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InDepth headlines national business sports cricket regional entertainment technology world travel autos health | in-depth coverage > Cricket World Cup 2003 > Awesome Aussies storm into World Cup final 21.57 IST 18th Mar 2003 By Manish Kumar Defending champions Australia stormed into the World Cup final by beating former champions Sri Lanka by 48 runs in the first semi-final at St. George's Park in Port Elizabeth on March 18. Chasing 213 runs to win, the Lankans were 123/7 in 38.1 overs, with Kumar Sangakkara (39) and Chaminda Vaas (21) at the crease, when it started raining. According to the Duckworth Lewis system, Sri Lanka needed to be 172/7, but they were 49 runs short. The Lankans, playing this match with eight specialist batsmen, failed to rise up to the occasion and chase what looked like an easily getable target. The Lankan downfall started early when Brett Lee clean bowled Marvan Atapattu for 14 with a delivery that was clocked at 160.1 kph. Skipper Sanath Jayasuriya was next to go giving a simple catch to square leg to Andrew Symonds off Glenn McGrath for 17. Sri Lanka were 37/2 in 8.5 overs. In the next over, Lee had Hashan Tillakaratne (3) to edge an outswinger for keeper Adam Gilchrist to take the catch. In his next over, Lee took the wicket of Avishka Gunawardene (1) caught at second slip by skipper Ricky Ponting. After 13 overs and Sri Lanka tottering at 51/5, Andy Bichel was introduced in the attack. Sangakkara flicked Bichel’s first delivery and called Aravinda De Silva for a quick single. A superb athlete that he is, Bichel collected the ball in his left hand on his follow-through, changed it into his right hand and while turning threw at the keeper’s end. Bichel hit the stumps direct and De Silva was short of his crease. De Silva scored 11 runs, in what could be his last one-dayer. Left arm chinaman bowler Brad Hogg accounted for the next two batsmen Mahela Jayawardene (5) and Russel Arnold (3) to further reduce the Lankans to 76/7. Earlier, Ponting won the toss and elected to bat. Aussie openers Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden gave their team a flying start scoring 34 runs in just 5 overs. After 5 overs, Jayasuriya introduced De Silva in the attack and a ball later, Gilchrist (22) gave himself out. Trying to sweep, Gilchrist edged the ball onto his pads, which ballooned in the air for keeper Sangakkara to take an easy catch. The Lankans appealed, but South African umpire Rudi Koertzen turned it down. But in an extraordinary display of sportsmanship, Gilchrist knew that he was out, walked towards the pavilion. Vaas then dismissed Ponting (2) and Hayden (20) to reduce the Aussies to 51/3 to take his total tally of wickets in this World Cup to 23. Vaas broke the record of Kiwi Geoff Allot and Aussie Shane Warne, who took 20 wickets in the 1999 World Cup. Australia were rescued by a 93-run partnership between Darren Lehmann and Symonds for the fourth wicket. When the Australian score was 111 with Symonds on 33, Sangakkara missed an easy stumping chance off his skipper Jayasuriya. That proved fatal in the end for Symonds top scored for his side with an unbeaten 91, hitting seven fours and a huge six. The powerfully built Symonds was adjudged the Man of the Match. Lehmann chipped in with 36 runs, while Bichel remained not out on 19 as the Aussies scored 212/7 in their 50 overs. This is the fifth time that Australia have reached the World Cup final. They were the runners-up in 1975, winners in 1987, runners-up in 1996 and winners in 1999. The second semi-final is between India and Kenya in Durban on Thursday. Cricket World Cup : Live Coverage, Match Reports, Score Cards in-depth coverage > Cricket World Cup 2003 > |
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