India v Australia

At Bangalore, November 12, 2003 (day/night). Australia won by 61 runs. Australia 5 pts, India 1 pt. Toss: Australia.

India welcomed back Nehra, one of the success stories of the World Cup, from a seven-month injury lay-off, but Gilchrist hit three fours off his first over. Things got no better, and Nehra was dropped for the rest of the series. Gilchrist hit eight fours and a six in a 42-ball fifty, and added five more boundaries before his century arrived 52 balls later. He eventually fell to Kumble in the 34th over, having steered his side to 198 for two, and set the scene for an all-out assault. Ponting, who scratched and searched during the early stages of his innings, hit his straps after the departure of Gilchrist and took only 31 balls to go from fifty to a century. Chasing 348, India never seriously threatened, although Tendulkar batted well for his 89, and the others all chanced their arms as the required run-rate escalated.

Man of the Match: A. C. Gilchrist.