 100 mph mark and Bret Lee showed the vengeance of pace attack. Sachin showed that he is the real master blaster with his brilliant knocks. The innings of John Davis of Canada against West Indies is even more memorable. But unfortunately injury led to a premature retirement for Jonty Rhodes.

Powered by Sachin's batting India showed guts after a shaky start to world cup run. After performing poorly against Holland and loosing the second match against Australia, India came back strongly and remained invincible till the finals before loosing again to Aussies in the finals. In their world cup outing India also made two 300+ scores. Brilliant batting by Sachin also fetched him the man of the series and three man of the match awards.

Summary of results

Pool B: South Africa v West Indies at Cape Town - February 9, 2003
West Indies won by 3 runs. West Indies 278-5 (50 ov); South Africa 275-9 (49 ov).

Pool A: Zimbabwe v Namibia at Harare - February 10, 2003
Zimbabwe won by 86 runs. Zimbabwe 340-2 (50 ov); Namibia 104-5 (25.1 ov).

Pool B: New Zealand v Sri Lanka at Bloemfontein - February 10, 2003
Sri Lanka won by 47 runs. Sri Lanka 272-7 (50 ov); New Zealand 225 (45.3 ov).

Pool A: Australia v Pakistan at Johannesburg - February 11, 2003
Australia won by 82 runs. Australia 310-8 (50 ov); Pakistan 228 (44.3 ov).

Pool B: Bangladesh v Canada at Durban - February 11, 2003
Canada won by 60 runs. Canada 180 (49.1 ov); Bangladesh 120 (28 ov).

Pool A: India v Netherlands at Paarl - February 12, 2003
India won by 68 runs. India 204 (48.5 ov); Netherlands 136 (48.1 ov).

Pool B: South Africa v Kenya at Potchefstroom - February 12, 2003
South Africa won by 10 wickets. Kenya 140 (38 ov); South Africa 142-0 (21.2 ov).

Pool A: Zimbabwe v England at Harare - February 13, 2003
Zimbabwe won by a walkover.

Pool B: New Zealand v West Indies at Port Elizabeth - February 13, 2003
New Zealand won by 20 runs. New Zealand 241-7 (50 ov); West Indies 221 (49.4 ov).

Pool B: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka at Pietermaritzburg - February 14, 2003
Sri Lanka won by 10 wickets. Bangladesh 124 (31.1 ov); Sri Lanka 126-0 (21.1 ov).

Pool A: Australia v India at Centurion - February 15, 2003
Australia won by 9 wickets. India 125 (41.4 ov); Australia 128-1 (22.2 ov).

Pool B: Canada v Kenya at Cape Town - February 15, 2003
Kenya won by 4 wickets. Canada 197 (49 ov); Kenya 198-6 (48.3 ov).

Pool A: England v Netherlands at East London - February 16, 2003
England won by 6 wickets. Netherlands 142-9 (50 ov); England 144-4 (23.2 ov).

Pool A: Namibia v Pakistan at Kimberley - February 16, 2003
Pakistan won by 171 runs. Pakistan 255-9 (50 ov); Namibia 84 (17.4 ov).

Pool B: South Africa v New Zealand at Johannesburg - February 16, 2003
New Zealand won by 9 wickets. South Africa 306-6 (50 ov); New Zealand 229-1 (36.5 ov).

Pool B: Bangladesh v West Indies at Benoni - February 18, 2003
No result. West Indies 244-9 (50 ov); Bangladesh 32-2 (8.1 ov).

Pool A: England v Namibia at Port Elizabeth - February 19, 2003
England won by 55 runs. England 272 (50 ov); Namibia 217-9 (50 ov).

Pool A: Zimbabwe v India at Harare - February 19, 2003
India won by 83 runs. India 255-7 (50 ov); Zimbabwe 172 (44.4 ov).

Pool B: Canada v Sri Lanka at Paarl - February 19, 2003
Sri Lanka won by 9 wickets. Canada 36 (18.4 ov); Sri Lanka 37-1 (4.4 ov).

Pool A: Australia v Netherlands at Potchefstroom - February 20, 2003
Australia won by 75 runs. Australia 170-2 (36 ov); Netherlands 122 (30.2 ov).

Pool B: Kenya v New Zealand at Nairobi - February 21, 2003
Kenya won by a walkover.

Pool A: England v Pakistan at Cape Town - February 22, 2003
England won by 112 runs. England 246-8 (50 ov); Pakistan 134 (31 ov).

Pool B: South Africa v Bangladesh at Bloemfontein - February 22, 2003
South Africa won by 10 wickets. Bangladesh 108 (35.1 ov); South Africa 109-0 (12 ov).

Pool A: India v Namibia at Pietermaritzburg - February 23, 2003
India won by 181 runs. India 311-2 (50 ov); Namibia 130 (42.3 ov).

Pool B: Canada v West Indies at Centurion - February 23, 2003
West Indies won by 7 wickets. Canada 202 (42.5 ov); West Indies 206-3 (20.3 ov).

Pool A: Zimbabwe v Australia at Bulawayo - February 24, 2003
Australia won by 7 wickets. Zimbabwe 246-9 (50 ov); Australia 248-3 (47.3 ov).

