2003 World Cup Final Scorecard: The 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup final goes down in history as one of the most significant games ever played. The last edition of the tournament was played between Australia national cricket team and India national cricket team on, 23 March 2003. The game was held at the iconic Wanderers Stadium.
This epic final came in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, one of the most fierce tournaments ever held in ODI cricket. There we have it, Australia with a phenomenal display and beat India by 125 runs to win the tournament in some style.
The scorecard for the 2003 World Cup Final showcases how great Australia’s batting display was and how steep the target was for the Indian side. In this post, you will see complete details of the match including innings, batting and bowling table and major highlights from the match.
Match Details
| Match | ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 Final |
|---|---|
| Teams | Australia vs India |
| Date | 23 March 2003 |
| Venue | Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
| Toss | India won the toss and elected to field |
| Result | Australia won by 125 runs |
| Player of the Match | Ricky Ponting |
The batting scorecard for the 2003 World Cup Final was a stark display of Aussie superiority in the game. Their batters played very well and created a winning score.
Australia Innings – Batting Scorecard
India opted to field first as Australia batted. The Australians got off to a flier and batted aggressively scoring runs with ease throughout the innings.
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Gilchrist | 57 | 48 | 7 | 1 |
| Matthew Hayden | 37 | 54 | 5 | 0 |
| Ricky Ponting | 140* | 121 | 4 | 8 |
| Damien Martyn | 88* | 84 | 7 | 1 |
Total Score
| Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| 50 Overs | 359 | 2 |
The scorecard of that World Cup final shows Australia put up 359 runs, which at that point could be one of the highest scores made in a World Cup final.
Captain Ricky Ponting had an interview of the best innings in World Cup history. His knock of 140 runs not out had some very big sixes that shifted the game’s momentum entirely.
Damien Martyn played an able hand scoring an unbroken 88 runs, and the two added a large partnership that snatched the match from India.
India Bowling Performance
India tried several bowlers to stop the run flow, but the Australian batsmen continued attacking throughout the innings.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zaheer Khan | 7 | 67 | 0 |
| Javagal Srinath | 10 | 87 | 1 |
| Harbhajan Singh | 10 | 49 | 0 |
| Ashish Nehra | 10 | 57 | 1 |
The 2003 World Cup Final Scorecard indicates that India struggled to control Australia’s scoring rate. The Australian batsmen took advantage of the good batting conditions and scored freely.
Read More: India vs New Zealand T20 World Cup Scorecard
India Innings – Batting Scorecard
Chasing a huge target of 360 runs, India needed a strong start. However, the team lost an early wicket, which created pressure.
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Virender Sehwag | 82 | 81 | 10 | 3 |
| Sourav Ganguly | 24 | 31 | 2 | 0 |
| Rahul Dravid | 47 | 59 | 5 | 0 |
| Yuvraj Singh | 24 | 34 | 2 | 0 |
India Total
| Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| 39.2 Overs | 234 | All Out |
India failed to chase down the mammoth target set by Australia, as per the 2003 World Cup Final Scorecard. The early wicket of Sachin Tendulkar dented the team’s confidence.
Virender Sehwag made an attacking 82 runs, but India struggled to sustain partnerships in their batting order.
Australia Bowling Performance
Australia’s bowlers performed very well while defending the target.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn McGrath | 8 | 52 | 2 |
| Brett Lee | 7.2 | 38 | 3 |
| Andy Bichel | 5 | 20 | 1 |
| Brad Hogg | 6 | 30 | 1 |
According to the 2003 World Cup Final Scorecard, the Australian bowlers maintained pressure throughout the innings and took wickets at regular intervals.
Brett Lee was particularly effective with the ball and helped Australia seal the victory.
Key Moments of the Match
There were a handful of moments that defined the outcome of the final.
Early Wicket of Sachin Tendulkar
A critical moment was Glenn McGrath dismissing Sachin Tendulkar in the first over.
Ponting’s Captain’s Knock
Ricky Ponting produced a captain’s innings and played one of the finest centuries in World Cup finals.
Strong Partnership
It was during this innings that Ponting formed a huge undefeated partnership with Damien Martyn that took Australia to 359 runs.
Sehwag’s Fight
Virender Sehwag scored 82 runs off of 110 balls, but lacked support from the rest of the batting order.
Read More: 2007 T20 World Cup Final Scorecard / Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team Match Scorecard
Complete Match Result
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Australia | 359/2 (50 Overs) |
| India | 234 (39.2 Overs) |
Result: Australia won by 125 runs
The 2003 World Cup Final Scorecard clearly shows how dominant Australia was in this match.
Player of the Match
The Player of the Match award was given to Ricky Ponting for his outstanding batting performance.
His innings of 140 not out is still considered one of the greatest innings in World Cup final history.
Historical Importance of the Match
The final of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup was significant for several reasons.
- Australia won their third World Cup title.
- Ricky Ponting played one of the most memorable innings in cricket history.
- The match showcased Australia’s dominance in international cricket during that period.
The 2003 World Cup Final Scorecard is still referred to by cricket fans and analysts alike, as it showcases one of the most dominating team shows in any World Cup finals.
Conclusion
The Score Card from 2003 World Cup Final Australia’s daunting batting, effective partnerships and steady bowling to overcame India in a convincing win.
India played brilliantly throughout the tournament but found the final was an altogether tougher test. The experience and aggressive style of play of Australia helped them dominate the match.
In fact, even today, 2003 World Cup Final Scorecard is considered one of the most iconic scorecards in cricket. Great players like Ricky Ponting are there to be admired, the level of play in ICC Cricket World Cup is sky high.
FAQs
1. Who won the 2003 Cricket World Cup Final?
A. The Australia national cricket team won the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 by defeating the India national cricket team by 125 runs at the Wanderers Stadium.
2. What was the final score in the 2003 World Cup Final?
A. According to the 2003 World Cup Final Scorecard, Australia scored 359/2 in 50 overs, while India were bowled out for 234 runs in 39.2 overs.
3. Who was the Player of the Match in the 2003 World Cup Final?
A. Ricky Ponting was named the Player of the Match for his outstanding innings of 140 not out off 121 balls.
4. Where was the 2003 Cricket World Cup Final played?
A. The final match was played at Wanderers Stadium on 23 March 2003.
5. What was India’s score in the 2003 World Cup Final?
A. In the 2003 World Cup Final Scorecard, India scored 234 runs in 39.2 overs while chasing a target of 360 runs.
