How'z That? Kangaroos Smashed the Lions!
Despite of India's disappointing performance in the World Cup 2007, team spirit and the consistent performance of Australian team was really inspiring. Australians kissed the cricket world cup third time with their high spirits and the magical performance on the ground.
The two time winner of the ICC Cricket World Cup, West Indies, hosted the ninth edition of this premier international championship of one-day cricket. Sixteen nations contested in a total of 51 matches and finaly Aussies done the wonder.
Aussies are in, Sri Lankan's Out
Australian team smashed the Sri Lankan lions by 53 runs in the world cup final. With the third successive record win of Australia hosted a landmark in the history of Cricket.
World Cup Final Innings
Playing the finals in Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Australians win the toss and decided to bat first. Match was initially interrupted by rain, the overs were reduced to 38 overs. With the grand opening of 172 runs by Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist Aussies finished 281 for four at the end of the 38th over.
Due to another short rain interruption, Sri Lankans got the revised target of 269 in 36 overs. However, Sri Lanka finished at 215 for eight and lose the final by 53 runs under Duckworth-Lewis system.
Adam Gilchrist was declared the man-of-the-match of the World Cup 2007 final. Glenn McGrath bagged the the man of the tournament award and emerged as the most successful player of the series. So, the ninth edition of the World Cup ended with colorful celebrations at the ground for the Aussies and they were undoubtedly “Aussome”.
Semifinal Winners
First World Cup 2007 semifinal was played on 24th April between between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Sabina Park, Jamaica. Sri Lanka won the match by 81 runs.
The next one was on 25th April at Beausejour Stadium, St Lucia between South Africa and Australia. Aussies packed the match in their bag by 7 wickets.Australia and Sri Lanka emerged as the super contestants for the grand cricket finale.
Super Eight Qualifiers
The eight teams qualified for Super Eight Matches are as follows West Indies, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, England, Ireland and Bangladesh.
Cricket World Cup 2007 Controversies
Known to be the most scandalous Cricket World Cup in the history, some highlights of the World Cup 2007 are as follows
- Pakistan was knocked out of the tournament by Ireland. Pakistani team was criticized all over the world for their dreadful performance during the match.
- India lost to Bangladesh and the team was back from West Indies, disappointing the million Indian Cricket fans.
- Pakistani captain Inzamam ul Haq declared to retire from ODIs and the captaincy of Pakistan cricket team.
- After the defeat of Pakistani team, in the world cup Pakistani Cricket Coach Bob Woolmer found strangled in his hotel room. Sudden mystery death of Woolmer leaved questions over match-fixing and rumors blowed the World Cup 2007.
Team Groups
Group A : South Africa,
Australia,
Scotland,
Netherlands
Group B : India,
Sri Lanka,
Bangladesh,
Bermuda
Group C : England,
New
Zeland,
Kenya,
Canada
Group D : Pakistan,
Zimbabwe,
West Indies ,
Ireland
