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by Will Luke The 2007 World Cup in photos 
A portent of things to come? It was what the tournament most craved, what West Indies most needed – a winning start for the hosts. Dwayne Smith’s 3 for 36 did just that, felling Pakistan by 54 runs. © AFP 
Larger than life. Dwayne Leverock was an unlikely early star of the tournament, but Sri Lanka routed Bermuda for just 78 in their first match, fuelling the critics’ insistence that minnows offered little to the Cup. © Getty Images . This image may not be reproduced without specific consent from Getty Images 
Where Bermuda failed, Ireland succeeded – with noise, belief and verve. Their thrilling tie against Zimbabwe, in what was Ireland’s debut in World Cups, began their successful tournament – played out by a team clearly overjoyed to be representing their country... © AFP 
...and the enjoyment their cricketers showed on the pitch was matched (and in some cases bettered) by their exuberant fans in the stands © AFP 
All alone. Kevin Pietersen was England’s standout batsman throughout their Caribbean calamity but one man could not a team make. New Zealand began the World Cup strongly, starting with this six-wicket win over England. © Getty Images . This image may not be reproduced without specific consent from Getty Images 
Minnows no more. Bangladesh’s fabulous trouncing of cricket’s powerhouse, India, was started by Mushrafe Mortaza... © AFP 
...and finished up, in style, by Mushfiqur Rahim. India were humbled; the tournament was alive © AFP 
Leverock’s stunning one-handed catch to dismiss Robin Uthappa was just about Bermuda’s only memorable performance during a pitiful World Cup campaign. India showed just who was boss with a 257-run walloping. It was the largest margin in one-day history. © AFP 
Another game, another shock. Ireland, again, were underestimated by a listless Pakistan who were beaten by three wickets sending them out of the World Cup. The win was, and will forever be, overshadowed by the death of Pakistan’s coach, Bob Woolmer, who was found dead in his hotel room less than 24 hours later. © AFP 
Players held a minute’s silence in the days following Woolmer’s death © Getty Images . This image may not be reproduced without specific consent from Getty Images 
Look at the eyes; the eyes have it. Muttiah Muralitharan sparked into life with a devastating spell (in every sense of the word) of 3 for 41 in Sri Lanka’s hammering of India. © Getty Images . This image may not be reproduced without specific consent from Getty Images 
Matthew Hayden’s ominous power and consistency was the tournament’s hallmark. His fierce 66-ball hundred against South Africa was the Cup’s fastest... © Getty Images . This image may not be reproduced without specific consent from Getty Images 
...but Graeme Smith threatened to chase down 378 single handedly with a brilliant 74 from 69 while AB de Villiers cracked an even racier 92 from just 70. South Africa’s middle and lower order capitulated and Australia had struck the first big psychological blow to one of the fancied finalists. © AFP 
But South Africa crept home against Sri Lanka, albeit snatching victory from the jaws of defeat – owing to Lasith Malinga’s remarkable four wickets in four balls. South Africa only needed four runs with five wickets remaining before Malinga ran through their middle and lower order… © AFP 
…before Robin Peterson hit the winning runs, prompting wild celebrations not entirely in keeping with a match South Africa were cruising. Eyebrows continued to be raised over their mental frailties for the rest of the tournament. © AFP 
Ireland continued their promising campaign with a 74-run win over Bangladesh – in the match which, so their fans hoped, would be between India and Pakistan before both were earlier knocked out of the competition. © AFP 
The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium is a fine piece of architecture - a shame about the surroundings © Andrew Miller 
Dilhara Fernando demonstrated the steel in Sri Lanka’s squad with 3 for 41, downing England in a match they appeared to be in control of. © Getty Images . This image may not be reproduced without specific consent from Getty Images 
More giant-killing from Bangladesh, walloping South Africa by 67 runs. Mohammad Ashraful began the carnage with 87 in Bangladesh’s impressive (but by no means insurmountable) 251 for 8… © Getty Images . This image may not be reproduced without specific consent from Getty Images 
…before Abdur Razzaq took 3 for 25 to dismiss South Africa for a paltry 184. © AFP 
Where is everyone? Far from involving the locals, the tournament excluded them via the exorbitant ticket prices © Getty Images . This image may not be reproduced without specific consent from Getty Images 
Brian Lara announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket and was treated to one last thriller against England who, in both sides’ final match of the tournament, won by a single wicket, but he fell for just 18. © AFP 
He was greeted to a rapturous farewell by his fans though. © Getty Images . This image may not be reproduced without specific consent from Getty Images 
Sri Lanka proved their dominance in the first semi-final against New Zealand, with Mahela Jayawardene stroking a sublime 115 from just 109 to take his side to 289 for 5. © Getty Images . This image may not be reproduced without specific consent from Getty Images 
And with four wickets from Muralitharan, Sri Lanka were into the final. Would they play Australia, in a repeat of the 1996 tournament, or South Africa? © Getty Images . This image may not be reproduced without specific consent from Getty Images 
What was he thinking? The pre-match talk revolved around South Africa’s mental frailities, especially in semi-finals – and so it proved. Even Jacques Kallis, their wall, couldn’t cope with the pressure, backing away disastrously to Glenn McGrath. With Shaun Tait’s 4 for 39 cutting through South Africa’s top and middle order, Australia dismissed them for a feeble 149. © Getty Images . This image may not be reproduced without specific consent from Getty Images 
And when it did get underway, the crowd were treated to a one-day gem of an innings: Adam Gilchrist’s brilliant 149 was the highest individual score in a World Cup final, leading Australia to an imposing 281 for 4 from 38 overs. © Getty Images . This image may not be reproduced without specific consent from Getty Images 
And though Kumar Sangakkara briefly threatened, in his assault of 54, the rain again came tumbling down, leaving Sri Lanka’s hopes in the hands of Duckworth Lewis. They went off, they came back on, and not even the umpires knew what Sri Lanka’s target was. © Getty Images . This image may not be reproduced without specific consent from Getty Images 
Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden savour victory © Getty Images . This image may not be reproduced without specific consent from Getty Images |
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