Bad memories for Indian fans: Ricky Ponting shares picture of bat which shattered India’s World Cup dream
On this day (March 23) in 2003, Australia defeated India by 125 runs to win the World Cup in Johannesburg. It was a forgettable day for Indian fans as Ricky Ponting smashed 140 not out in the final. Now, amid a lockdown due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Ponting shared images of his cricket bat which he used to score a century against India
FollowBengaluru: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on Monday (March 23) shared pictures of the bat that he used to score a century against India in the World Cup 2003 final in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Exactly, on this day (March 23) in 2003, Australia defeated India by 125 runs in the title clash to lift the World Cup. It was a day that belonged to the “Men in yellow” with skipper Ponting leading form the front with an epic 140 not out.
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Celebrating the anniversary of the World Cup triumph, Ponting took to the micro-blogging website Twitter to post a picture of the bat that he used to score a hundred in the final.
Ponting wrote, “Given we've all got a bit of time on our hands as we stay at home, thought I'd go through what I've kept from my career and share some of it with everyone on a regular basis - this is the bat I used in the 2003 World Cup final.”
After being sent into bat by India captain Sourav Ganguly, Australia posted a mammoth 359/2 in 50 overs. Ponting was unbeaten on 140 off 121 balls with four fours and eight sixes. Damien Martyn was not out on 88 off 84 with seven fours and a six. Adam Gilchrist (57) and Matthew Hayden (37) put on 105 runs for the first wicket in 14 overs.
Harbhajan Singh was the only Indian bowler to find success. He dismissed both openers, Gilchrist and Hayden. Ponting and Martyn added 234 runs in an unfinished partnership for the third wicket.
In reply, India were bowled out for 234 in 39.2 overs. Virender Sehwag was the top-scorer with 82 off 81 balls with 10 fours and three sixes. Glenn McGrath took three wickets while Brett Lee and Andrew Symonds had two victims apiece.
It was one of the forgettable days for Indian cricket fans. That bad memory has returned due to Ponting amid the country being under a lockdown due to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
