2003 Cricket World Cup Final
Australia were 125/2 after 19.5 overs when Harbhajan Singh removed both openers. From there, Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn launched an unbroken 234-run stand, taking the final away from India before the chase even began.
Match Snapshot
Australia vs India - Final, played at Johannesburg on 23 March 2003.
Australia 359/2 (50 overs), India 234 (39.2 overs). Australia won by 125 runs.
Key Moments of the Match
- Australia took 105 runs from the first 14 overs, with Adam Gilchrist's early attack putting India under pressure immediately.
- After Australia were 125/2, Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn added an unbeaten 234-run partnership for the third wicket.
- Ponting finished on 140 not out from 121 balls with eight sixes, while Martyn made 88 not out from 84.
Quick Facts
Why 1992 Cricket World Cup Final Is Historic
World Cup finals ke sab se one-sided but iconic performances mein shamil hai
Australia ki golden-era dominance ka reference match bana
Match Overview
Match Overview
- Australia flew out of the blocks despite overcast conditions, with Adam Gilchrist's 57 setting the early tempo before the score reached 105/1 in 14 overs.
- India briefly slowed the innings through Harbhajan Singh, who removed Gilchrist and Hayden, but Australia were still 125/2 after 19.5 overs.
- Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn then added an unbeaten 234-run stand, turning a strong total into a crushing one as Australia finished on 359/2.
- India's chase collapsed immediately when Glenn McGrath dismissed Sachin Tendulkar at 4/1 in the first over.
- Virender Sehwag's 82 and Rahul Dravid's 47 gave India some resistance, but regular wickets and the required rate ended any realistic comeback.
Scorecard
Australia
Batting Card
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Gilchrist | c Sehwag b Harbhajan Singh | 57 | 48 | 8 | 1 | 118.75 |
| Matthew Hayden | c Dravid b Harbhajan Singh | 37 | 54 | 5 | 0 | 68.52 |
| Ricky Ponting | not out | 140 | 121 | 4 | 8 | 115.70 |
| Damien Martyn | not out | 88 | 84 | 7 | 1 | 104.76 |
Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zaheer Khan | 7 | 0 | 67 | 0 | 9.57 |
| Javagal Srinath | 10 | 0 | 87 | 0 | 8.70 |
| Ashish Nehra | 10 | 0 | 57 | 0 | 5.70 |
| Harbhajan Singh | 8 | 0 | 49 | 2 | 6.13 |
| Virender Sehwag | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 4.67 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 6.67 |
| Dinesh Mongia | 7 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 5.57 |
| Yuvraj Singh | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 6.00 |
India
Batting Card
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | c and b McGrath | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Virender Sehwag | run out (Lehmann) | 82 | 81 | 10 | 3 | 101.23 |
| Sourav Ganguly | c Lehmann b Lee | 24 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 96.00 |
| Mohammad Kaif | c Gilchrist b McGrath | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Rahul Dravid | b Bichel | 47 | 57 | 2 | 0 | 82.46 |
| Yuvraj Singh | c Lee b Hogg | 24 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 70.59 |
| Dinesh Mongia | c Martyn b Symonds | 12 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 109.09 |
| Harbhajan Singh | c McGrath b Symonds | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 87.50 |
| Zaheer Khan | c Lehmann b McGrath | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Javagal Srinath | b Lee | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Ashish Nehra | not out | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 200.00 |
Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn McGrath | 8.2 | 0 | 52 | 3 | 6.24 |
| Brett Lee | 7 | 1 | 31 | 2 | 4.43 |
| Brad Hogg | 10 | 0 | 61 | 1 | 6.10 |
| Darren Lehmann | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Andy Bichel | 10 | 0 | 57 | 1 | 5.70 |
| Andrew Symonds | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 3.50 |
Turning Point: Ponting and Martyn's acceleration after 20 overs
Australia were 125/2 after 19.5 overs when Harbhajan Singh removed both openers. From there, Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn launched an unbroken 234-run stand, taking the final away from India before the chase even began.
- Australia recovered from 125/2 to 359/2 without losing another wicket.
- Ponting made 140 not out and hit eight sixes in the decisive phase.
- India were chasing a World Cup final record target and lost Tendulkar in the first over.
Top Performances
| Team | Player | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Ricky Ponting | 140* off 121 balls with 8 sixes |
| Australia | Damien Martyn | 88* off 84 in the unbroken 234-run stand |
| Australia | Adam Gilchrist | 57 off 48 to set the early platform |
| India | Virender Sehwag | 82 off 81 as India's top score |
| India | Glenn McGrath | 3/52 to break India's chase at the top |
Road to Final
Australia reached the final unbeaten and beat Sri Lanka in the semi-final, continuing the dominant run that defined their 2003 campaign.
See World Cup tournament historyIndia arrived in the final after a long winning run that included the high-pressure group-stage win over Pakistan and a semi-final victory over Kenya.
See India vs Pakistan 2003Match Timeline
- Australia raced to 105/1 in 14 overs before Harbhajan Singh pulled India back briefly with two wickets.
- Ponting and Martyn dominated the back 30 overs and lifted Australia from 125/2 to 359/2.
- India lost Tendulkar in the first over and were 59/3 inside 11 overs of the chase.
- Sehwag counterattacked, but wickets kept falling and India were bowled out in the 40th over.
Impact
- World Cup finals ke sab se one-sided but iconic performances mein shamil hai
- Australia ki golden-era dominance ka reference match bana
- Big-final batting destruction ka classic case study hai
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FAQs
Quick answers to common questions about this match.
Who won the 2003 Cricket World Cup Final?
Australia won the 2003 Cricket World Cup Final by 125 runs against India after scoring 359/2 and bowling India out for 234.
Where was the 2003 World Cup Final played?
The 2003 World Cup Final was played at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on 23 March 2003.
What was Ricky Ponting's performance in the 2003 World Cup Final?
Ricky Ponting made 140 not out from 121 balls with four fours and eight sixes, and he was named Player of the Match.
What was the turning point of the 2003 World Cup Final?
The turning point was Australia going from 125/2 to 359/2 through the unbeaten Ponting-Martyn partnership, which gave India an almost impossible chase in a final.
Who top-scored for India in the 2003 World Cup Final?
Virender Sehwag top-scored for India with 82 off 81 balls, while Rahul Dravid added 47.
How did India reach the 2003 World Cup Final?
India reached the final after a long winning streak in the tournament, including the famous group-stage victory over Pakistan and a semi-final win over Kenya.
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