Exactly 11 years ago, during the 25th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 between West Indies and Australia at North Sound, Antigua, Matthew Hayden scored his ninth ODI century, also his second in that World Cup. In which was a ‘Man of the Match’ performance, Hayden’s century laid the foundation for a 103-run Australian win.
Brian Lara, the then West Indian captain, had won the toss and chose to field. In the fifth over of the Australian innings, Daren Powell got the priced wicket of Adam Gilchrist (7). With Ricky Ponting in the middle, the Australian scoreboard started moving after a cautious start by its openers. In the first 10 overs, Australia had scored 56-1.
Hayden continued with his watchful approach as Australia lost Ponting (35) in the 15th over. Perhaps, it was the silence before the storm. His determination to spend time on the wicket gave hints that Hayden was looking set for a big one. On the second delivery of the 24th over, with a boundary past Chris Gayle, Hayden completed his half-century off 72 balls. At the halfway mark, Australia had scored 130-2.
The feat saw Hayden scoring more freely, increasing his strike rate and the Australian run-rate. Wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end but had no effect whatsoever on him. He completed his century in the 38th over with a single off Marlon Samuels to mid-off. The fact that he had taken 29 balls to move from a half-century to a century speaks volume about his acceleration.
There was no stopping the big man post his century. With the slog overs upon him, he took the attack on the West Indian bowlers. He crossed the 150-run mark in the 46th over. On the first delivery of the 48th over, Dwayne Bravo ended Hayden’s sensational innings as Hayden finally holed out to long-off. He ended up scoring 158 (143) with the help of 14 fours & four sixes as Australia posted 322-6 in 50 overs.
The Australian bowlers bundled out West Indies for 219 in 45.3 overs. Lara, who came in to bat at No. 5, top-scored with 77 (83). His innings comprised of eight fours and a six. With bowling figures of 8-1-31-3, Glenn McGrath was the pick of the Australian bowlers.
Watch the full video of Hayden’s innings:
