Australia's triumph held a deeper significance as it served as sweet revenge against Sri Lanka, the team that had thwarted them in the 1996 World Cup final
Seventeen years ago, on this very day, cricket history witnessed a remarkable event as Australia, the defending champions of the World Cup, clinched their third title, securing a hat-trick of victories. Australia's triumph held a deeper significance as it served as sweet revenge against Sri Lanka, the team that had thwarted them in the 1996 World Cup final. The narrative of redemption was vivid as Australia reclaimed their throne atop the cricketing world.
So, let's take a nostalgic trip back in time to revisit one of the most memorable days in cricketing history.
Mushfiqur Rahim's celebration after scoring the winning run against India in the 2007 World Cup
They split into four groups, each with four teams. The top dogs from each group moved on to the Super Eights stage. Now, there were some unexpected guests at this party. Alongside the big shots like India and Pakistan, teams like Ireland and Bermuda were making their World Cup debuts.
Ireland, especially, made heads turn with their standout performance. They tied with Zimbabwe and shocked everyone by taking down Pakistan. Sadly, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. Pakistan faced a tough blow when their coach, Bob Woolmer, passed away during the tournament. It was a dark moment for Pakistani cricket.
India's campaign also hit a rough patch with losses against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Speaking of Bangladesh, they and Ireland got a boost from the big guys' early exits. But their journey came to a halt in the Super Eights.
The Super Eights stage was like a sneak peek into the World Cup favourites' playbook. Australia and Sri Lanka were looking fierce, and Sri Lanka, in particular, had us all on the edge of our seats with some nail-biting finishes.
Remember that jaw-dropping moment when Lasith Malinga went beast mode? He took a hat-trick and then snagged another wicket with the next ball. Talk about a game-changer! South Africa thought they had it in the bag, needing just four runs with five wickets in hand, but Malinga had other plans. He tore through their lineup like a tornado, ensuring they earned every run. And let's not forget that heart-stopping match against England, where Sri Lanka scraped through with just a 2-run victory.
The semi-finals were a showdown of epic proportions! Sri Lanka took on New Zealand, while the unstoppable Australians faced off against South Africa. But here's the kicker – both matches were pretty one-sided affairs. Sri Lanka and Australia made it look easy as they cruised to victory, leaving their opponents in the dust.
Adam Gilchrist's explosive innings of 149 runs against Sri Lanka in the 2007 World Cup final at Bridgetown, Barbados
Australia showcased their dominance, unlike the 1996 showdown. Adam Gilchrist, the left-handed maestro, was in a league of his own, unleashing a ferocious onslaught on the Sri Lankan bowlers. He hammered a stunning 149 runs off just 104 balls. The Aussies set a formidable total of 281/4 from 38 overs. Despite the weather playing spoilsport and the match being shortened, Australia had already bowled the required minimum overs to constitute a game. So, when bad light halted play, they were declared the winners by a whopping 53 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis Method.
Adam Gilchrist was awarded the Man of the Match award for his brilliant innings, whereas Glenn Mcgrath went home with the Man of the Tournament award for his 26 wickets.
