2015 World Cup Recap - Revisiting unforgettable moments

Introduction

The 2015 World Cup was the 11th installment of the Cricket World Cup, organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Australia and New Zealand got the hosting rights for the ODI event played from February 14 to March 29, 2015. It was the second time both nations got a chance to host the massive One-Day International (ODI) event. Earlier, the 1992 World Cup was held in both regions, and Pakistan won their maiden World Cup trophy under the charismatic leadership of Imran Khan.

The favourites 

Among 14 teams, India, Australia, and South Africa were the favourites to win the title as these three sides were performing well in ODI cricket during that time. Along with that, these teams also carried star-studded players, who possessed the potential to deliver match-winning performances. 

India went to the competition as the defending champions under MS Dhoni but their journey ended with a 95-run defeat at the hands of Australia in the semi-final played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Like India, South Africa also qualified for the semi-final but lost to New Zealand by four wickets in the intriguing contest held at Eden Park.   

Australia, the co-hosts and one of the favourites to win the title, performed exceptionally throughout the competition and bagged the trophy with their comprehensive seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). In the competition, the Men in Yellow outplayed the quality sides England, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and India as well to clinch the trophy for the record fifth time.

New Zealand also delivered a notable performance to cricket fans as they appeared in the finals of the World Cup for the first time. However, they failed to taste success as the Aussies played a fierce brand of cricket in the final and gave them a solid seven-wicket hammering. 

Tournament format 

The tournament witnessed the participation of 14 sides divided into two pools of seven, with each team locking horns with one another once. The top four teams from both pools qualified for the knockout round, which consisted of quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final. 

Iconic Matches and Moments

During the tournament, some blockbuster matches were witnessed by cricket fans. In the second match of the tournament between Australia and England, Steven Finn took a hattrick in the last over of Australia’s innings. The England pacer picked up the scalps of Brad Haddin, Glenn Maxwell, and Mitchell Johnson. Following Finn’s ton, James Taylor played an unbeaten knock of 99 off 90 while chasing the gigantic target of 343. However, it was Australia’s day as the hosts pocketed the match comfortably by 111 runs. 

Cricket fans got an unforgettable moment during the quarter-final between Australia and Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval. Batting first, Pakistan got folded on 213 in 49.5 overs. Pursuing the total, the Aussies were three down on 59. Wahab Riaz looked in good touch in the second half of the game, picking up the prized scalps of David Warner and Michael Clarke. 

After Clarke’s dismissal, Shane Watson walked into the middle and Wahab attacked the veteran with both ball and words. During Pakistan’s innings, it was Watson who made fun of Wahab’s batting potential. When Watson came at the crease, the pacer looked to take revenge. In the end, Watson had the last laugh in the battle as he helped his team beat the visitors by six wickets with his unbeaten 64 off 66.

However, Wahab could’ve emerged victorious in this clash if Rahat Ali had completed the grab against the Aussie successfully on the first delivery of the 17th over which was bowled by Riaz. Fielding at the deep backward square leg, Rahat dropped a dolly which cost Pakistan as well in the game.

Another clash that broke into record books during the tournament was the quarter-final contest between New Zealand and South Africa. In the rain-curtailed knockout game, South Africa won the toss and posted a fine total of 281 runs on the board in 43 overs. Following the revised total of 298 in 43 overs, New Zealand batters Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill gave a perfect start to the team with their 71-run opening stand that came in just six overs. Despite the aggressive start, the Kiwi side stumbled in the game when they lost four wickets at a score of 149. 

After the dismissal of the top four batters, Grant Elliott and Corey Anderson stepped up and stitched a 103-run partnership that brought the Black Caps back into the contest. Anderson went back to the pavilion after scoring 58 off 57. Elliott held his nerves and took his side home with his unbeaten 84 off 73 with one ball remaining in the game. Riding on Elliott’s swashbuckling batting display, the Kiwi side emerged victorious by four wickets.

Key performers

In Australia’s magnificent success, Mitchell Starc played an instrumental role with the ball. The speedster claimed 22 wickets in eight matches at an economy of 3.50 and ended up as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the competition, along with New Zealand’s Trent Boult, who scalped 22 heads in nine games. 

During New Zealand’s decent campaign, they got the important contribution of their opener Martin Guptill, and pacer Trent Boult. Guptill chalked up 547 runs in nine matches and ended up as the highest run-getter in the tournament. In the knockout match against the West Indies, the Kiwi opener played a ferocious knock of 237 off 163 and guided his team to a 143-run win. Guptill’s innings against the Caribbean side is the second-highest individual score in ODI cricket. 

Historical Context

In the tournament played in the Southern Hemisphere, some amazing records were created and shattered. Steven Finn, who grabbed a hat-trick against the Aussies in the second match of the tournament, became the eighth bowler to pick up a World Cup hat trick. For England, he became the first bowler to achieve the feat in World Cups.

Following Finn, JP Duminy became the ninth player to grab a hat-trick in World Cups. The Protea veteran trapped Angelo Matthews, Nuwan Kulasekara, and Tharindu Kaushal to pull off the milestone. Duminy is the first and only South African player who bagged a hat-trick in World Cups. South Africa won the game against the 1996 champions by nine wickets

Chris Gayle also added an incredible achievement to his name in match 15 of the tournament. The southpaw hit 215 runs against Zimbabwe and guided his side to a 73-run win (Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method). With this extraordinary knock, Gayle became the fourth batter in Men’s Cricket to score a double ton in the ODI format.

After three days of Gayle’s innings, AB de Villiers took the Windies bowling unit to the cleaners. The Protea veteran smashed the third-fastest One-Day World Cup century off just 52 deliveries. De Villiers returned to the pavilion with his unbeaten score of 162 off 66. Riding on his blazing innings, South Africa posted a 400+ score for the fourth time in ODI cricket. The Proteas won the match by 257 runs and De Villiers received the Player of the Match award for his stunning innings. The enormous triumph is the third-highest win for South Africa (by runs) in ODI cricket.