Australia v India

At Centurion, February 15, 2003. Australia won by nine wickets. Toss: India.

This was the Australia the rest of the world had been dreading: an unstoppable force, which blasted away one of their most highly-fancied rivals through force of reputation and a swinging ball. India, uneasy against Holland, were quivering here - all nervous edges and twitches, with no vivacious strokeplay until Harbhajan Singh briefly revelled in the freedom of a lost cause. McGrath's probing line and Lee's waspish pace created the nervy mood but it was Gillespie who snuffed out India's hopes. Instead of respite, he provided mean accuracy at first change, bowling ten overs straight through and taking three for 13. India's last hope evaporated with Tendulkar, removed by a magical slow off-cutter from Gillespie. Their top six had made 51 between them. It took Australia just 22.2 overs to overtake India's lowest-ever World Cup total, as Gilchrist and Hayden entertained those of the crowd who were not burying their heads in their hands, and despairing at the apparent inevitability of it all.

Man of the Match: J. N. Gillespie. Attendance: 17,730.