The same two sides that will face each other in the final of the TVS Cup on Tuesday were deserved finalists of the world’s biggest tournament when it reached its climax in March of this year.

Australia made it through to the final game undefeated while India had only suffered one reverse - in the pool stages against Australia. Played in front of a capacity crowd - most of who were rooting for India, the atmosphere in the stadium was electric.

Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly won the toss and elected to field first - believing that the wicket would offer his seamers some early assistance. There was also the small matter of thunderstorms - Johannesburg is renowned for its late summer storms and Ganguly clearly figured that his side would have the advantage if there was a wet outfield. Duckworth-Lewis calculations could also be a factor... the host nation would testify to that having earlier been knocked out in a rain-affected match in Durban.

Ganguly may have won the toss but his bowlers didn’t get the start he wanted. The crowd were still trying to get into the stadium when the carnage began. Zaheer Khan conceded 15 runs from the opening over and the tone was set.

Reigning champions Australia were in no mood to relinquish their title or their undefeated record. Matthew Hayden found the mid-off fence in the opening over while Khan gifted the men in yellow an incredible 8 extras.

At the other end Javagal Srinath did his best to keep it tight. He performed admirably but was unable to bring about a breakthrough. Instead the Baggy Green batsmen raced their way past the 100 mark before Adam Gilchrist chanced his arm once to often and was caught by Virender Sehwag from the bowling of Harbhajan Singh.

It was a fine knock from Gilchrist who made a brisk 57 from 48 deliveries. Matthew Hayden fell soon after, as Singh claimed his second wicket. It was a fine delivery from the man in the turban - it pitched on leg and spun viciously across the hulking Hayden. A thin edge and Rahul Dravid behind the stumps gobbled the chance.

It was the last chance India were to take as Damien Martyn joined his skipper Ricky Ponting and the pair took the attack to another level.

Hayden and Gilchrist may be regarded as the most dangerous hitters in the Australian team, but on the day it was the skipper who showed that he could match them for attacking instinct and batting brilliance.

Sixes rained down on the crowd as Ponting decimated the India attack. Srinath ended with figures of 10-0-87-0 while Khan went for almost ten an over, ending with 7-0-67-0.
Quite simply, Ponting’s knock was one of the best ever innings played in an ODI. Given that it was the final of the World Cup and not a meaningless pool game in one of the many mindless tournaments that dot the cricket calendar made it even more special. Eight times he cleared the ropes and on another four he found the fence. 140 runs from just 120 balls was surely enough to win the game for Australia.

While Ponting dominated, Martyn supported with a fine 88 at more than run-a-ball. However such was the ferocity of Ponting's batting that Martyn’s contribution went largely unnoticed. Together the Australian pair had rewritten the record books. Their stand was a new partnership record for any wicket at the Wanderers, a new partnership record for any wicket by Australia in ODIs and a new partnership record for any wicket in a World Cup final.
When a grateful Srinath bowled the final ball of the 50th over - which unsurprisingly was sent to the fine-leg fence for four - Australia had reached 359/2.

It was a huge score and it seemed impossible that India could chase it down - no team had ever chased such a huge target successfully and the pressure was firmly on the men from Asia.

But Sachin Tendulkar isn’t the most revered batsman in the game for nothing and until he was out Australia wouldn’t be taking anything for granted. The little maestro had been in superb form all tournament and even going into the final his status as Player of the Tournament was assured. His opening partner Virender Sehwag has been in less impressive form however - it wasn’t going to be easy.

Just to make matters interesting massive thunderclouds could be seen developing on the horizon - would they come early enough to save India?

Glenn McGrath opened the attack for Australia and predictably Tendulkar was on strike. The chase started with three dot balls before the little prodigy from Mumbai leaned back and swatted McGrath effortlessly over midwicket for four. But it wasn’t to be Tendulkar’s day and he was out next ball, having a go at one that couldn’t be hit - the ball looped up tamely to McGrath who held the catch in his follow through. India 4/1. It was a massive blow for India - a potentially unrecoverable one.

But just as the crowd started to think it was all over Sehwag came good. Having battled for form all tournament Delhi’s answer to Tendulkar started to find the middle of his bat again.  Firstly in tandem with Ganguly and then Dravid, Sehwag ensured that India stayed close to the required run rate.

Then it rained. Having seen the shower moving closer Sehwag had taken his chance to attack. Particularly severe on Darren Lehmann and Brad Hogg he plundered the spinners in the overs ahead of the break hitting 27 runs from the three overs that preceded the arrival of the covers.

India were right up with the run-rate but the shower didn’t last and after a short break the players were back in the middle. No overs were lost and the game continued as if there had been no interruption.

The chase continued and India were looking good as Dravid and Sehwag added 88 for the fourth wicket. But the pressure eventually told as Sehwag pushed to Lehman at mid-off. The bulky Lehmann gathered quickly and took aim at the non-strikers’ stumps. Sehwag was quick but Lehmann’s throw beat him. The TV umpire was called for and he confirmed what the Australians were already celebrating. Sehwag was out for 88; the World Cup was almost certainly going back to Sydney.

Dravid and Yuvraj Singh kept on fighting and played some glorious shots, but it seemed that everybody in the stadium had resigned themselves to an Aussie victory.

The end came quickly as Andrew Symonds bagged 2/7 before McGrath claimed the wicket of Zaheer Khan to finish with figures of 3/52. India were all out for 234 giving Australia victory by 125 runs as the curtain came down on a fantastic tournament with on of the most memorable games of ODI cricket ever played.

By: Anthony Pascoe