Magnificent Australia a team beyond compare

Australia 359-2 India 234 Australia win by 125 runs

When the Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, raised the World Cup trophy at The Wanderers Ground here yesterday, it was no less than he and his magnificent team deserved. Australia have remained unbeaten throughout this tournament and, following their 125-run victory over India in the final, they are a team beyond compare.

Playing limited-overs cricket to a standard others can only aspire to, Australia's demolition of India, comfortably the second-best side in the tournament, highlighted just how wide the gulf is between them and the rest.

Led by their captain, the reigning champions chose the biggest of stages to produce another breathtaking performance which allowed them to retain the ultimate prize in cricket. In an outstanding all-round display it was Ponting, however, who was Australia's inspiration. For it was his superb innings, an unbeaten 140, and his unbroken partnership of 234 with Damien Martyn which allowed his side to post the huge total of 359 for 2 in their allotted 50 overs.

In the build-up to this game Australia's leader had stated that he expected the big occasion to bring out the best in his side, but he probably never dreamed it would have such a positive effect on his own performance. Ponting's score may not have been a career-best but it was the highest in a World Cup final, beating Viv Richards' effort in 1979 by two runs.

"This was without doubt my most satisfying hundred," said Ponting. "To do this when it really counted, in a big game, is fantastic. It is the best cricketing moment of my career."

While Ponting's contribution was the most telling, the innings of Martyn, who passed a fitness test on a fractured finger before the start, should not be underestimated. When Ponting was playing himself in, it was Martyn who kept the Indian bowlers under pressure.

Ponting's century, the 13th in his one-day career, was an innings of two halves. Until he passed 50 the right-hander had been watchful against the spin of Harbhajan Singh and the pace of Ashish Nehra, who were by far India's best two bowlers. After a blistering start from Adam Gilchrist and Matt Hayden, against an opening attack whose bowling was as accurate as a builder's estimate – Zaheer Khan went for 15 runs in the first over of the day, Martyn and Ponting kept the scoreboard ticking through skilful batting and excellent running between the wickets.

After passing 50 in 74 balls Ponting then decided to take matters into his own hands. The first to suffer was Harbhajan, who in the 39th over visited the stands twice. The spinner was not the last to suffer as Ponting took advantage of nervous bowling.

As six after six flew into the packed stands, the 28-year-old brought up his century in a further 29 deliveries. By the end of Australia's innings his last 90 runs had come off just 47 balls while the pair added more than 120 runs in the last 12 overs.

A finger of blame for India's demise will be pointed at their captain, Sourav Ganguly. Following heavy overnight rain, Ganguly chose to bat after winning the toss on an overcast morning. This was the correct decision and there was plenty of assistance in the pitch. Ganguly did not have a good day captaining his side but this was mainly down to the inadequacies of his bowlers, who bowled far too short and wide.

India's quest to score the 360 they required provided theatre of the highest order as their sublime batting line-up attempted to cut and carve their way to victory against the best attack in the tournament.

So much depended on Sachin Tendulkar – who was chosen as the player of the tournament – but the little master could not live up to his billing. One pull for four was all the crowd were treated to before he spooned a simple catch back to Glenn McGrath. Ganguly came in and had a go, as did Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid, but, even while they were at the crease, India's best way out were the storm clouds gathering on the horizon and the possible abandonment of the game.

The thought of a restart today gave Ponting some worrying moments as Messrs Duckworth and Lewis added to the tension but the rain that came only lasted 25 minutes, which was just enough time for Australia's bowlers to freshen up before finishing off India. The end came with over 10 overs remaining, when Zaheer offered a simple catch to Darren Lehmann, and the celebrations started for Australia.

While the Indians lick their wounds, the rest of the world has been promised no let-up from the undisputed champions. "We can get better," said the Australian coach, John Buchanan. "We can improve every part of our game, whether it be technical or tactical. It is our job to try and extend the gap and see if the rest are prepared to follow."

