2003 World Cup Final Scorecard: The Turning Point That Decided the Trophy

2003 World Cup Final Scorecard: The Turning Point That Decided the Trophy 2003 World Cup Final Scorecard: The Turning Point That Decided the Trophy

If you are a cricket follower, then the 2003 World Cup final scorecard is still something emotionally remembered by fans. Played on 23 March 2003 at The Wanderers Stadium, the Australia national cricket team beat the India national cricket team by 125 runs in the final. Ricky Ponting was the standout of the night with an unbeaten 140.

Here in this post you can read out the complete details of the 2003 World Cup final scorecard, which includes runs scored, wickets taken, overs, and extras, as well as the fall of wickets, along with the match flow explained in very simple language for everyone to understand what actually happened.

Match Snapshot (Quick Table)

DetailInformation
MatchAustralia vs India—Final
Tournament2003 Cricket World Cup
Date23 March 2003
VenueJohannesburg
ResultAustralia won by 125 runs
Australia Score359/2 (50 overs)
India Score234 all out (39.2 overs)
Player of the MatchRicky Ponting
Player of the SeriesSachin Tendulkar

This table is the fastest possible summary of the 2003 World Cup final scorecard.

2003 World Cup Final Scorecard – Australia Innings

359/2 in 50 overs

Australia Batting Scorecard

BatterDismissalRB4s6sSR
Adam Gilchristc Sehwag b Harbhajan574881118.75
Matthew Haydenc Dravid b Harbhajan37545068.52
Ricky Ponting (c)not out14012148115.70
Damien Martynnot out888471104.76
Extras(b 2, lb 12, w 16, nb 7)37
Total(50 overs, RR 7.18)359/2

Did Not Bat

Andrew Symonds, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Brad Hogg, Darren Lehmann, Michael Bevan, Andy Bichel

India Bowling vs Australia

BowlerOMRWNBWDECO
Zaheer Khan70670269.57
Javagal Srinath100870328.70
Ashish Nehra100570035.70
Harbhajan Singh80492006.13
Virender Sehwag30140004.67
Sachin Tendulkar30200016.67
Dinesh Mongia70390205.57
Yuvraj Singh20120006.00

Fall of Wickets—Australia

WicketScoreOver
Gilchrist105/113.6
Hayden125/219.5

2003 World Cup Final Scorecard—India Innings

234 all out in 39.2 overs

India Batting Scorecard

BatterDismissalRB4s6sSR
Sachin Tendulkarc & b McGrath451080.00
Virender Sehwagrun out (Lehmann)8281103101.23
Sourav Ganguly (c)c Lehmann b Lee24253196.00
Mohammad Kaifc Gilchrist b McGrath03000.00
Rahul Dravidb Bichel47572082.46
Yuvraj SinghLee B. Hogg24341070.59
Dinesh Mongiac Martyn b Symonds121120109.09
Harbhajan Singhc McGrath b Symonds780087.50
Zaheer Khanc Lehmann b McGrath480050.00
Javagal Srinathb Lee140025.00
Ashish Nehranot out8420200.00
Extras(b 4, lb 4, w 9, nb 4)21
Total(39.2 overs, RR 5.94)234

Australia Bowling vs India

BowlerOMRWECO
Glenn McGrath8.205236.24
Brett Lee713124.43
Brad Hogg1006116.10
Darren Lehmann201809.00
Andy Bichel1005715.70
Andrew Symonds20723.50

Fall of Wickets – India

WicketScoreOver
Tendul4/10.5
Ganguly58/29.5
Kaif59/310.3
Sehwag147/423.5
Dravid187/531.5
Yuvraj208/634.5
Mongia209/735.2
Harbhajan223/837.1
Srinath226/938.2
Zaheer234/1039.2

Simple Match Story (Behind the Numbers)

Now on to the tale of the tables. This is where the 2003 world cup final scorecard gets easier to grasp and soak in.

1) Australia’s 359/2—the perfect final blueprint

Only losing two wickets in a WC final is gold. It was Gilchrist who provided the fast start, but the real carnage was wreaked by Ponting and Martyn. Ponting’s 140* was the captaincy equivalent of boss mode.

Simple rule of finals:

If you get a good start and score 300+ with wickets in hand, then bowlers also gain freedom, and the chasers will feel the pressure of the scoreboard.”

359 wasn’t just runs; it was mental tension.

2) Extras (37)—the false negative you will never see coming.

Extras are the sort of thing fans dismiss, but 37 free runs in a final is significant.

In the case of those 15–20, perhaps it’s around 340 whether they go in or not.

But 359 was a score that would have required India to play nearly perfectly. When the pressure is on, that’s really tough.

3) Early blow in the chase

The tone of the chase was set in the first over. Tendulkar gone for 4.

When your biggest batter trudges back in a final way too early, pressure can snowball in the dressing room.

4) Sehwag – it’s the lone warrior energy

Sehwag’s strike rate was good for his runs. He tried.
But big chases require long, strong partnerships.

In terms of who got out when, we never really had support.
When chasing runs, partnerships are oxygen.

5) Australia’s bowling selection—doing it by committee

McGrath took three.
Lee struck twice.
Symonds chipped in with two.

Lesson: one hero seldom wins a final. Combined attacks win trophies.

Key Records & Talking Points

HighlightWhy it matters
Ponting 140* with 8 sixesOne of the most powerful knocks in a World Cup final
Australia 359/2Massive score with wickets saved
India all out 234Chase derailed after early damage
Australia’s third titleConfirmed their dominance era

Officials & Match Administration

RoleName
UmpiresSteve Bucknor, David Shepherd
TV UmpireRudi Koertzen
Match RefereeRanjan Madugalle

Why this scorecard is still searched today

Because it defined an era.

It showed peak Australian dominance.
Ponting’s sixes continue to adorn highlight reels.
For India, it was a harsh punishment and hard learning when you don’t play well from start to finish.

FAQs About 2003 World Cup Final Scorecard

1) How much was Australia’s grand total in the final?

Australia made 359/2 in 50 overs.

2) How many did India make?

India was all out for 234 in 39.2 overs.

3) Who was the man of the match?

Ricky Ponting.

4) India’s top scorer?

Virender Sehwag with 82.

5) Best Australian bowler?

Glenn McGrath with 3 wickets.

6) Where was the final held?

At The Wanderers in Johannesburg.