Ricky Ponting made 140 not out off 121 balls as Australia made 359/2 in the World Cup final — the highest team total in a World Cup final — before bowling India out for 234 to win by 125 runs and complete a second consecutive World Cup triumph.
Australia, captained by Ponting, had gone unbeaten through the 2003 World Cup hosted in South Africa. India, led by Sourav Ganguly, had also been impressive — beating Pakistan in a politically charged group match and progressing through the semi-finals. The final at the Wanderers was one of cricket's biggest stages.
Australia batted first. Matthew Hayden made a blistering start, getting 37. Gilchrist then fell for 57. Ponting came in at three and within two overs had signalled his intent — pulling Zaheer Khan for six off the first ball he received.
Ponting's innings was the most complete batting performance of his career in a World Cup context — pulling, driving, cutting with equal authority. India's bowlers — Zaheer, Javagal Srinath, Harbhajan, Sachin Tendulkar — were treated with equal respect: none.
He reached his century off 95 balls. He finished 140 not out off 121. Damien Martyn made 88 not out, adding 234 with Ponting for the third wicket.
Australia's 359/2 was the highest total in a World Cup final. India, chasing 360, were never in the contest — bowled out for 234. Australia won by 125 runs.
Ponting pulling Zaheer Khan for six off his first ball — intent immediately clear
Ponting reaching 140* — century off 95 balls, innings of absolute authority
Australia 359/2 — India bowled out for 234, Australia win second consecutive title
March 23, 2003
World Cup Final, Wanderers, Johannesburg
Australia innings
Ponting 140* off 121, Martyn 88* — Australia 359/2
India chase
India bowled out for 234 — Australia win by 125 runs
Australia became the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since West Indies (1975, 1979). Ponting went on to captain Australia to a third consecutive title in 2007. He is the only captain to have led a team to two World Cup victories.
The most dominant individual performance in a World Cup final since Richards in 1979. Ponting at Johannesburg announced Australia's superiority not just with the bat but with captaincy — he set the template for aggressive ODI leadership.
Ponting's 2003-2007 World Cup captaincy record is the finest in the tournament's history — winning all 29 matches he captained across two tournaments. The 140 not out in Johannesburg is the innings at the heart of that legacy.
Australia vs West Indies
1960-12-14
The first tied Test in 86 years of cricket history — Australia and West Indies finished level on 737 runs each after five days of breathless cricket in Brisbane, producing one of the most dramatic finishes the game has ever seen.
India vs Australia
1986-09-22
Twenty-six years after Brisbane, cricket produced only its second tied Test — Dean Jones's heroic 210 through crippling heat and Dean Jones's fever, Ravi Shastri's unbeaten 48 and India needing 2 off the last over, only for Maninder Singh to be out lbw off the final ball.
Australia vs South Africa
1999-06-17
Lance Klusener smashed Australia to the brink of elimination, then ran out Allan Donald off the penultimate ball to tie the match — but Australia advanced to the final on superior run rate, ending South Africa's greatest World Cup campaign in devastating fashion.