Top 5 Batting Performance In A World Cup Final

#3 Punter plays a captain knock in 2003

The Australian team of the 2000s were invincible. They dominated both the formats and were the hot favourites to win the 2003 world cup in South Africa. As expected, they had a very good run in the tournament and were undefeated in the league stage.

The semis was against Sri Lanka and they got across the line comfortably winning the match by 48 runs(D/L method). They faced the challenge of the Indians in the finals at Johannesburg whom they had defeated convincingly in the league stage by 9 wickets. Indians put the opposition into bat in the finals and that strategy backfired in the first over when Zaheer went for 15 runs in the first over.

They got a 105-run stand from the openers and then came in captain, Ricky Ponting at 3. He was good to go from the first ball and took the bowlers on. He scored a majestic unbeaten 140 which consisted of 4 boundaries and 8 sixes. This took the team’s score to a mammoth 359 in 50 overs. The Indians had an uphill task of chasing 360, but couldn’t get the start they needed when Sachin got out for 4 in the first over. Sehwag’s 82 and Dravid’s 47 went in vain as the Aussies defended their title by 125 runs.