Pool B: Kenya v Sri Lanka at Nairobi - February 24, 2003
Kenya won by 53 runs. Kenya 210-9 (50 ov); Sri Lanka 157 (45 ov).

Pool A: Netherlands v Pakistan at Paarl - February 25, 2003
Pakistan won by 97 runs. Pakistan 253-9 (50 ov); Netherlands 156 (39.3 ov).

Pool A: England v India at Durban - February 26, 2003
India won by 82 runs. India 250-9 (50 ov); England 168 (45.3 ov).

Pool B: Bangladesh v New Zealand at Kimberley - February 26, 2003
New Zealand won by 7 wickets. Bangladesh 198-7 (50 ov); New Zealand 199-3 (33.3 ov).

Pool A: Australia v Namibia at Potchefstroom - February 27, 2003
Australia won by 256 runs. Australia 301-6 (50 ov); Namibia 45 (14 ov).

Pool B: South Africa v Canada at East London - February 27, 2003
South Africa won by 118 runs. South Africa 254-8 (50 ov); Canada 136-5 (50 ov).

Pool A: Zimbabwe v Netherlands at Bulawayo - February 28, 2003
Zimbabwe won by 99 runs. Zimbabwe 301-8 (50 ov); Netherlands 202-9 (50 ov).

Pool B: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Cape Town - February 28, 2003
Sri Lanka won by 6 runs. Sri Lanka 228-6 (50 ov); West Indies 222-9 (50 ov).

Pool A: India v Pakistan at Centurion - March 1, 2003
India won by 6 wickets. Pakistan 273-7 (50 ov); India 276-4 (45.4 ov).

Pool B: Bangladesh v Kenya at Johannesburg - March 1, 2003
Kenya won by 32 runs. Kenya 217-7 (50 ov); Bangladesh 185 (47.2 ov).

Pool A: Australia v England at Port Elizabeth - March 2, 2003
Australia won by 2 wickets. England 204-8 (50 ov); Australia 208-8 (49.4 ov).

Pool A: Namibia v Netherlands at Bloemfontein - March 3, 2003
Netherlands won by 64 runs. Netherlands 314-4 (50 ov); Namibia 250 (46.5 ov).

Pool B: Canada v New Zealand at Benoni - March 3, 2003
New Zealand won by 5 wickets. Canada 196 (47 ov); New Zealand 197-5 (23 ov).

Pool B: South Africa v Sri Lanka at Durban - March 3, 2003
Match tied. Sri Lanka 268-9 (50 ov); South Africa 229-6 (45 ov).

Pool A: Zimbabwe v Pakistan at Bulawayo - March 4, 2003
No result. Pakistan 73-3 (14 ov).

Pool B: Kenya v West Indies at Kimberley - March 4, 2003
West Indies won by 142 runs. West Indies 246-7 (50 ov); Kenya 104 (35.5 ov).

Super Six: Australia v Sri Lanka at Centurion - March 7, 2003
Australia won by 96 runs. Australia 319-5 (50 ov); Sri Lanka 223 (47.4 ov).

Super Six: India v Kenya at Cape Town - March 7, 2003
India won by 6 wickets. Kenya 225-6 (50 ov); India 226-4 (47.5 ov).

Super Six: New Zealand v Zimbabwe at Bloemfontein - March 8, 2003
New Zealand won by 6 wickets. Zimbabwe 252-7 (50 ov); New Zealand 253-4 (47.2 ov).

Super Six: India v Sri Lanka at Johannesburg - March 10, 2003
India won by 183 runs. India 292-6 (50 ov); Sri Lanka 109 (23 ov).

Super Six: Australia v New Zealand at Port Elizabeth - March 11, 2003
Australia won by 96 runs. Australia 208-9 (50 ov); New Zealand 112 (30.1 ov).

Super Six: Kenya v Zimbabwe at Bloemfontein - March 12, 2003
Kenya won by 7 wickets. Zimbabwe 133 (44.1 ov); Kenya 135-3 (26 ov).

Super Six: India v New Zealand at Centurion - March 14, 2003
India won by 7 wickets. New Zealand 146 (45.1 ov); India 150-3 (40.4 ov).

Super Six: Australia v Kenya at Durban - March 15, 2003
Australia won by 5 wickets. Kenya 174-8 (50 ov); Australia 178-5 (31.2 ov).

Super Six: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at East London - March 15, 2003
Sri Lanka won by 74 runs. Sri Lanka 256-5 (50 ov); Zimbabwe 182 (41.5 ov).

Semi-Final: Australia v Sri Lanka at Port Elizabeth - March 18, 2003
Australia won by 48 runs. Australia 212-7 (50 ov); Sri Lanka 123-7 (38.1 ov).

Semi-Final: India v Kenya at Durban - March 20, 2003
India won by 91 runs. India 270-4 (50 ov); Kenya 179 (46.2 ov).

Final: Australia v India at Johannesburg - March 23, 2003
Australia won by 125 runs. Australia 359-2 (50 ov); India 234 (39.2 ov).