2007
Australia complete a World Cup hat-trick
It was what the tournament most craved, what West Indies most needed - a winning start for the hosts. Dwayne Smith's 3 for 36 did just that, felling Pakistan by 54 runs.•AFP
Where Bermuda failed, Ireland succeeded - with noise, belief and verve. Their debut World Cup match, a thrilling tie against Zimbabwe, launched their successful tournament.•AFP
Minnows no more. Bangladesh's trouncing of India was kickstarted by Mashrafe Mortaza...•Getty Images
Leverock's stunning one-handed catch to dismiss Robin Uthappa was just about the only highlight of Bermuda's pitiful World Cup campaign. India showed just who was boss with a 257-run walloping. •AFP
The eyes have it. Muttiah Muralitharan sparked into life with a devastating 3 for 41 in Sri Lanka's hammering of India.•Getty Images
South Africa crept home against Sri Lanka, albeit snatching victory from the jaws of defeat - they needed four runs with five wickets remaining when Lasith Malinga nearly did for them, running through their middle and lower orders.•AFP
Dilhara Fernando demonstrated the steel in Sri Lanka's squad with 3 for 41, downing England in a match they had appeared to be in control of.•Getty Images
Where is everyone? Far from involving the locals, the tournament excluded them with exorbitant ticket prices and stringent rules.•Getty Images
Sri Lanka proved their dominance in the semi-final against New Zealand. Mahela Jayawardene stroked a sublime 115 from just 109 to take his side to 289 for 5...•Getty Images
At last. The final, between Australia and Sri Lanka.•AFP
And though Kumar Sangakkara briefly threatened, in his assault of 54, the rain again came tumbling down, leaving Sri Lanka's hopes in the hands of Duckworth Lewis. They went off, they came back on, and not even the umpires knew what Sri Lanka's target was. •Getty Images
Bermuda's Dwayne Leverock was an unlikely early star, but Sri Lanka routed them for just 78 in their first match, giving credence to the critics' insistence that minnows offered the tournament little.•Getty Images
The enjoyment Ireland's cricketers showed on the pitch was matched (and in some cases bettered) by their exuberant fans in the stands.•AFP
...helped on its way by Tamim Iqbal's ferocious 53-ball 51...•AFP
Another game, another shock. Ireland, again, were underestimated, this time by a listless Pakistan, who were beaten by three wickets, sending them out of the World Cup. The win was, and will forever be, overshadowed by the death of Pakistan's coach, Bob Woolmer, less than 24 hours later.•AFP
Matthew Hayden's ominous power and consistency were the tournament's hallmarks. His fierce 66-ball hundred against South Africa was the fastest in all World Cups at the time.•Getty Images
Robin Peterson eventually managed to hit the winning run, prompting wild celebrations not entirely in keeping with a match where South Africa were cruising. Eyebrows continued to be raised over their mental frailties for the rest of the tournament.•AFP
More giant-killing from Bangladesh, who walloped South Africa by 67 runs. Mohammad Ashraful began the carnage with 87 in Bangladesh's impressive (but by no means insurmountable) 251 for 8
... •Getty Images
Brian Lara announced his retirement from all international cricket and was treated to one last thriller against England, who, in what was the final match of the tournament for both sides, won by a single wicket. •AFP
And with four wickets from Murali, Sri Lanka were in the final (where it turned out they would play Australia, in a repeat of 1996).•Getty Images
But the rain forced everyone to wait a bit longer.•AFP
Finally Australia's win was confirmed•AFP
Kevin Pietersen was England's standout batsman throughout their Caribbean calamity, but one man could not a team make. New Zealand began the World Cup strongly, starting with a six-wicket win over England. •Getty Images
...and finished up, in style, by Mushfiqur Rahim. India were humbled, the tournament was alive•AFP
Players observed a minute's silence in the days following Woolmer's death•Getty Images
Graeme Smith threatened to chase down 378 single handedly, with a brilliant 74 from 69, while AB de Villiers cracked an even racier 92 from just 70. South Africa's middle and lower orders capitulated, though.•AFP
Ireland continued their promising campaign with a 74-run win over Bangladesh - in a match that Indian and Pakistani fans had hoped would be between their teams, before both those sides were knocked out of the competition.•AFP
...before Abdur Razzaq took 3 for 25 to dismiss South Africa for 184.•AFP
The fans gave Lara a rapturous farewell, though he made just 18.•Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images
The pre-match talk before the second semi revolved around South Africa's mental frailties, and sure enough they came home to roost. Shaun Tait cut through South Africa's top and middle orders and Australia dismissed them for a feeble 149.•Getty Images
And when it did get underway, the fans were treated to a gem of a one-day innings: Adam Gilchrist's brilliant 149 was the highest individual score in a World Cup final, leading Australia to an imposing 281 for 4 from 38 overs.•Getty Images
Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, two of them three-time World Cup winners, savour the victory.•Getty Images