ICC Champions Trophy: close encounters

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.