ICC Champions Trophy: close encounters

The ICC Champions Trophy, inaugurated in the year 1998 as Wills International Cup, is a major event in cricket, next to the ICC World Cup. It has been played every two years since it’s inception, with the 2013 edition being the exception, which is currently being played after a period of four years and is believed to be the final edition. The beauty of this format is that, over the years, it has produced some exciting and thrilling encounters. We introduce you with some of the close encounters from each edition .

1998 Wills International Cup:

India Vs Australia, Dhaka, 28 October

Sachin Tendulkar scored an aggressive century and took the attack to the Australian bowlers

The 1998 edition was a knock out tournament with 4 quarter-final (QF) matches deciding 4 semi-finalists, and winners of the two semi-finals were to play the finals. England and New Zealand were eliminated in the first two QFs and the third QF was to be played between India and Australia. India had the upper hand going into the match, as they had won the Coca Cola cup convincingly, thanks to Sachin’s desert storm innings of 134. Australia’s bowling attack had been weakened by the absence of stalwarts, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.

Australia had won the toss and chose to field in the day/night encounter, considering the dew factor. India were struggling at 8/2 in 3 overs after Fleming and Kasprowicz struck a blow each. Thereafter, Sachin and Dravid took control of the proceedings and built a partnership of 140 runs for the third wicket, before a run-out sent Dravid to the pavilion. Then Jadeja and Sachin kept the scorecard ticking at a faster pace, stitching a partnership of 132 runs off 114 deliveries taking India to 280 at the end of 45 overs. In the process, Sachin brought up his 19th ODI century. A couple of run-outs sent both Sachin and Jadeja to the pavilion and brought the run rate down. India ended their innings at 307-8 at the end of 50 overs.

Australia, with a target of 308, made their progress steadily. Australia were cruising the target at 145-1 in 25 overs, when Sunil Joshi got the better of Ricky Ponting, who had, by then, settled for a big score. Joshi once again provided the breakthrough by claiming the wicket of Mark Waugh, a couple of overs later, reducing Australia to 167-3. From then, India claimed the Aussie’s wickets at regular intervals, with Sachin taking the crucial wickets of Steve Waugh, Michael Bevan and Damien Martyn. Australia were all out for 263 at the start of the 48th over, with Sachin ending up with figures of 4 for 38.

This victory sent Australia home and took India to the Semifinal, where they would eventually lose to West Indies by 6 wickets. South Africa won the inaugural edition, beating West Indies by 4 wickets.

2000 ICC Knock Out:

India Vs Australia, Nairobi, 7 October

Sachin scored an aggressive 38 which set the tone for the rest of the match

The 2000 edition was named as the ICC Knock Out, with the format remaining the same as that of the previous edition. India vs Australia happened to be the first QF of the tournament. Australia were clear favorites going into the match, with the bowling attack boasting with the likes of Glenn Mcgrath, Brett Lee and Gillespie. Australia won the toss and chose to field in order to take advantage of the damp conditions.

Sachin had different ideas against the legendary McGrath, and indulged in a verbal battle with the Aussie great, hoping to upset his rhythm early on. It worked for Sachin as he plundered McGrath all over the park and took the initiative for India. Sachin’s quick fire 38 off 37 balls set the tone for the rest of the match. India slipped to 90-3 in 18 overs and were in danger of a collapse. Then young debutant, Yuvraj Singh, held the innings together for India, scoring 84 off 80 balls, introducing himself to the international stage in grand style. India posted a score of 265-9 at the end of 50 overs.

Australia were set a target of 266, 42 less of what they had been set by the same opposition two years ago. The Aussies kept up with the run rate in spite of a regular loss of wickets, due to their depth in batting line up. With Australia at 189-7, Steve Waugh and Brett Lee put on a partnership of 35 that threatened to take the match away from India. The dismissal of the two batsmen in successive overs had sealed the match for India and Australia were cleaned up for 245 in the 47th over.

This victory marched India into the semi final where they would win against South Africa by 95 runs and lose to the Kiwis by 4 wickets in the final.

