Becoming world champions one time is challenging enough. Doing it three times in a row makes you the undisputed kings of the game.
That is what Australia became on April 28, 2007, when they defeated Sri Lanka by 53 runs in the World Cup final in the Caribbean to become champions for the third successive time.
The venue was Barbados with the Aussies the overwhelming favourites. The match was badly affected by rain which saw innings reduced to 38 overs and then 36.
Australia batted first and for the third straight time, the openers gave them a solid start. Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist added 172 runs inside just 23 overs.
However, Hayden took 55 balls for his 38, leaving Gilchrist to do all the big hitting.
The wicketkeeper batsman played one of the finest ODI innings ever seen as he clobbered 149 from just 104 balls with 13 fours and eight sixes. Ricky Ponting’s team posted 281-4 from 38 overs.
The target got reduced to 269 from 36 overs. But that was just a formality. Sri Lanka never really stood a chance.
Opener Sanath Jayasuriya (63) and Kumar Sangakkara (54) added 116 runs for the second wicket but after their departures, the wheels came off.
The Sri Lankans played out the 36 overs and only managed 215-8 in fading light as the men in green and gold lifted the title.
The brilliance of Gilchrist’s innings became even more resplendent after it emerged that he had played the innings with a squash ball stuffed in his glove, which allowed him to grip the bat better.
Sri Lanka later objected to the use of a foreign object to improve performance.
However, the MCC – custodians of the laws of the game – said Gilchrist was well within his rights to use the squash ball as it was no different to batsmen using two or more grips to hold the bat better.
“This should not be considered unfair,” the MCC said. “Similarly, it has never been considered unfair for batsmen to use two grips on the bat handle.”
Gilchrist revealed it was a friend in Australia who had come up with the idea.
"Before the World Cup, I actually practised indoors and tried to improve my grip with half a squash ball inside my gloves.
"It was a friend of mine, Bob Mueleman. His last words to me before I left the indoor training centre where I train with him in Perth were ‘if you are going to use it, make sure when you score a hundred in the final you show me and prove to me you got it in there’.
“I had stayed true to that.”
The tournament, however, did not turn out to be a success. With India and Pakistan getting knocked out early in the tournament, interest plummeted and so did viewers.
Also, the tragic death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer during the tournament cast a long shadow on the event.
Honeymoonish
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The%20Sandman
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Scoreline
Bournemouth 2
Wilson 70', Ibe 74'
Arsenal 1
Bellerin 52'
Score
Third Test, Day 2
New Zealand 274
Pakistan 139-3 (61 ov)
Pakistan trail by 135 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the innings
THE 12 BREAKAWAY CLUBS
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
JERSEY INFO
Red Jersey
General Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the leader of the General Classification by time.
Green Jersey
Points Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the fastest sprinter, who has obtained the best positions in each stage and intermediate sprints.
White Jersey
Young Rider Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the best young rider born after January 1, 1995 in the overall classification by time (U25).
Black Jersey
Intermediate Sprint Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the rider who has gained the most Intermediate Sprint Points.
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Sheffield United 2 Bournemouth 1
United: Sharp (45 2'), Lundstram (84')
Bournemouth: C Wilson (13')
Man of the Match: Jack O’Connell (Sheffield United)
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
2024%20Dubai%20Marathon%20Results
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MOTHER%20OF%20STRANGERS
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BRAZIL%20SQUAD
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Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
PETER%20PAN%20%26%20WENDY
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