World Cup 2015: The Review

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The biggest event of the year was undoubtedly the most sensational. This World Cup had uncountable breath-taking moments, which was cherished by both the contenders and the viewers. Australia once again bagged the World Cup title for the 5th time, and were beyond any doubt an unequalled team. They did not allow any team to get the better of them and crushed every hurdle that came between them and the World Cup.

This tournament saw the rise of several new stars, who were instrumental for their teams victory. This world cup marked the end of the international careers for several great legends like Kumar Sangakkara, Michael Clarke, Daniel Vettori, and Brendan Taylor, Shahid Afridi, Misbah-Ul-Haq.

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New Zealand got the World Cup off to a flyer decimating Sri Lanka in Christchurch. In a game where Malinga was thwarted, the Kiwis went of to set their successful campaign with Captain McCullum starting his innings with a hack through the covers and Vettori striking when it mattered the most.

Australia kicked off the World cup on a good note by trampling England and recording a 111 runs victory. This game saw Steven Finn becoming the first England bowler to take a hat-trick after he dismissed Brad Haddin, Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Johnson off successive deliveries in the 50th and final over. Swinging it the “Mitchell” way, Strac, Johnson and Marsh were instrumental in grabbing 9 wickets.

On Sunday, David Miller and J.P.Duminy slammed tons as South Africa survived the Zimbabwe scare. Hamilton-Chamu-Taylor were the key contributors to the game but the Zimbabweans soon feel to the trap of Tahir and pacers Morkle and Philander.

India overpowered arch-rivals Pakistan to record a 76 run triumph. History was recreated in this match as The last time India and Pakistan met in an ODI at the Adelaide Oval, it was Ganguly who had scored a brilliant century. So Kohli not only equalled Dada’s  tally of 22 ODI hundreds – the second highest by any Indian, but also followed his footsteps. Pakistan dropped too many catches but Irfan delivered a beaming Yorker in the 45th over. Shami gave Irfan a tatse of his own flavor by welcoming him with a bouncer.

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Ireland pulled off a four-wicket victory over the West Indies in a Pool B encounter at the Saxton Oval, Nelson on Monday. In pursuit of a more than competitive target of 305 set by the opposition, the Irish, led by contributions from Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce and wicketkeeper-batsman Niall O’Brien, chased down the total in the 46th over and, thereby, opened their campaign on a positive note.

New Zealand withstand Scotland slide in a game where the Scotish bowlers were successful in exposing New Zealand's vulnerabilities with the bat. The hosts ran down Scotland's score in fewer than 25 overs to secure a net run rate of 2.624 - comfortably the highest in the tournament so far.

Shakib, Mortaza spoil Afghanistan's debut, as Bangladesh bowled out Afghanistan in the 43rd over and cruised to a 105 runs victory. Afghanistan failed to clench the game post 30 overs and gave away too many boundaries to the thriving partnership.

UAE’s spirited comeback was ruined by Williams and Ervine. Clinically and ruthlessly, the two broke the deadlock with a partnership of 83 off 62 balls to deny the World Cup its first real thriller, cruising home with two overs to spare.

Southee and McCullum trample England as the hosts bag an 8 wicket win. Southee's figures of 7 for 33 were the third best in a World Cup and the Skipper hammered a World Cup record 18-ball fifty as New Zealand produced a display of scarcely believable dominance in Wellington.

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The clash between Oz and Bangladesh was abandoned by rain and this disappointed all the fans at Gabba.

Pakistan suffered a humiliating loss of 105 runs at the hands of the Caribbean batsmen exhibit perfect team effort. Pakistan’s top order fell like ninepins and they missed their Yorkers. The fielding got worse as usually reliable Shahid Afridi turned out to be the biggest offender on the day.