2002 ICC Champions Trophy:

India Vs South Africa, Colombo, 25 September

Sehwag scored a vital 59 and took 3 crucial wickets in this encounter against South Africa

South Africa had a early hiccup in the tournament coming into the match, winning against the West Indies off the last ball. Whereas India, on the back of 2 comfortable victories against England and Zimbabwe, had the momentum with them. This match was the first semi final of the 2002 edition. South Africa’s bowling attack comprised the likes of Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and Ntini, whereas India’s attack was relatively young and inexperienced.

India won the toss in this crucial encounter and chose to bat. Sehwag started the innings in an aggressive mode, piling runs at a decent pace before a mishit would send him to the pavilion with the score at 108-3 in the 18th over. Sehwag, with his innings of 59 off 58, provided the initial momentum for India. After Sachin’s run-out, Dravid and Yuvraj would join hands and forge a partnership worth 72 off 93 balls. After Dravid’s dismissal, Yuvraj took control of the proceedings and helped India post 261 for the loss of 9 wickets in 50 overs.

South Africa, set a target of 262, suffered an early loss of Graeme Smith, with Yuvraj taking a stunner at point. Then Kallis and Gibbs together would put on a mammoth partnership of 178 runs and put South Africa in the driver’s seat, with only 70 needed off 78 deliveries. Gibbs would then get dehydrated and leave the field, slightly opening the door for India. Then hope for India came in the form of Yuvraj Singh, who dove to his right and took a mind blowing catch to dismiss Jonty Rhodes. Then Boeta Dippennar would be dismissed without troubling the scorers, opening up the match for India. India dried up the runs as pressure started to mount on South Africa. The Proteas were made to score 21 runs of the final over and Sehwag was handed the ball. Kallis would hit the first ball for a six and subsequently get dismissed, ending the hopes for South Africa and setting up a win for India by a mere margin of 10 runs.

This victory propelled India to the finals where rain would play spoilsport and the trophy would be shared between Sri Lanka and India.

2004 ICC Champions Trophy:

England Vs West Indies, Kennington Oval, 25 September

Ian Bradshaw and Courtney Browne saw West Indies through in the finals of the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy.

The 2004 edition of ICC Champions Trophy was held in England. West Indies entered the tournament as underdogs but had won convincingly against South Africa, Bangladesh and Pakistan to set up a final against the host, England. England had upset the then world champions Australia in the semis to book a spot in the finals.

West Indies had won the toss and chose to field first, hoping to make better use of the conditions with the ball. England were losing wickets at regular intervals, with Trescothick playing the anchor role by bringing up his 8th ODI century. A late partnership of 63 runs between Trescothick and Giles would help England post a total of 217 in 49.3 overs.

West Indies, in the pursuit of claiming it’s first major trophy since the 1979 World Cup win, lost too many early wickets with Flintoff and Harmison sharing 5 wickets between them. Chanderpaul steadied the innings with a resilient 47 off 66, before being dismissed by Collingwood. The burden fell on the hands of Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw, with West Indies needing 71 off 99 deliveries with only 2 wickets in hand. The unusual thing on that day was Giles wasn’t given the ball. With the pair ticking the runs, scoring occasional boundaries, West Indies were cruising towards the target steadily. By hitting 2 boundaries in the penultimate over, West Indies secured their first major win in 25 years.

2006 ICC Champions Trophy:

West Indies Vs Australia, Mumbai, 18 October

Brain Lara and Runako Morton put on a vital partnership of 137 runs for the 5th wicket.

The 5th edition of the ICC Champions Trophy was held in India with Australia entering the tournament as favorites. Australia and West Indies had previously played in the finals of the DLF cup, which Australia had won convincingly by 127 runs. Going into the match, Australia had a very strong batting line up and bowling attack. They clearly had the upper hand over the fragile West Indies.

The toss was won by West Indies and they chose to bat first in the day/night encounter. The Caribbeans suffered early blows with the dismissals of their top four batsmen inside 15 overs. They were struggling at 63/4 at the end of 15 overs. Then Runako Morten and Brain Lara would put on a partnership of 137 runs off 176 deliveries and take West Indies past 200 on a wearing Brabourne pitch. Morton would end up unbeaten on 90, and helped West Indies post a total of 234 for the loss of 6 wickets in 50 overs.

