2003 ICC World Cup

Hosts: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya

Winners: Australia

Runners-up: India

Most runs: Sachin Tendulkar (IND) 673 runs

Most wickets: Chaminda Vaas (SL) 23 wickets

This was Africa's World Cup with South Africa being the premier hosts. The Super Six format was continued with and 14 teams participated as a result of which many meaningless matches were played against teams like Canada, Namibia and Holland.

Australia were at their potent best and their world domination in all forms of the game was on display here as they won all six of their Group A matches. India lost miserably to Australia but that apart, Sourav Ganguly's men came back to outclass Pakistan, England and Zimbabwe along with the minnows, guided by Sachin Tendulkar who was in pristine touch. Zimbabwe progressed after England decided not to play their match in Harare due to political problems.

In Group B, hosts South Africa lost their first match to West Indies and then a miscalculation in a rain disrupted match against Sri Lanka meant that the hosts exited early. Sri Lanka topped the group and like Zimbabwe, Kenya benefitted from the Kiwis not playing in Nairobi to make the cut for the Super Sixes. New Zealand though still managed to qualify as the third team.

Australia made the semis by winning all their Super Six matches and so did India. Kenya's win over Sri Lanka put them through and the Lankans managed to enter the last four with a win over Zimbabwe.

A century by skipper Sourav Ganguly helped India beat Kenya in the semis and although Sri Lanka tested Australia with the ball, Brett Lee restored order by sending the Aussies through.

The final at Johannesburg once again showed that Australia were in a different league than the rest. A savage attack by Adam Gilchrist (57) first and then a master class 140 off 121 balls by skipper Ricky Ponting with Damien Martyn (88) in the supporting role took Australia to 359/2 in 50 overs.