The 2003 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya saw 14 teams take part — the most ever at that time. Namibia made their World Cup debut, while the Netherlands and Canada were both appearing in the tournament for the second time, having previously appeared in 1996 and 1979, respectively.
Ace Australian spinner Shane Warne was sent home in embarrassing circumstances, only the day before their opening game, after a drug test during a lead-up competition revealed he had taken a banned substance.
There were plenty of upsets during the tournament, with South Africa, Pakistan, West Indies and England all being eliminated at the first group stage.
England forfeited their match with Zimbabwe due to political unrest in the country, which ultimately enabled the co-hosts to reach the Super Sixes. Kenya, a non-Test-playing nation, incredibly made it to the semi-finals before their dream run came to an end as India beat them comprehensively in the last-four at Durban, after Sachin Tendulkar (83) and Sourav Ganguly (111) saw India post 270 for four.
The Aussies made it to the semis and beat Sri Lanka by the Duckworth-Lewis method after rain interrupted play. Chasing 213, Sri Lanka were tottering at 123 for seven after 38.1 overs when rain arrived and they were well below the par score.
In the final, Ganguly’s speedsters Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath were ineffective as Adam Gilchrist (57) and Matthew Hayden (37) shared an opening stand of 105 in 14 overs.
Ganguly got the breakthrough by bringing on Harbhajan Singh early and Australia were two down for 125. But then captain Ricky Ponting (140 not out from 121 balls) and Damien Martyn (88 not out from 84 balls) smashed the Indian bowlers to all parts of the ground and put on an unbeaten partnership of 234 runs in 30.1 overs — an Australian record for one-day cricket — to ensure the team posted a mammoth 359 for two.
India lost Tendulkar in the first over, but Virender Sehwag’s 82 from 81 balls maintained a high scoring rate.
When rain interrupted play, India were 103 for three after 17 overs. When the match resumed, Sehwag was run out and thereafter India kept losing wickets and eventually lost the match by 125 runs.
Ponting was named man of the match and Tendulkar was named man of the series.