Australia, set a target of 235, had early setbacks with Ponting and Watson dismissed cheaply. Gilchrist, on the other hand, played the anchor role, who held the innings together for the Aussies. Australia slipped further to 81-4 at the end of 20th over, which was a result of some disciplined bowling from West Indies. Then Clarke and Gilchrist would put on a partnership of 101 runs, taking them very close to the target before a mix up claimed Gilchrist’s wicket. Clarke and Hussey would then carry on before Bravo claims the vital wicket of Clarke with a lethal slower delivery. Jerome Taylor would claim wickets of Hussey and Lee in the very next over of successive deliveries, making life difficult for the Aussies. Australia were made to score 16 off the last over and Taylor would claim his first hat-trick of his career bowling Hogg around his legs. Australia ended their innings at 224 for the loss of 9 wickets.

These two teams would meet again in the finals, where Australia won comfortably by 8 wickets to claim their first Champions Trophy title.

2009 ICC Champions Trophy:

Australia Vs Pakistan, Centurion , 30 September

Michael Hussey scored a valiant 64 against Pakistan

The 2009 edition was initially scheduled to be played at Pakistan in 2008. But due to security problems, several players opted out of the tournament, thereby postponing it. South Africa was chosen as the hosting nation for the 2009 edition. Pakistan had earlier won against West Indies and India comfortably, and confirmed their semi final spot. Australia with a washed out match against India, were desperate for a win to book a semi final spot.

Australia had won the toss and elected to field first. Kamran Akmal provided a solid start to Pakistan’s innings with a well constructed 44 off 63 balls. Mohammad Yusuf and Misbah Ul Haq would then contribute significantly to Pakistan’s total, scoring 45 and 41 runs respectively, helping Pakistan post 205-6 at the end of 50 overs on a slow wicket.

Australia, set a target of 206, were cruising easily at 140 for 2 in 31 overs, with Ponting and Hussey at the crease when things started to change drastically. Shoaib Malik claimed the vital wicket of Ponting, which triggered a batting collapse for the Aussies. Credit to some brilliant bowling from Pakistan, reduced Australia to 187 for 8 with 19 required from 25 balls. The Aussies needed to tie this match at least, for a semi final spot. The 46th over turned out to be a maiden from Naved-Ul-Hasan. This left Australia needing 18 of the last three overs. Brett Lee and Nathan Hauritz scored a boundary each and ran some quick singles, leaving Australia 4 runs to score of the final over, with 3 runs to qualify. Umar Gul was handed the ball and he was firing in-swinging yorkers at both the batsmen, who finally would manage to cross the margin and propel Australia to the semi final, where they would win against England comfortably. They would then go on to take the Champions trophy title for the second consecutive time by beating the Kiwis by 6 wickets.

2013 ICC Champions Trophy:

Sri Lanka Vs New Zealand, Cardiff, 9 June

Lasith Malinga was in terrific form claiming 4 kiwi wickets.

The 2013 edition is currently being played at England. Only 6 games have been played so far and this edition has already produced a thriller. New Zealand and Sri Lanka had played their first match of the tournament. The Kiwis were the favorites going into the match on the back of 2-1 series win over England in England recently.

Sri Lanka had won the toss and chose to bat in this encounter. The New Zealand bowlers made the best out of the conditions, troubling the Lankans with some decent bowling and brilliant fielding. Sangakkara played the anchor role while the rest of the batting unit stumbled around him. Sangakkara, with his knock of 68 off 87 deliveries, helped Sri Lanka post a meager total of 138 in 37.5 overs, leaving the Kiwis a target of 139.

The Kiwis were smoothly sailing at 48 for 1, when a triple strike shattered the New Zealand unit and brought Lanka into the game. The latter made further breakthroughs into the batting lineup and reduced New Zealand to 80 for 6, 59 runs away from the target. The McCullum brothers joined hands for the 7th wicket and put on 35 runs before the younger sibling, B. McCullum, got bowled by Malinga. The Lankan bowler also claimed N. McCullum, leaving the Kiwis at 122-8, with 17 to win. Malinga was in inspired form as he threatened to take the match away from the Kiwis. He was firing yorkers at the tailenders. An unexpected run-out of Kyle Mills further spiced up the encounter. The last pair, T Southee and MJ McClenaghan, held their nerve and took New Zealand past the target.

This current edition is far from being over and will surely produce some interesting encounters as most of the teams are evenly matched. I, being a die hard fan of cricket, hope that the final edition ends on a fitting note.