On this day in 2007: Australia make it a hat-trick of World Cup wins
On 28th April 2007, the Australian cricket team achieved a feat that no other team has managed to achieve in the history of Men’s international cricket to date. They became the first-ever team to win three ODI World Cup titles in a row. The kangaroos had emerged as Champions in 1999, they had demolished every team on their way to win the title in 2003. And in 2007, they decimated Sri Lanka to win a hat trick of World Cup titles.
In the 2007 edition that was held in the Caribbean, the Aussies were unstoppable. They entered the grand finale after thrashing South Africa with 7 wickets and 18.3 overs to spare in the semifinal. And, the Ricky Ponting-led team met Sri Lanka in the final.
Gilchrist goes ablaze
On the day of the final, Australia won the toss and decided to bat first. The match was reduced to 38 overs per side. Legendary wicket keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist dished out a mauling that the Sri Lankan bowlers will not forget easily. The southpaw blasted 149 off just 104 deliveries, as Australia piled up a total of 281/4.
Sri Lanka could never really match up to the Aussies. Even though the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara scored half centuries, the team, led by Mahela Jayawardene, could only manage a total of 215/8 on the board.
All the Australian bowlers did a tidy job with the ball in hand. But, the pick of the bowlers was part-time left-arm spinner Michael Clarke. In the 5 overs that he bowled, Clarke gave away 33 runs and scalped 2 wickets. Gilchrist was adjudged the Player of the Match for his breathtaking century that allowed Australia to experience one of their proudest moments in their cricketing history.
