2007 World Cup:

Triumph in darkness

Manoj Vatsyayana

The 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean had what every glamorous event would like to avoid the death of a coach, a final completed in darkness, early eixts of favourites and only a few close matches.

The 47-day event was not even a one-week old when Pakistan's coach Bob Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room in Jamaica. He was initially thought to have been murdered before it was announced he died of natural causes. The former England batsman's death came hours after Pakistan's shock defeat against debutants Ireland, the loss eventually leading to the exit of the 1992 champions.

Rahul Dravid's Indians made a horror start, losing to minnows Bangladesh in their opening match despite having exciting batsmen in Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh and the captain himself. It was one of the biggest upsets in the Cup history, eventually leading to India's ouster and leaving millions of fans back home disappointed.

Disappointment was also in store for spectators in Bridgetown when the rain-hit final between Australia and Sri Lanka ended in semi-darkness.

The officials believed that 36 overs had to be completed in Sri Lanka's innings, apparently forgetting a minimum of 20 were needed to obtain a result. "It was a mistake on our behalf," match-referee Jeff Crowe said after the match, the first of the nine Cup finals to be abbreviated.

"I should've known the rules. It was a human error, I guess, at the end of the day."

Adam Gilchrist dominated the final, hammering a 104-ball 149 with a squash ball in his left glove which seemed to help him hit straight.

And Australia were virtually assured of a record third successive title after posting 281-4 off 38 overs, thanks to wicket-keeper Gilchrist's blitz which contained eight sixes and 13 fours.

Sri Lankan veteran Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara made bold half-centuries but their team finished at 215-8 as their target was revised to 269 off 36 overs following a rain interruption.

NEW DELHI, AFP