Australia Win World Cup in Barbados

Australia opened up a new page in cricket's history books by becoming the first side ever to capture three successive World Cups by beating Sri Lanka by 53 runs before a colourful capacity crowd at the Kensington Oval, Barbados on 28th April, 2007.

The match, which was dominated throughout by the reigning champions, concluded amid scenes of great confusion after the winners began their celebrations before the umpires had ended the game.

The Aussies, buoyed up the 'Congratulations Australia' message that flashed up on the scoreboard, had to postpone their fun and games while Sri Lanka, who had accepted the offer of bad light, returned to the pitch and batted out in pitch black conditions.

The farcical nature of this ending to the match was accentuated even further when the umpires ordered officials to remove the presentation stage that they had carried out onto the pitch so that the final three overs could be played.

None of this took away from the overall occasion however, as, once again, Barbados stole the thunder from its Caribbean neighbours as a World Cup host country. Thousands of Barbadians joined the mass ranks of Australian and Sri Lankan fans in the huge crowd, creating an atmosphere that will live long in the memories of those who attended.

As millions watched the game on television, and listened to it on the radio, around the world, Barbados and the Kensington Oval were lauded unequivocally by presenters and commentators alike. Their enthusiasm, and that of the crowd, was not even dented by the rain which delayed the start of the match by almost three hours.

When play eventually commenced, the decision was taken to reduce the game to 38 overs in a bid to complete it on the day rather than carrying proceedings forward to the following day. This decision baffled many cricket purists, who asserted that a World Cup final should test both sides over the full 50 overs.

Not that this seemed to bother Australia, who won the toss and elected to bat first, in the slightest. Vice-captain Adam Gilchrist, initially supported by Matthew Hayden, clearly recognised the magnitude of the occasion and put on a batting masterclass. His brutal onslaught on Sri Lanka's attack left that side's bowlers, which includes some of the world's best, scratching their heads in disbelief.

Gilchrist's 149 runs, off only 109 balls, effectively ended Sri Lanka's hopes at the outset of the match. Not content with breaking Clive Lloyd's record for the fastest century in a World Cup final, he also bettered his captain Ricky Ponting's record individual score of 140 in the 2003 final.

Gilchrist showed awesome power as he blasted eight sixes and thirteen fours. In his first three overs, Sri Lanka seamer Dilhara Fernando was hit for 29 runs while Tillakeratne Dilshan conceded 19 in one over alone.

The man of the match was eventually caught by Chamara Silva, off Fernando. Hayden, who had one of his quieter days, had earlier gone for 38 and although the partnership of Ponting and Shane Watson did nothing spectacular, Australia ended with an intimidating score of 281-4.

Sri Lanka made a spirited reply and Sanath Jayasuriya (63) and Kumar Sangakkara (54) played some outstanding strokes as they put on 116 from 106 balls in their second-wicket stand. After they were dismissed, the heavens opened again and Sri Lanka's target was reduced to 269 from 36 overs.

The Sri Lankas continued to bat bravely in the increasing gloom but wickets fell with regularity and the match finally ended in complete darkness. It had been a marvellous spectacle and a very special day for both Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath, playing in his final game for Australia.

McGrath, the greatest seam bowler of his generation, was named 'Man of the Tournament'. He will be much missed but only by his team-mates because batsmen around the world will delight in the knowledge that they will never have to face him again.

This World Cup came in for a deal of criticism but Barbados can hold its head high because most of the difficulties encountered in the other Caribbean host countries did not occur here.

The carnival atmosphere that has prevailed at the new Kensington Oval was never more prevalent than after the final, when some 800 local performers thrilled the crowd with a world-class music and dance show.

Article by Julian Armfield, BBC World Service Sport, reporting for Totally Barbados

Australia March Into Fourth Successive Final

Having ruthlessly swept aside all opponents, including Sri Lanka, their rivals in waiting for this World Cup final, Australia were finally expected to be given a real test in their semi-final match against South Africa at Beausejour Stadium, St Lucia on 25th April, 2007.