Betting against Australia retaining their title for a second time in 2007 may not be a wise investment.

THE WANDERERS SCOREBOARD

India won toss

AUSTRALIA
A C Gilchrist c Sehwag b Harbhajan Singh 57
M L Hayden c Dravid b Harbhajan Singh 37
R T Ponting not out 140
D R Martyn not out 88
Extras (b2 lb12 w16 nb7) 37
Total (for 2, 50 overs) 359

Fall: 1-105 (Gilchrist), 2-125 (Hayden).

Did not bat: D S Lehmann, M G Bevan, A Symonds, G B Hogg, A J Bichel, B Lee, G D McGrath.

Bowling: Zaheer Khan 7-0-67-0 (nb2, w10) (3-0-28-0 2-0-18-0 1-0-12-0 1-0-9-0), Srinath 10-0-87-0 (nb3, w2) (4-0-33-0 3-0-16-0 3-0-38-0), Nehra 10-0-57-0 (w3) (6-0-25-0 4-0-32-0), Harbhajan Singh 8-0-49-2 (7-0-35-2 1-0-14-0), Sehwag 3-0-14-0, Tendulkar 3-0-20-0 (w1), Mongia 7-0-39-0 (nb2), Yuvraj Singh 2-0-12-0 (one spell each).

Progress: 50: 36 mins, 44 balls. 100: 66 mins, 85 balls. 15 overs score: 107-1. 150: 111 mins, 149 balls. 200: 138 mins, 200 balls. 250: 162 mins, 245 balls. 300: 187 mins, 280 balls. 350: 205 mins, 306 balls.

Gilchrist 50: 61 mins, 40 balls, 7 fours, 1 six. Ponting 50: 85 mins, 74 balls, 1 four. 100: 116 mins, 103 balls, 2 fours, 5 sixes.

Martyn 50: 52 mins, 46 balls, 6 fours.

INDIA
S R Tendulkar c and b McGrath 4
V Sehwag run out (Lehmann) 82
S C Ganguly c Lehmann b Lee 24
Mohammad Kaif c Gilchrist b McGrath 0
R S Dravid b Bichel 47
Yuvraj Singh c Lee b Hogg 24
D Mongia c Martyn b Symonds 12
Harbhajan Singh c McGrath b Symonds 7
Zaheer Khan c Lehmann b McGrath 4
J Srinath b Lee 1
A Nehra not out 8
Extras (b4 lb4 w9 nb4) 21
Total (180 mins, 39.2 overs) 234

Fall: 1-4 (Tendulkar), 2-58 (Ganguly), 3-59 (Mohammad Kaif), 4-147 (Sehwag), 5-187 (Dravid), 6-208 (Yuvraj Singh), 7-209 (Mongia), 8-223 (Harbhajan Singh), 9-226 (Srinath), 10-234 (Zaheer Khan).

Bowling: McGrath 8.2-0-52-3 (6-0-39-2 2-0-13-0 0.2-0-0-1), Lee 7-1-31-2 (nb4, w2) (6-1-23-1 1-0-8-1), Hogg 10-0-61-1 (w2) (2-0-14-0 8-0-47-1), Lehmann 2-0-18-0 (1-0-12-0 1-0-6-0), Bichel 10-0-57-1 (w4), Symonds 2-0-7-2 (w1) (one spell each).

Progress: 50: 38 mins, 50 balls. 15 overs score: 88-3. 100: 77 mins, 103 balls. Rain stopped play: 3.34-3.59pm 103-3 (Sehwag 56, Dravid 12) 17 overs. 150: 112 mins, 151 balls. 200: 147 mins, 205 balls.

Sehwag 50: 72 mins, 50 balls, 7 fours, 2 sixes.

AUSTRALIA WIN BY 125 RUNS

Umpires: S A Bucknor and D R Shepherd.

TV replay umpire: R E Koertzen

Match referee: R S Madugalle

Man of the match: R T Ponting

Man of the tournament: S R Tendulkar.