Australia earn the bragging rights

CRICKET/World Cup Final: Australia have earned their bragging rights. There was rain around the high veld yesterday evening, rumbling, thunderous stuff, as Ricky Ponting collected €2 million and lifted the World Cup trophy in triumph. But the torrents did not cause more than a minor distraction as Australia had pursued with relentless ambition the successful defence of the title they won at Lord's four years ago.

In a tournament that Ponting's team had dominated from first to last, India, unquestionably the second best side these past 41 days, had been pulverised. Humiliated even. There was a century opening stand inside the first 15 overs of the match as India's pace bowling caught stage fright, and then an astounding unbroken third-wicket partnership of 234 between Ponting and Damien Martyn that took Australia to a record 359 for two. It was by 10 runs the highest total they have ever made in this form of the game and the eighth highest in one-day history.

The Australian captain's unbeaten 140 from 121 balls was an innings that began cautiously but blossomed into a stunning display of forthright batsmanship. All eight (yes, eight) of his sixes, and three of his four boundaries were hit after his half-century. It was the fourth hundred to be made in a final, the first by an Australian in four attempts and was fit to rank right up there with those of Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards and Aravinda de Silva before him.

It is three years since Australia failed to defend even 200, let alone a total the magnitude of which no side in history has hunted down. They knew the job was all but done, the more so when Sachin Tendulkar became victim to Glenn McGrath in the opening over of the reply. After the match Tendulkar was named man of the tournament, but miracles are beyond even him.

Virender Sehwag, caught off a Brett Lee no-ball when on four, blazed away to make 82 at a run a ball and Rahul Dravid collected a typically cultured 47. But Dravid's departure sparked the demise of the innings from 187 for four to 234 all out, the last six wickets falling in a shade under eight overs. The final one fell to McGrath with what may be his last ball in a World Cup.

The previous two finals were won by eight wickets and seven wickets respectively, but India's 125-run defeat was in terms of runs the heaviest by a distance.

As the winning catch spooned gently in the direction of Darren Lehmann at mid-on, the rest of the Australian side were already hot-footing in the direction of the fielder.

Guardian Service