The Men in Blue were finally able to break the South Africa jinx, recorded their first victory against them with a comprehensive win, crushing AB de Villiers’ men by a mammoth margin of 130 runs. Dhawan repaid the trust shown by the team management and scored a crucial 73 as MCG turned into “mini India” with the wave of Blue seen in the stands and the Master Blaster gracing the occasion with his prescence.

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Mahela and Thisara douse Afghanistan’s hopes as the Lankans grab a 4 wicket haul and Dunedin. Malinga earned his first wicket since his comeback and the LED stumps are always in danger when this man is around. The ailing  Shapoor Zadran produced a peach of a delivery that took off alarmingly, pecking Dilshan’s edge to the keeper.

Moeen ton gave England an opening win as they registered a 119 run victory against Scotland. Despite the modest scotish bowling attack they failed to deliver as England clobber Scotland.

Gayle, Samuels smash Zimbabwe and records as the Biggie from Caribbean set up his monumental first double century. Gayle finished on 215 from 147 balls. He hit 10 fours and sent 16 sixes flying over the straight boundary or into a group of fans dressed as a coven of witches beyond the midwicket boundary. At the other end, unnoticed, Marlon Samuels made his highest ODI score and played second fiddle in a partnership of 372, the highest for any wicket in ODIs.

Kevin O’Brien supported by Wilson seal a tense win for Ireland. UAE kept scrapping, and by the time it ended Ireland had only two wickets in hand and four balls to spare. This sensational win was like a roller coaster ride for the winners and was an entertaining experience for the spectators.

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Lanka outplayed Bangladesh and settled for a 92 run triumph as Sangakkara drew blood out of the bowlers and Dilshan finally smashed a correct reverse sweep after several attempts. Malinga’s Yorkers too gave the Bangladeshi’s scares.

History for Afghanistan, Heartbreak for Scotland. For the second time in two days the Associate head-to-head produced a magnificently compelling contest, a finish filled with tension and drama as Afghanistan's last-wicket pair hauled them to a famous one-wicket victory in Dunedin following an epic innings by Samiullah Shenwari.

The Proteas bowled out the Windies for 151 as their Captain recorded 162 off 66 deliveries. West Indies must be sick of AB de Villiers and South Africa by now. As if all those records broken in Johannesburg earlier this year were not enough, South Africa returned to embarrass them with another plethora, this time in a World Cup match.

Ice-cool Williamson wins New Zealand a thriller, This was the match the 2015 World Cup was crying out for, a competitive contest between two major sides, and the co-hosts played out a thriller in front of a packed and partisan Auckland crowd. When Kane Williamson put Pat Cummins back over his head to win the match, and the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy with it, more than 40,000 stomachs unknotted at Eden Park, and even this most staid of cricketers allowed himself a fist-pump to celebrate, guiding his team to a one wicket win against Oz.

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R.Ashwin was influential in India’s biggest World Cup win as the star Indian bowlers guided by Ashwin bowl out the UAE for 102. Indian Opener Rohit Sharma also bestowed a crucial 57 which took the defending champions to a 9 wicket win. This match also saw the first drop by the Indians whose fielding had been top class so far.

Wahab, Irfan put Pakistan on board in a game where the Zimbabweans death bowling let them down, but Chigumbura made sure he tormented the Pakistan bowlers. Irfan and Riaz made sure that their Team’s quarter final hopes were yet alive while they diminished the light at the end of the tunnel for Zimbabwe.

Sri Lanka romped home with 9 wickets to spare against England at Wellington, thereby almost confirming their place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Eoin Morgan  and Co chose to bat first on a docile track, and England accumulated 309 runs from their 50 overs. Chasing 310, the Lankan batsmen made light work of the target as they lost only one wicket, becoming the first non-Associate nation to chase down in excess of 300 in this World Cup.

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Amla, du Plessis tons pummel Ireland, as the Proteas set up a mammoth total of 411 runs for the Irish to chase. Ireland tried hard but were bowled out for 210, Balbirnie (58) being the top Irish scorer and Abbott had a wonderful spell of 4-21.

