WC Remembrances - 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup
The Aussies have once again proved their worth. The way they ran over whoever came their way is simply amazing. They spared none. Suffering a horror 5 losses in a row just prior to the mega event, Australia came back strongly and took their winning streak in the world cups to 23. The mighty Lankans, Proteas, Kiwis - all meekingly bowed down to the champions. Under the able leadership of Ricky Ponting, Australia defeated Sri Lanka by 53 runs(D/L method) in the final reduced by rain to secure their fourth world cup victory and third in the row.The champions, placed in Group A, commenced their world cup tour against Scotland on Mar 14 where they brutully defeated them by 203 runs. Next came the defeats for Netherlands and much hyped South Africa. Australia thus strommed their way to the super eights with 3 wins, 3 300+ scores, 2 points and NRR of +1.66. The super eights brought much more beating for the opponents as Australia defeated West Indies, Bangladesh, England, Ireland, Lanka and New Zealand. Placed at 1 place it moved to semis and played Graeme Smith's men just like the 1999 world cup semi-final. But this time not taking any chances it defeated South Africa with 8 wickets and moved to the finals, full of confidence. To ensure there victory in the finals against Sri Lanka, Gilcrist made the move and Mcgrath did the rest so as to ensure that Australia is the best.
For the first time 16 teams competed in the world cup which included new comers Ireland and Bermuda. The playing of 16 teams made the itinearary quite long. With 52 matches the cup was spread over 49 days. The teams were divided into 4 groups of 4 teams each. Top 2 teams from each group were to move to super eights where each team played 6 matches. Next the top four were to fight in the semi finals and the top two moved to the finals.
The 9th edition of the world cup held in the colourful Carribean islands commenced with the opening ceremony in Trelawny Stadium when the teams marched and the captains posed with the cup. Like the previous of its type, the world cup was very eventful. The group stages which were seen only as a formality showed way home to previous world cup winners and neighbours India and Pakistan. Just a few hours after Pakistan declared out of the world cup, Pakistan coach and one of the greatest contributer of cricket, Bob Woolmer breath his last after being strangled by a towel in his room. As for minnows Bangladesh and Ireland - both produced unimagined setbacks with Bangladesh beating India (group stage) and South Africa (super eights) and Ireland beating Pakistan
Record are meant to be broken. A number of records were broken and set in this world cup. Herchelle Gibbs smashed Netherlands bowler Bunge for six 6's in an over, something that has happenned for the first time in international cricket. India scored the highest world cup score of 413/5 against Bermuda to break the previous best set by Sri Lanka of 398 eleven years ago. Lankan spedster Lasith Malinga took 4 wickets off 4 bowls against Proteas, which also happenned for the first time. Glenn McGrath took record 26 wickets and took his overall tally to 71 n world cups much beyond Pakistan's Wasim Akrams's 55.
This time we bid goodbye to 4 cricket legends. McGrath who is the Man of the tournament for the world cup will be soon announcing his retirement on a high of his carrer. Brain Lara, against whose name number of records are named has announced his retirement after the match against England on 21st Apr. Even Inzamam-ul-Haq announced his retirement from ODI's but hopes to play in tests. Opposite to him, the dashing Lankan batsman, Sanath Jayasuriya, announced his retirement from tests.
Now its time that we discuss about India's failures at this world cup. A much hyped 'balanced' Indian team under the captainship of Rahul Dravid had a disastrous world cup being thrown out of the world in group stage. Though India did make many records against the minnows Bermuda, its losses against Bangla and Lankans showed it the way back home. Except from Saurav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag, all the top guns failed to fire.
A summary of results
Group Stages
GroupD
Tue 13: West Indies v Pakistan, Jamaica
West Indies won by 54 runs, West Indies 241/9 (50 overs) Pakistan 187/10 (47.2 overs)
GroupA
Wed 14: Australia v Scotland, St. Kitts
Australia won by 203 runs, Australia 334/6 (50 overs) Scotland 131/9 (40.1 overs)
GroupC
Wed 14: Canada v Kenya, St. Lucia
Kenya won by 7 wickets, Canada 199/10 (50 overs) Kenya 203/3 (43.2 overs)
GroupB
Thu 15: Sri Lanka v Bermuda, Trinidad
Sri Lanka won by 243 runs, Sri Lanka 321/6 (50 overs) Bermuda 78/10 (24.4 overs)
GroupD
Thu 15: Ireland v Zimbabwe, Jamaica
Tie, Ireland 221/9 (50 overs) Zimbabwe 221/10 (50 overs)
GroupA
Fri 16: Netherlands v South Africa, St Kitts
South Africa won by 221 runs, South Africa 353/3 (40 overs) Netherlands 132/9 (40 overs)
***Due to rain match was reduced to 40 overs each side***
GroupC
Fri 16: England v New Zealand, St Lucia
New Zealand won by 6 wickets, England 209/7 (50 overs) New Zealand 210/4 (41 overs)
GroupB
Sat 17: Bangladesh v India, Trinidad
Bangladesh won by 5 wickets, India 191/10 (49.3 overs) Bangladesh 192/5 (48.5 overs)
GroupD
Sat 17: Pakistan v Ireland, Jamaica
Ireland won by 3 wickets, Pakistan 132/10 (45.4 overs) Ireland 133/7 (41.4 overs)
***Target for Ireland was revised to 128 in 47 overs under D/L method***
GroupA
Sun 18: Australia v Netherlands, St Kitts
Australia won 229 runs, 358/5 (50 overs) Netherlands 129/10 (26.5 overs)
GroupC
Sun 18: Canada v England, St Lucia
England won by 51 runs, England 279/6 (50 overs) Canada 228/7 (50 overs)
GroupB
Mon 19: India v Bermuda, Trinidad
India won by 257 runs, India 413/5 (50 overs) Bermuda 156/10 (43.1 overs)
GroupD
Mar 19: Zimbabwe v West Indies, Jamaica
West Indies won by 4 wickets, Zimbabwe 202/5 (50 overs) West Indies 204/5 (47.5 overs)
GroupA
Mar 20: South Africa v Scotland, St Kitts
South Africa won by 7 wickets, Scotland 186/8 (50 overs) South Africa 188/3 (23.2 overs)
GroupC
Mar 20: New Zealand v Kenya, Jamaica
New Zealand won by 148 runs, New Zealand 331/7 (50 overs) Kenya 183/10 (49.2 overs)
GroupB
Mar 21: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, Trinidad
Sri Lanka won by 198 runs, Sri Lanka 318/4 (50 overs) Bangladesh 112/10 (37 overs)
***Target for Bangladesh was revised to 311 in 46 overs under D/L method***
GroupD
Mar 21: Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Jamaica
Pakistan won by 93 runs, Pakistan 349/10 (49.5 overs) Zimbabwe 99/10 (19.1 overs)
***Target for Zimbabwe was revised to 193 in 20 overs under D/L method***
GroupC
Mar 22: Canada v New Zealand, St Lucia
New Zealand won by 114 runs, New Zealand 363/5 (50 overs) Canada 249/9 (49.2 overs)
GroupA
Mar 22: Netherlands v Scotland, St Kitts
Netherlands won by 8 wickets, Scotland 136/10 (34.1 overs) Netherlands 140/2 (23.5 overs)
GroupB
Mar 23: India v Sri Lanka, Trinidad
Sri Lanka won by 69 runs, Sri Lanka 254/6 (50 overs) India 185/10 (43.3 overs)
GroupD
Mar 23: West Indies v Ireland, Jamaica
West Indies won by 8 wickets, Ireland 183/8 (48 overs) West Indies 190/2 (38.1 overs)
***The Match was reduced to 48 overs each and West Indies were set a revised target of 190 in 48 overs under D/L method***
GroupA
Mar 24: Australia v South Africa, St Kitts
Australia won by 83 runs, Australia 377/6 (50 overs) South Africa 294/10 (48 overs)
GroupC
Mar 24: England v Kenya, St Lucia
England won by 7 wickets, Kenya 177/10 (43 overs) England 178/3 (33 overs)
GroupB
Mar 25: Bangladesh v Bermuda, Trinidad
Bangladesh won by 7 wickets, Bermuda 94/9 (21 overs) Bangladesh 96/3 (17.3 overs)
***Due to rain match was reduced to 21 overs each side***
Super Eight
Mar 27: West Indies v Australia, Antigua
Australia won by 103 runs, Australia 322/6 (50 overs) West Indies 219/10 (45.3 overs)
