Cricket World cup : Flashbacks of World cups 2007, 2011

 

With the World cup 2023 closing in on us , we are going through the flashbacks of past world cups and will now loom at the world cups of 2007 & 2011 

2007

The 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup was the 9th edition of the Cricket World Cup tournament which was played in the West Indies from 13 March to 28 April 2007, using the One Day International (ODI) format.  A total of 51 matches were played, three fewer than the 2003 World Cup .

 The 16 competing teams were initially divided into four groups, with the two best-performing teams from each group taking on a "Super 8" format.  Of these, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and South Africa won the semi-finals, with Australia defeating Sri Lanka in the final to win their third consecutive World Cup and their fourth overall title.  Australia's unbeaten record at the tournament extended its total to 29 consecutive World Cup matches without a loss, a streak that began on 23 May 1999, during the group stage of the 1999 World Cup.  The tournament also saw upsets and surprise results, with pre-tournament favorites India and Pakistan failing to make it out of the group stage, while Bangladesh, the second-lowest ranked ICC Full Member at the time and World Cup debutant  Ireland, then an ICC Associate Member, made it to the "Super 8", defeating India and Pakistan respectively, with Ireland becoming the second Associate nation to make it past the first round of the Cricket World Cup.  

 Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer died on the day Pakistan capitulated.  The following day the police announced that the death was suspicious and ordered a full investigation. 

In the semi finals Sri Lanka beat New Zealand comfortably by 81 runs with the help of Jayawardene 115 and Murali's 4 wickets while the rampaging Aussies thrashed South Africa by 7 wickets with McGrath (3 wickets) and fiercely quick Shaun Tait (4 wickets) destroying South Africa batting (153 allout) and Australia comfortably chasing down a small target . 

In the rain shortened final  Australia batting first got 281/4 in just 38 overs and Adam Gilchrist simply destroyed the Sri Lankan bowling scoring an explosive 149 in 104 balls with 13 fours and 8 sixes . It was a blistering knock full of excellent strokeplay .

In reply Sri Lanka  needing 269 in 36 overs due to overs reductions had a good partnership between Jayasurya (63) and Sangakkara (54) but once they were dismissed Australia totally controlled the game and won  comfortably by 54 runs to win their 3rd successive world cup.

Mathew Hayden (659 runs ) and Glenn McGrath (26 wickets) were the highest rungetters and wicket takers respectively .

2011  

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 was the tenth Cricket World Cup and was hosted by the three South Asian playing Test cricket nations: India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.  This World Cup was won by India.

 This was Bangladesh's first time to co-host the Cricket World Cup.  The World Cup was modeled on international one-day cricket, with competition between 14 designated national teams. The World Cup was held between February and early April 2011, with the first match being played on 19 February 2011 .  The match between Bangladesh and India was played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka.  The opening ceremony was on 17 February 2011, two days before the start of the competition.  The final match of the World Cup was on 2 April 2011 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

 Pakistan was also expected to host the World Cup, but in the wake of the 2009 attacks on the Sri Lankan national cricket team in Lahore, the International Cricket Committee (ICC) decided to deny Pakistan the hosting rights.   

From the group stages of 16 teams  South Africa , India, England, West Indies qualified from one group while Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand  qualified from other group . South Africa looked the best team during the group stages , they won in a brilliant 296 chase vs India. Ireland caused a major upset beating England by chasing down  327 with Kevin O Brein hitting 113 . However England narrowly beat South Africa  by 6 runs to qualify for the knockouts. In the other group reigning champions Australia looked below par but qualified for the knock outs while Pakistan performed well in group stage beating Australia.

In the quarterfinals Pakistan thrashed West Indies by 10 wickets in a low scoring match , Sri Lanka surprised Ebglabd by 10 wickets chasing down 230 with Dilshan scoring 108* & Tharanga 102* . New Zealand surprised one of the top favourites South Africa  by 50 runs and the Proteas choked again and reigning champions for last 3 world cups Australia despite 104 by Ricky Ponting was sent packing by India with Yuraj Singh scoring 57* & taking 2 wickets .

In the semis Sri Lanka  outplayed New Zealand by 5 wickets chasing down a modest 217 and India beating Pakistan in a tight match by 29 runs . Tendulkar 's 85 helped India to score 260 and Pakistan kept losing wickets at the wrong times to finally get all out for 231 .

The final was played at Wankhede stadium Mumbai.  Sri Lanka batting first scored an impressive 274/6 with Mahela Jayawardene scoring a superb 103* . India lost both openers cheaply but Gautam Gambhir (97) , Virat Kohli (35) and finally MS Dhoni (91*) closing out the win with 10 balls remaining and India winning their 2nd world title after 28 years . 

Tilakratne Dilshan (500 runs) was the highest run getter while jointly Zaheer Khan & Shahid Afridi were the highest wicket takers with 21 apiece .