Ricky Ponting revisits 2003 World Cup final against team India

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting scored 140 runs against India in the finals of ICC Cricket World Cup 2003.

Indian cricket team had a tough day on the field when they last took on Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup final in 2003 at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Team India, led by Sourav Ganguly, suffered a crushing defeat by 125 runs against the mighty Australians, led by Ricky Ponting. Australian skipper Ricky Ponting played a match-winning knock to win his first-ever World Cup as captain and his second successive as a member of Australian camp.

23 March became a scary date for Indian fans due to the poor performance on the field against Australians. Ricky Ponting went on to score 140 runs in 121 balls with 4 fours and 8 sixes. Ponting, along with Damien Martyn, added 234 runs for the third wicket to put India out of place in the World Cup finals. Ricky Ponting has revisited the memories of Australia’s most dominating World Cup win in 2003, Ponting won the next one in 2007 as well.

Ricky Ponting revisits the 2003 World Cup finals

Australian captain Ricky Ponting said that he started a bit slow, but the game was moving fast, and he wanted to stay at the wicket till the end. Ponting said, “It had taken me about 70 balls to get to 50. And because the game was so under control and we were scoring quickly, I wanted to make sure I was there at the end. The 12th man came out, and I said, ‘Tell the boys to strap the seatbelts on; I’m going to go flat-out from now on and see what happens.”

Australian skipper revealed that he got most of the shots in the innings from the middle of his bat. Ponting, after completing a half-century, accelerated beautifully and completed his century in 74 balls. Ponting added, “As the captain, it was my turn to stand up, and I walked off 140 not out, having shared (an Australian record) partnership with Damien Martyn at the time and posted 360 in a World Cup final. You’re walking off there, and you’re thinking, Well, that’s done.”

Australian team in the early 2000s was the most dominant one in cricket history, and the current Indian camp are also compared to Ricky Ponting’s men. Ponting, as Australian captain, went on to win the two World Cups back-to-back in 2003 and 2007. Australia won all 22 games they played in the two different editions. Australia, after losing a game in the 1999 World Cup, kept the unbeaten record going until the 2011 World Cup in India.

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