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Aussie victory India falls to defending champs in finalPosted: Sunday March 23, 2003 11:24 AMUpdated: Sunday March 23, 2003 2:38 PM JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) -- Ricky Ponting's Australians shattered World Cup records and Indian dreams in a 125-run win in Sunday's final at Wanderers. Ponting's majestic unbeaten 140 off 121 balls was the highest score in a World Cup final and Australia's 359 for two was a record total for a title match in cricket's quadrennial showpiece. Glenn McGrath chimed in with three wickets as the Australians skittled India for 234 in 39.2 overs to extend their winning stretch to 17 matches, collect an unprecedented third world title and become the first team to defend the Cup since the West Indies in 1979. "It says a lot about our team," said Ponting. "It's a very, very good team -- we've known that for a long time. But, when World Cups come around, you've got to play your best when it counts, and we've done that." Coincidentally, 234 was the record partnership Ponting and Damien Martyn, not out 88, shared to guide Australia from 125 for two in the 20th over to the record total. Darren Lehmann, who scored the winning runs in Australia's lopsided final win over Pakistan at Lord's in 1999, produced a critical run out and two catches that helped end India's chances. The Australian top-order had been criticized for being inconsistent despite Australia's 10 previous wins in this tournament, but Ponting said it peaked at just the right time. "Yeah, it was nice ... probably a bit overdue," said Ponting, who finished with 415 runs in the series. "I didn't get many (runs) in the leadup games, but I saved it up for the final." "We'd been building up for this. The batters took it upon themselves to stand up and get some runs," added Ponting. "I'm lost for words at the moment." Rain that threatened to send the match into a reserve day started pelting down after the Australians were presented with the Cup and the US$2 million winners' check. The Aussies waved national flags and inflatable kangaroos in a victory lap for the vocal contingent of antipodeans among the 31,779 crowd. "It's a bit disappointing, but all credit to them," Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly said. "It wasn't an easy wicket to bat on early, but they did it. They played like world champions." Ganguly won the toss and sent Australia into bat, hoping his pace attack could get early wickets. It backfired. "Obviously we didn't win here, we're disappointed, but we've done (India) proud," he said. "We couldn't bring the Cup home, but the way we played through the whole series -- although Australia was a better team than us -- we can go home with our heads high." The Australians previously won the World Cup in 1987 and '99 and had six players backing up from the last final at Lord's. India hadn't reached a final since Kapil Dev's team upset the West Indies in 1983. Its only losses here were against Australia. McGrath, in his third consecutive World Cup final, ended the match when he had Zaheer Khan (4) caught by Lehmann. The 33-year-old paceman finished with 3-52. Opener Virender Sehwag scored a run-a-ball 82 before he was run out on a direct hit by Lehmann. His dismissal spelled the end of India's hopes. Sehwag was at the non-striker's end when Tendulkar (4) -- who'd secured the player-of-the-tournament honors with 669 runs before the final -- was caught and bowled by McGrath on the fifth ball. He then shared a 54-run stand off 59 balls with Ganguly (24) before India lost two quick wickets to slip to 59 for three, with Brett Lee and McGrath working in tandem. He blazed three sixes and two boundaries and shared an 88-run stand with Rahul Dravid before he was out attempting a single to make the score 147 for four. Dravid notched 47 before he dragged an Andy Bichel delivery back onto his stumps. Yuvraj Singh (24) tried to hit against the spin of Brad Hogg and was caught in the outfield by Lee, ending his run of chances. Andrew Symonds removed Dinesh Mongia (12) and Harbhajan Singh and Lee increased his tournament haul to 22 wickets when he bowled Javagal Srinath as India slumped to 226 for nine. A 26-minute rain interruption, when India was 103 for three in the 17th over, had earlier threatened to force an abandonment. But as soon as the second innings went into a 26th over, a Sunday outcome was guaranteed. Earlier, Ponting's 13th limited-overs century and his third-wicket stand with Martyn helped propel Australia to its highest total in 534 limited-overs matches. He plundered the attack for eight huge sixes and four boundaries, after notching just one boundary to reach 50 off 74 balls. Exploiting a fast, even wicket similar to conditions at home, the Australians got away to a flyer with Adam Gilchrist (57) and Matt Hayden (37) putting on 105 for the first wicket. Offspinner Harbhajan stemmed the run flow, for a while, when he removed the openers as Australians lost two wickets within 20 runs. But Ponting and Martyn consolidated and helped Australia overhaul the previous highest total in a World Cup final by the 45th over. The West Indies' record total 291 for eight (off 60 overs) had stood since the inaugural World Cup final against Australia in 1975. Ponting became the first Australian to score a century in a World Cup final and only the fourth overall. Martyn, who missed Australia's semifinal win over Sri Lanka with a fractured right index finger, had stroked six boundaries and reached his 50 off 46 balls. Then Ponting took charge, smacking Harbhajan for consecutive sixes over mid wicket when the offspinner was brought back into attack in the 39th over. India's seamers, with a combined 49 wickets in the tournament, bowled too short and failed again against Australians. In the first over, Zaheer Khan conceded 15 runs, including two no balls and six wides. He finished with 0-67 off seven overs. Srinath, who conceded two boundaries and a six to Gilchrist in the eighth over, returned 0-87. Harbhajan had figures of 2-49 to finish with 11 wickets for the tournament.
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