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Virender Sehwag was the star of the show for India in a one-sided affair that left their opponents Bermuda dazed at the Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad on Monday 19 March, 2007. Sehwag's 87-ball 114 led India to an historic total of 413 for five - a tournament record.
India's crushing 257-run win was ample compensation for their shock defeat by Bangladesh in their opening Group B match. India's score not only exceeded that set by Sri Lanka against Kenya in Kandy in World Cup 1996 but was also the highest ever recorded in a one-day international match.
Sehwag shared a 202-run second-wicket partnership with Sourav Ganguly (89) after Bermuda surprisingly asked India to bat first.
Sehwag's century was his first in the World Cup and featured three sixes and 17 fours.
When he and Ganguly were finally dismissed, there was further punishment for the Bermudan bowlers as Yuvraj Singh and Sachin Tendulkar let loose. Singh blazed to 83 runs in 46 balls, scoring seven sixes and three fours while Tendulkar smashed four sixes, including the match-winning shot, on his way to 57 not out.
Bermuda were quickly dismissed for just 156 runs despite a sterling innings from David Hemp, who hit an unbeaten 76. Dean Minors made a creditable 21 before capitulating but Delyone Borden was the only other Bermuda batsmen to achieve double figures, with a paltry 13.
The result left Group B wide open with Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh all sharing top spot with 2 points. But India's return to form, even if it was against one of the 'minnows', will have sent shivers down the spines of their future opponents.
Article by Julian Armfield, BBC World Service Sport, reporting for Totally Barbados
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