Sunday, 23 March, 2003, 16:38 GMT
Marks out of 10 for all the players at the cricket World Cup final in which Australia beat India by 125 runs.
Ricky Ponting: A superb captain's innings from
Ponting, who hit an unbeaten 140. After a shaky start he hit his second century of the World Cup with some fantastic shots, including eight sixes. His first fifty was achieved in 74 balls and the second in just 29 deliveries as he shared a World Cup final record 234-run partnership with Martyn. Inspirational in the field, too.
Gilchrist batted in his usual swashbuckling style and got Australia off to a flying start, racing to his fifty off only 40 balls, but the adrenalin got the better off him and he scooped Harbhajan to Virender Sehwag on the boundary for 57.
Played a good supporting role to Gilchrist's fireworks and danced down the crease a number of times to pick off Srinath and Zaheer. Looked to be heading for his second fifty of the tournament but was deceived by Harbhajan and got a faint edge which was well caught by wicket-keeper Dravid for 37.
Damien Martyn: There was no evidence Martyn
was suffering with a broken finger as he batted with confidence to record an unbeaten 88, his highest score at the World Cup. He shared in a record World Cup final 234-run partnership with Ponting. Dropped Yuvraj Singh but made up for it with a brilliant catch to dismiss Mongia.
Did not have to bat but was impressive in the field. His direct hit ran out India dangerman Virender Sehwag on 82. Lehmann also claimed a good catch to dismiss captain Sourav Ganguly and he caught last-man out Zaheer Khan, too.
He was not called upon to bat and did nothing special in the field. Bevan had earned his Cup winners medal earlier in the tournament with some dogged innings to rescue Australia out of some tight spots.
Not required to bat and missed what seemed a straightforward catch to dismiss Yuvraj Singh. Brought on to bowl late in the innings and had immediate success, dismissing Mongia and Harbhajan.
Caused problems with the flipper and bowled reasonably well to restrict India without taking any wickets. His performance in the final showed he is no match for the missing Shane Warne. A total of 61 runs came off his 10 overs.
Has been in great form throughout the tournament and his workmanlike bowling in the final thwarted India from getting close to their target. Was rewarded with a wicket when he bowled Rahul Dravid.
Impressive throughout the World Cup, Lee continued his fine bowling in the final. He took the prized wicket of India captain Sourav Ganguly and Javagal Srinath and also held a good catch to dismiss Yuvraj Singh. He ended the final with figures of two for 31.
Trademark line and length accuracy by the Aussie paceman saw him dismiss Man of the Tournament Sachin Tendulkar in the first over. He added the scalp of Kaif for a duck and Zaheer Khan to end the final with figures of three for 52.
Sourav Ganguly: Won the toss and elected to field, believing there would be
moisture in the pitch. His bowlers let him down and left India needing a record-breaking total to win. Ganguly took the fight to Australia with some enterprising shots but was out for 24, caught by Lehmann attempting a hook shot.
Sachin Tendulkar: He may have been
declared Man of the Tournament but Tendulkar failed when it really mattered and the pressure was on. He hit McGrath for four but was out the next ball, caught and bowled in the first over. He also put in a cameo with the ball but was expensive, conceding 20 runs in three overs.
Virender Sehwag: Has not been in
top form at this World Cup but saved his best for the final. He hit a superb 82 off just 81 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes before being run-out by a direct hit from Lehmann.
Under immense pressure to perform quickly, Kaif had no time to get his eye in. He gave his wicket away when he nicked a catch to Gilchrist for a duck.
Put in a dogged performance at the crease in an attempt to save India. Not many flashy shots from the player nicknamed The Wall and was unlucky when he dragged onto his stumps when nearing a half-century. He also took a good catch behind the stumps to get rid of Matthew Hayden.
He was dropped by Martyn on five and later by the sleeping Symonds before a great catch by Lee dismissed him for 24. Was in good form in the field, making a number of excellent stops to prevent even more Australia boundaries. Pitched in with the ball too, bowling two overs for 12 runs.
Preferred to spinner Kumble to give India an extra batsman, and he showed some fantastic strokeplay but was out mistiming a lofted shot which was brilliantly caught by Martyn. He bowled well to restrict Australia, conceding 39 runs in seven overs.
Harbhajan Singh: The only Indian bowler to take any wickets. The spinner
hoodwinked Gilchrist and Hayden to give India a bit of relief. However he was expensive when he returned for his second spell, with Ponting clubbing him for two successive sixes. Harbhajan finished with two for 49 off his eight overs.
Zaheer Khan: Had a torrid time with
the ball, with 15 runs coming off his first over. Never settled and looked overawed by the occasion and could not get his line or length right. Conceded 67 runs in just seven overs.
Javagal Srinath: The opening seam bowler never got into his stride and was
punished by all the Australia batsmen. He bowled his full 10-over quota and conceded a whopping 87 runs, recording no maidens and taking no wickets.
Ashish Nehra: The only pace bowler to
keep his figures respectable in what proved to be a massive innings for Australia. Nehra was also playing with an ankle injury, which will be operated on after the final. He recorded figures of none for 57 off his 10 overs.
AUSTRALIA WIN WORLD CUP
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