Instead, Australia took the Proteas apart with a facile seven-wicket victory, thus extending their unbeaten World Cup run to an incredible 28 matches, stretching back to 1999. South Africa have now taken part in three semi-finals since 1992 but have yet to make the final.

Having won the toss, South Africa elected to bat first in the belief that they could set a daunting target for the Aussies. But the Proteas were effectively out for the count after Glenn McGrath and Shaun Tait destroyed their top order, reducing them to a pathetic 27-5.

The destruction was awesome: Graeme Smith out for 2; AB de Villiers for 15; Jacques Kallis for 5; Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher for a duck each. South Africa's capitulation would have been truly humiliating if it had not been for a fine 60-run partnership between Herschelle Gibbs (39) and Justin Kemp (49 not out).

All-rounder Kemp was particularly impressive but even his valiant efforts could not prevent his side recording their lowest ever World Cup score. McGrath took his wicket tally for the tournament to 25, beating the record set by Chaminda Vaas four years ago.

South Africa's total of 149 all out caused no concern whatsoever for Australia's top order, despite the loss of Adam Gilchrist for just one run and Ricky Ponting's surprise early departure with only 22 on the board.

Matthew Hayden hit 41 and Michael Clarke an impressive 60 not out while Andrew Symonds blasted 18 runs as Australia cruised to a total of 153-3 with almost 20 overs remaining.

Having thrashed an admittedly below-strength Sri Lanka in their Super Eight encounter, Australia will go into Saturday's final at the Kensington Oval, Barbados, as long odds-on favourites to lift the trophy yet again. It will take a superhuman effort from Sri Lanka to stop this particular juggernaut.

Article by Julian Armfield, BBC World Service Sport, reporting for Totally Barbados

Sri Lanka Reach Second World Cup Final

Mahela Jayawardene's first World Cup century enabled 1996 winners Sri Lanka to become the first finalists of this competition. His sublime 115 not out was the highlight of a semi-final game which saw opponents New Zealand struggling with both their bowling and their batting.

New Zealand had no batsman to rival Jayawardene, Sri Lanka's captain; nor did they have a bowler in the same league as Muttiah Muralitharan, whose three wickets in six balls took out three key Kiwi batsmen at a time when they were threatening a revival in the middle of their innings.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first in the match, which was played at Sabina Park, Jamaica on 24th April, 2007. New Zealand got off to a flying start when James Franklin took Sanath Jayasuriya's wicket for one run in the third over.

But Upui Tharanga's excellent run-a-ball 73 set the platform on which Jayawardene was to build in spectacular style. His mix of delicate shots and brutal power was a batting masterclass and despite some disappointing play by many of his colleagues Sri Lanka secured a final score of 289-5.

New Zealand faced a tough target and as the skies darkened over the ground, the Sri Lanka bowlers, led initially by Lasith Malinga and Chaminda Vaas, set about making life even gloomier for their opponents.

Kiwi skipper, Stephen Fleming was the first to go, lbw to Malinga, for one run and Ross Taylor went soon afterwards in the same fashion to Vaas, after scoring just nine runs. New Zealand then showed plenty of grit and inched their way back into the match, courtesy of Peter Fulton and Scott Styris.

They were marginally ahead of the rate after 20 overs when Styris, one the star players of the tournament, got lucky when he was caught off a no-ball. Styris then broke loose and blasted three straight sixes before chipping Tillakaratne Dilshan to midwicket where he was caught by Jayawardene for 37.

The loss of Styris's wicket led to a domino effect with Jacob Oram (3) and Brendon McCullum (0) following soon after to successive balls from Muralitharan. The only way for the Kiwis now was in a downward direction and despite some spirited defiance from Craig McMillan (25) and Franklin (30 not out), their final total of 208 left them 81 short of Sri Lanka's total.

It was a disappointing end to the tournament for New Zealand, who once again failed to make the final, following their fifth appearance in the penultimate match. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will go into the final against Australia in Barbados full of confidence.