Mar 28: South Africa v Sri Lanka, Guyana
South Africa won by 1 wicket, Sri Lanka 209/10 (49.3 overs) South Africa 212/9 (48.2 overs)
Mar 29: West Indies v New Zealand, Antigua
New Zealand won by 7 wickets, West Indies 177/10 (44.4 overs) New Zealand 179/3 (39.2 overs)
Mar 30: England v Ireland, Guyana
England won by 48 runs, England 266/7 (50 overs) Ireland 218/10 (48.1 overs)
Mar 31: Australia v Bangladesh, Antigua
Australia won by 10 wickets, Bangladesh 104/6 (22 overs) Australia 106/0 (13.5 overs)
***Due to rain, the match was reduced to 22 overs each side***
Apr 1: Sri Lanka v West Indies, Guyana
Sri Lanka won by 113 runs, Sri Lanka 303/5 (50 overs) West Indies 190/10 (44.3 overs)
Apr 2: Bangladesh v New Zealand, Antigua
New Zealand won by 9 wickets, Bangladesh 174/10 (48.3 overs) New Zealand 178/1 (29.2 overs)
Apr 3: South Africa v Ireland, Guyana
South Africa won by 7 wickets, Ireland 152/8 (35 overs) South Africa 165/3 (31.3 overs)
***The match was reduced to 35 overs each side due to rain and South Africa was given a revised target of 160 in 35 overs under D/L method***
Apr 4: Sri Lanka v England, Antigua
Sri Lanka won by 2 runs, Sri Lanka 235/10 (50 overs) England 233/8 (50 overs)
Apr 7: Bangladesh v South Africa, Guyana
Bangladesh won by 67 runs, Bangladesh 251/8 (50 overs) South Africa 184/10 (48.4 overs)
Apr 8: Australia v England, Antigua
Australia won by 7 wickets, England 247/10 (49.5 overs) Australia 248/3 (47.2 overs)
Apr 9: Ireland v New Zealand, Guyana
New Zealand won by 129 runs, New Zealand 263/8 (50 overs) Ireland 134/10 (37.4 overs)
Apr 10: South Africa v West Indies, Grenada
South Africa won by 67 runs, South Africa 356/4 (50 overs) West Indies 289/9 (50 overs)
Apr 11: Bangladesh v England, Barbados
England won by 4 wickets, Bangladesh 143/10 (37.2 overs) England 147/6 (44.5 overs)
Apr 12: New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Grenada
Sri Lanka won 6 wickets, New Zealand 219/7 (50 overs) Sri Lanka 222/4 (45.1 overs)
Apr 13: Australia v Ireland, Barbados
Australia won by 9 wickets, Ireland 91/10(30 overs) Australia 92/1 (12.2 overs
Apr 14: New Zealand v South Africa, Grenada
New Zealand won by 5 wickets, South Africa 193/7 (50 overs) New Zealand 196/5 (48.2 overs)
Apr 15: Bangladesh v Ireland, Barbados
Ireland won by 74 runs, Ireland 243/7 (50 overs) Bangladesh 169/10 (41.2 overs)
Apr 16: Australia v Sri Lanka, Grenada
Australia won by 7 wickets, Sri Lanka 226/10 (49.4 overs) Australia 232/3 (42.4 overs)
Apr 17: England v South Africa, Barbados
South Africa won by 9 wickets, England 154/10 (48 overs) South Africa 157/1 (19.2 overs)
Apr 18: Ireland v Sri Lanka, Grenada
Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets, Ireland 77/10 (27.4 overs) Sri Lanka 81/2 (10 overs)
Apr 19: Bangladesh v West Indies, Barbados
West Indies won by 99 runs, West Indies 230/5 (50 overs) Bangladesh 131/10 (43.5 overs)
Apr 20: New Zealand v Australia, Grenada
Australia won by 215 runs, Australia 348/6 (50 overs) New Zealand 133/10 (25.5 overs)
Apr 21: West Indies v England, Barbados
England won by 1 wicket, West Indies 300/10 (49.4 overs) England 301/9 (49.5 overs)
Semi-finals
Apr 24: New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Jamaica
Sri Lanka won by 81 runs, Sri Lanka 289/5 (50 overs) New Zealand 208/10 (41.4 overs)
Apr 25: Australia v South Afica, St Lucia
Australia won by 7 wickets, South Africa 149/10 (43.5 overs) Australia 153/3 (31.3 overs)
Final
Apr 28: Australia v Sri Lanka, Barbados
Australia won by 53 runs, Australia 281/4 (38 overs) Sri Lanka 215/8 (36 overs)
***Due to rain the match was reduced to 38 overs each side and due to bad light the target was revised to 269 in 36 overs for Sri Lanka under the D/L method***