Pakistan batsmen craft a huge win as Ahmed Shehzad (93) Sohail(70) Misbah(65) were instrumental in this triumph. Shahid Afridi also played a key role by his 2-35 spell, which dampened the spirits of the UAE batsmen and they failed to cross 210 in 50 overs.

David Warner’s 178 and Glenn Maxwell’s 78 trampled Afghanistan, as the favourites set up a colossal total of 417.

Johnson’s army put Afghanistan to slumber at 142. They kept trying for that length almost all day, but their early indiscipline against a relentless batting line-up was a mistake that could not be put right.

Seniors set up Bangladesh’s highest chase as Tamin’s 95 aided Bangladesh to put up 322/4 on the scoreboard.
Coetzer’s 156 went in vain as Scotland tumbled to the fiery Bangladeshi bombarding.

Captain Cool guides the Men in Blue to a 4 wicket win as his bowlers lent a helping hand in continuing India’s world cup streak. Dhoni’s men equalled the record held by Ganguly’s boys of 2003, by winning their 8th consecutive World Cup game across two editions (2011 World Cup and 2015 World Cup). The WACA bounce was utilized by  Yadav and Shami who tormented the Windies batsmen.

Pakistan roar back through bowlers as Wahab (3-45), Irfan (3-52) send de Villiers men back to the pavilion at 202. The Proteas Captain’s knock of 77 went down the drain as Pakistan bowlers didn’t make a single blunder in dissolving Africa.

Joyce 112, Balbirnie 97 star Ireland’s last over thriller as they beat Zimbabwe by 5 runs. Taylor (112) and Williams (96) efforts were washed away by Cusack , who clinched four wickets and agonized Zimbabwe in the death overs.

Maxwell’s hundred trumps Sangakkara’s as the Aussies bowl out the Lankans for 312 recording a 64 run haul. Maxwell was supported by Smith(72), Clarke( 68) and Watson (67) , Falkner’s spell of 3-48 was a key factor in this OZ win.

Vettori and Guptill show knocks down Afghanistan. Captain McCullum also contributed a crucial 42 to guide his team to the 5th consecutive victory. Trent Boult and Tim Southee had the new ball on a string. Daniel Vettori made it look even more menacing with a touch of spin and a lot of guile.

Mahmudullah (103) and Mushfiqur (89) ensured that their team would find a berth in the quarter finals of the World Cup 2015 after knocking England out in the group stage itself. Rubbel’s spell was catastrophic for England although Bell and Buttler tried to save the day.

Dhawan and Sharma help India remain “Unbeatable” in the World Cup as the Men in Blue register a 8 wicket win over Ireland. By winning his 9th consecutive World Cup ODI, MS Dhoni, joined the illustrous company of Clive ‘Big Cat’ Llyod.

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Sangakkara recorded his 4th consecutive ODI ton as the Lankans destroyed Scotland. Mathews also smashed Matt Manchan for 4 consecutive sixes. This game also saw Josh Davey becoming a leading wicket taker in the World Cup 2015.

UAE's slow bowlers had tossed sugar into the fuel tank of the South African batting machine on a sluggish track at the Regional Stadium. But AB de Villiers' rapid 99 had it purring in no time for Farhaan Behardien to step on the gas in the final overs with an unbeaten 64 off 31 balls to reprise their record of scoring 300-plus every time they have batted first in this World Cup, and thump UAE by 146 runs.

Guptill and lower order clinch thriller for the Blackcaps although Shakib-Al-Hasan spell gave Nz jitters and Mahamudullah (128) attempted to thrash the bowlers but wasn’t successful.

It was time for England to bid farewell to the World Cup and Sydney dutifully laid on a suitably hangdog English day, more downcast than overcast, and a match ravaged by rain. A revised target easily achieved; Afghanistan dispatched on a gloomy evening with nearly seven overs to spare in a run chase cut to 25 overs.