If their magical bowlers can get to grips with Australia's batting goliaths and if Jayawardene and Jayasuriya, who will have to play with much more bravado than he did against New Zealand, can overcome the assaults of the Aussie bowlers, there is just a chance that the last team to beat Australia in a World Cup final can repeat the dose in Bridgetown.

Article by Julian Armfield, BBC World Service Sport, reporting for Totally Barbados

England Spoil Lara's Big Day in Barbados

A capacity crowd of 28,000 packed into the Kensington Oval, Barbados on 21st April, 2007. They were there not only to witness what turned out to be a thrilling cricket match between West Indies and England but to pay their tributes to one of the game's most legendary players, one Brian Lara.

Lara, in his last international cricket game, saw his side perform with enormous credit, scoring an excellent 300 runs only to be cruelly robbed by one wicket by an equally in-form England side.

A carnival atmosphere prevailed at the ground as West Indies went into bat. The two sides had underperformed during this World Cup and both were already out of the tournament but in this no pressure situation they raised their games to new standards.

Some wonderful strokeplay by Chris Gayle and Devon Smith had the colourful crowd on its feet. Gayle was particularly impressive, hitting 79 from just 58 balls before falling to a catch by Stuart Broad, off Andrew Flintoff.

Smith (61) also fell victim to a delivery from Flintoff when he was caught by Paul Collingwood. Marlon Samuels added a further 51 before he was also caught by Collingwood, off Michael Vaughan. But while the crowd cheered every Samuels run, all eyes were on his partner, Lara.

As the legendary figure strode onto the pitch, the entire crowd stood to applaud him while the England players formed a guard of honour. But there was to be no fairytale ending to Lara's international career.

Just seven overs into his innings the West Indies captain was cruelly dismissed after a misunderstanding with Samuels, who called him for a single and then sent him back. Lara found himself stranded two yards short when Kevin Pietersen's throw from deep mid-on smashed into its target.

If looks could kill then Samuels would be at the great cricket ground in the sky after the glare he received from his captain as he trudged back to the pavilion after hitting just 18 from 17 balls.

But, with the exception of Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was out for just three runs, the middle and lower order West Indies batsmen performed admirably. Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit 34 and, despite the unfortunate Lara dismissal, the team must have felt that they had done enough to set up a memorable victory.

If Lara was the focus during West Indies innings, then his counterpart Michael Vaughan was the man in the spotlight when England came into bat. Just four days earlier, Vaughan had become the first England skipper to be booed off the pitch by his own supporters since 1999.

Vaughan's humiliation came as England waved the white flag at South Africa, a match that was also played in Barbados. Against West Indies, however, Vaughan was a different kettle of fish altogether.

Having already restored some his reputation by taking three of his opponents' wickets for 39 during his ten overs, Vaughan set about the West Indies bowlers, hitting 79 from 68 balls before getting run out.

Some of his colleagues played less well however and from a comfortable position of 154 for two after the 27th over, England lost the plot completely as they plunged to 189 for six in the next ten overs. Andrew Flintoff (15) again failed to perform and Paul Collingwood (6) was another major disappointment.

It was left to Kevin Pietersen to get his side back on track and his towering century was a joy to behold for everyone except the Windies supporters. Pietersen, who eased past 400 runs for the tournament, looked particularly good when operating with the innovative Paul Nixon who scored 38 before being removed by a Dwayne Bravo delivery.
Nixon's excellent stand took England to the brink of victory and although he was bowled by Dwayne Bravo with three runs still needed from four balls, young Broad edged England to 301 with a ball to spare.

The match was a real thriller and, once again, Barbados' Kensington Oval got the thumbs up from all who were involved. The sound of music echoed around the ground and the occasion will live long in the memories of all those cricket fans who were there.

Article by Julian Armfield, BBC World Service Sport, reporting for Totally Barbados

Lara Announces Retirement After West Indies Win At Last

The 37-year-old made the announcement after captaining his side to a 99-run Super Eight victory over Bangladesh at that ground on 19th April. The news means that Lara will not participate in West Indies tour of England next month.

Lara, who has come in for intense criticism during this World Cup, admitted that the West Indies results during the tournament had been a major personal disappointment. At least the captain and his team got their act together on the day that Lara quit.

In the full knowledge of Lara's impending announcement, Ramnaresh Sarwan laid claim to the team captain position by spearheading the fightback that earned West Indies a much needed win and gave the side, and its fans, some of its pride back.

Sarwan hit an impressive unbeaten 91 from 90 balls to pull the Windies out of the hole that the early disasterous dismissals of Chris Gayle (1) and Devon Smith (5) had left them in. He combined with both Shivnarine Chanderpaul (50) and Lara (33) to lay the ground for West Indies final score of 230-5.

Both Gayle and Smith fell victim to Bangladesh's lethal pair of bowlers, Mashrafe Mortaza and Syed Rasel. It was then left to Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels (31) to pick up the pieces. But their run rate left a lot to be desired and the score stood at only 67-3 after 25 overs.

Chanderpaul and Sarwan upped the ante, however, and put on 81 for the fourth wicket. Sarwan hit some excellent shots, including 2 sixes while Chanderpaul's good innings continued until he was bowled by Aftab Ahmed.

Lara then joined Sarwan and quickly smashed two sixes on his way to 33 before being caught by Javed Omar, off Abdur Razzak. Sarwan's sterling performance gave heart to the Windies bowlers who proceeded to cut through Bangladesh's top order batsmen like knives through butter.

Bangladesh suffered an early reversal when Tamim Iqbal was run out for 7. Omar and Ahmed only managed a joint total of 23 and Saqibul Hasan was out for a duck. Mushfiqur Rahim (38 not out) and Mashrafe Mortaza (37) restored some credibility but Bangladesh's final score of 131 was well short of what was required.

Article by Julian Armfield, BBC World Service Sport, reporting for Totally Barbados

Australia Hand New Zealand a Thrashing

Matthew Hayden and Glenn McGrath re-wrote cricket's record books as Australia trounced New Zealand in their Super Eight encounter at Queen's Park, Grenada on 20th April, 2007.

The two sides had already qualified for the semi-finals before this match so the result was meaningless although it can have done nothing but damage to New Zealand's confidence. Hayden (103) hit a record-equalling third World Cup century while McGrath's two wickets haul took his tally for this tournament to 22, his best ever in a World Cup

Australia quickly shook off the surprise of seeing Adam Gilchrist heading for the pavilion after making just one run. Hayden and Ricky Ponting were at their magnificent best, putting on a second-wicket stand of 137 in 21 overs.

Hayden raced to his century in just 97 balls, blasting ten fours and a six before being caught and bowled by Scott Styris. Ponting ran riot and had chalked up 66 runs when he was caught by Ross Taylor, off Jeetan Patel.

Michael Clarke then added a further 49 runs and after he was bowled by James Franklin, Michael Hussey and Andrew Symonds made a joint stand of 48. Australia then looked to Shane Watson to consolidate their score and he did not disappoint them.

Scoring an average of two runs per ball, Watson charged to an unbeaten 65 and Australia closed out their innings at 348-6, putting enormous pressure on New Zealand's batsmen.

With McGrath in such good form and his fellow-bowlers Brad Hogg (four for 29) and Shaun Tait (three for 23), the Kiwis became nothing more than cannon fodder as they stumbled their way to a mere 133 runs, 62 of which came courtesy of one man, Peter Fulton.

Australia won the match by 215 runs and emphasised once again that they are head and shoulders above any other team in the tournament.

Article by Julian Armfield, BBC World Service Sport, reporting for Totally Barbados

Sri Lanka Blow Ireland Away

Grenada played host to the biggest mismatch of this World Cup when Sri Lanka crushed Ireland there on 18th April, 2007. The Irish set their opponents the lowest total in the tournament so far as they were dismissed for just 77 runs.