Zimbabwe gave the Indians shivers although the Lads in Blue finished winning all 6 games in Pool B. India undertook their highest ever run chase in a World Cup game, by chasing down Zimbabwe’s 287. The previous record of the highest chase by an Indian team rested with MS Dhoni’s boys of 2011, when they scored 277 to win the coveted trophy in Mumbai on 2nd April.

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Facing a must-win game, Australia recorded an easy 7-wicket victory over Scotland at Hobart. After a gap of nearly 6 years, Australia captain Michael Clarke came out to open the Australia innings along with Aaron Finch, dropping regular opener David Warner down the order. Starc once again displayed his magnificence with the ball. Josh Davey was the only feather in the cap for the Scotish.

Pakistan cruised to the quarter finals after a  polished seven-wicket victory against Ireland in Adelaide. Sarfaraz’s 101 overshadowed Porterfield’s 107 and Wahab Riaz clichéd 3-54 and was helped by the Pakistan bowling attack who performed wonderfully in the death overs.

The Windies win a big game and reach the quarter finals after their batsmen chase down the total set up by the UAE in 30.3 overs. Captain Jason Holder contributed his bit and Charles and Catter were instrumental in taking their team to victory.

The Proteas win the first quarter-final against Sri Lanka by 9 wickets as they bowl the Lankans out for 133. Sangakkara and Jaywardene bid ODIs a farewell and de Kock(78*) , Tahir and Duminy star in SA triumph.

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Indian Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni notched up his 100th win as an ODI captain, and became the first non-Australian to do so, as India seal their berth in the semi-finals.
Rohit’s 137 helped India score the second-highest score in a World Cup knockout match. Suresh Raina played his part by stinging Bangladesh in a concentrated attack of 65 off 57, and Ravindra Jadeja made sure the momentum continued with a 23 off 10 in the end. Shami’s spell of 2-37 was crucial and guided India to a 109 run win.

Steve Smith and Shane Watson shine in Australia’s win even though Wahab Riaz delivered one of the most fearsome spells in World Cup history but Australia, helped by some shoddy Pakistan fielding, weathered the storm and set up a semi-final showdown with India. Josh Hazlewood once again showed his skill with the ball.

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Guptill guides New Zealand into the Semi final to take on South Africa in the 1st semi-final. Martin Guptill's unbeaten 237 was the highest World Cup score of all time and the second-highest in all ODIs, but most importantly it ensured New Zealand's progression to the World Cup semi-finals for the seventh time. Gayle and Taylor gave their all to find a ray of hope for the Windies to enter the semis, but New Zealand crushed their dreams.

Grant Elliott played the innings of his life to carry his adopted country into the World Cup final against the land of his birth.

It was a heart-breaking match which saw South Africa suffering at the hands of the Black Caps. McCullum and Anderson also proved to be Hero’s in this win.

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Steve Smith tormented India once again in the Semi final to enter into the World Cup final once again. Virat Kohli and Johson continued their sledging and nothing seemed to have gone right for India that day. A bouncer by Starc hit Umesh Yadav’s chin, which got all the Aussies to surround him, bringing back the bitter memories of their buddy Phil Hughes.
India thus ended their World Cup journey and went home without winning a single game against Australia in 4 months.

Australia emphatically upstaged their fellow co-hosts New Zealand in Melbourne to certify their mark as the kingpin in World cricket. Chasing down 183 in just over 33 overs, the Gold colours beamed in both the trophy and their kits as a devastating bowling display paved the way for their victory. The Aussies became World Champions for the 5th time and over powered the Black Caps in every way. They dedicated this win to late Phil Hughes who was a victim of a fatal bouncer while playing a domestic match. Clarke played and outstanding innings and being a winning Captain in his farewell game was the best gift he received.

The Player of the Tournament was Australia’s Mitchell Starc, and the Man of the Match award was given to James Faulkner. Both these awards were given by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.