Marveez Maharoof and Muttiah Muralitharan each took seven wickets as Ireland tumbled to the lowest total of the tournament. Only Jeremy Bray (20), William Porterfield (17) and David Langford-Smith (18) of the Irish batsmen achieved double-figure scores.

Sri Lanka survived the shock early dismissal of opener Upui Tharanga for a duck but Sri Lanka captain Mahele Jayawardene (39) then swiftly led his team to 81-2 and an eight-wicket victory. Sri Lanka will now, almost certainly, avoid Australia in the semi-finals.

Ireland captain Trent Johnston, who led his side on a lap of honour after the game, said that he hoped Ireland would not be judged on this result but on their good overall performance in the competition.

Article by Julian Armfield, BBC World Service Sport, reporting for Totally Barbados

South Africa Maul Inept England Side

Any lingering hopes of World Cup glory that England and the Barmy Army may still have had were shot to pieces by the combination of a pathetic show by their batsmen and an outstanding all-round performance from a rampant South Africa side in Barbados.

The match, played at the Kensington Oval on 17th April, 2007, proved to be woefully one-sided. The Proteas cruised to a nine-wicket triumph with more than 30 overs remaining and a humiliated England side limped out of the tournament.

South Africa's decisive victory set up a probable semi-final between themselves and Australia, the two top-ranked sides in the world, in St Lucia on 25th April, 2007. Australia's batsmen will not be looking forward to facing the Proteas' ace bowler Andrew Hall.

Hall was all over the England batsmen, claiming five wickets for 18 runs and ridiculing the bullish comments made by spokesmen for their opponents in the run-up to the game. England were hopelessly outclassed and look to be almost clueless about what is needed to succeed in one-day cricket.

Unlike all the other leading sides in the tournament, England have consistently played steadily at the start of their innings in order to preserve wickets. Having won the toss, their opening partnership of Ian Bell (7) and Michael Vaughan (17) stuttered and spluttered to a paltry score of nine in the first seven overs.

Vaughan, the team captain, who has had a woeful tournament, took 20 deliveries to get off the mark, forcing Bell to do all the hard work. Bell was caught by Ashwell Prince, off Charl Langeveldt and was followed five overs later by Vaughan, who was given out lbw to Andre Nel's second delivery.

Kevin Pietersen, the lone star among England's top-order batsman throughout the tournament, was next to walk, having been caught by Graeme Smith, off Nel for three. If it had not been for a stubborn 58-run stand between Andrew Strauss (46) and Paul Collingwood (30), England may have struggled to amass even a century of runs.

In a devastating assault on the England wicket, Hall then removed four batsmen in nine deliveries. The upwardly mobile Ravi Bopara put on an unbeaten 27 but England's final tally of 154 was never going to be enough to worry the Proteas.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith shared an outstanding opening stand of 85 in less than 10 overs with AB de Villiers. This ended when de Villiers was caught by Paul Nixon, off Andrew Flintoff for 42.

Smith blasted an unbeaten 89 off only 59 balls, including 13 fours, while Jacques Kallis's seventeen not out carried the Proteas smoothly to their final score of 157-1. Afterwards there were calls for England coach Duncan Fletcher and skipper Vaughan to resign.

Article by Julian Armfield, BBC World Service Sport, reporting for Totally Barbados

Australia Crush Under-Strength Sri Lanka

Australia easily achieved their 20th successive World Cup victory by sweeping aside a Sri Lanka side bereft of its two star bowlers. The result of the match at Queen's Park, Grenada on 16th April, 2007 which virtually assured Australia of top place in the final Super Eight table.

Tom Moody, whose coaching of Sri Lanka during the tournament has been universally praised, made his first controversial decision by resting his two senior bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan in a match featuring two sides already through to the semi-finals.

Moody's strategy may well pay dividends because if the Australians extraordinary run is to be stopped, Muralitharan is the man most likely to upset the applecart. So it was logical to keep him under wraps until the chips are really down.

Should the two teams meet in the final, the surface of the Barbados pitch will suit Sri Lanka's legendary bowler admirably and it should be remembered that Muralitharan was the joker in the pack who upset the Aussies in the 1996 tournament.

The Grenada match was meaningless in a competitive context but was nonetheless entertaining. Sri Lanka batted first and their ship sailed into the quayside wall almost immediately. Sanath Jayasuriya went lbw to Nathan Bracken for 12 and was closely followed by Kumar Sangakkara, who went the same way, for a duck, from a Glenn McGrath delivery.

Upui Tharanga (6) was dismissed in the next over and it was left to Mahela Jayawardene and Chamara Silva to pick up the pieces. They did so in magnificent style. Jayawardene, in particular, played brilliantly and secured 72 runs before being stumped by Adam Gilchrist, off Brad Hogg.

Silva (64) fell in the next over, caught by Michael Clarke, also off a Hogg delivery. Australia's bowlers then turned the screw and soon skittled out the Sri Lanka middle and lower orders. The target at which Australia needed to aim was 226.

As expected, the Aussies went about their batting business in clinical fashion. Openers Matthew Hayden (41) and Gilchrist (30) raced to 76 in just 12 overs before both getting dismissed within three runs of one another. Ricky Ponting (66 not out) and Clarke (23) then combined to put some meat on the bones of Australia's innings.

Ponting was at his most imperious and his subsequent stand with Andrew Symonds (63 not out) was simply superb. Australia (232-3) won by seven wickets and the manner of their victory will have sent even more shivers down the spines of their future opponents.

Article by Julian Armfield, BBC World Service Sport, reporting for Totally Barbados

Australia Crush Under-Strength Sri Lanka

Australia easily achieved their 20th successive World Cup victory by sweeping aside a Sri Lanka side bereft of its two star bowlers. The result of the match at Queen's Park, Grenada on 16th April, 2007 which virtually assured Australia of top place in the final Super Eight table.

Tom Moody, whose coaching of Sri Lanka during the tournament has been universally praised, made his first controversial decision by resting his two senior bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan in a match featuring two sides already through to the semi-finals.

Moody's strategy may well pay dividends because if the Australians extraordinary run is to be stopped, Muralitharan is the man most likely to upset the applecart. So it was logical to keep him under wraps until the chips are really down.

Should the two teams meet in the final, the surface of the Barbados pitch will suit Sri Lanka's legendary bowler admirably and it should be remembered that Muralitharan was the joker in the pack who upset the Aussies in the 1996 tournament.

The Grenada match was meaningless in a competitive context but was nonetheless entertaining. Sri Lanka batted first and their ship sailed into the quayside wall almost immediately. Sanath Jayasuriya went lbw to Nathan Bracken for 12 and was closely followed by Kumar Sangakkara, who went the same way, for a duck, from a Glenn McGrath delivery.

Upui Tharanga (6) was dismissed in the next over and it was left to Mahela Jayawardene and Chamara Silva to pick up the pieces. They did so in magnificent style. Jayawardene, in particular, played brilliantly and secured 72 runs before being stumped by Adam Gilchrist, off Brad Hogg.

Silva (64) fell in the next over, caught by Michael Clarke, also off a Hogg delivery. Australia's bowlers then turned the screw and soon skittled out the Sri Lanka middle and lower orders. The target at which Australia needed to aim was 226.

As expected, the Aussies went about their batting business in clinical fashion. Openers Matthew Hayden (41) and Gilchrist (30) raced to 76 in just 12 overs before both getting dismissed within three runs of one another. Ricky Ponting (66 not out) and Clarke (23) then combined to put some meat on the bones of Australia's innings.

Ponting was at his most imperious and his subsequent stand with Andrew Symonds (63 not out) was simply superb. Australia (232-3) won by seven wickets and the manner of their victory will have sent even more shivers down the spines of their future opponents.

Article by Julian Armfield, BBC World Service Sport, reporting for Totally Barbados