2007 Cricket World Cup group stage

16 teams competed in the group stage of the 2007 Cricket World Cup, which took place between 13 March and 25 March 2007. The ten nations with Test status and 2003 semi-finalists Kenya qualified for the group stage automatically, while the remaining five teams qualified through the 2005 ICC Trophy.

Four countries host the group stage; Group A takes place in Saint Kitts and Nevis, group B in Trinidad and Tobago, group C in Saint Lucia and group D in Jamaica. Each group contains four teams, with each team playing each of the other teams in its group once. Australia, India, England and West Indies were placed in separate groups for logistical reasons, as they were expected to have the most supporters in attendance, and transport and accommodation capacity in the West Indies is limited. [cite web | url=http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/world/icc-table-provides-basis,3325,EN.html | title=World Cup seedings plan announced | publisher=ECB | accessdate=2007-06-09]

Two points were awarded for a win, while a tie or a no result yielded one point for both teams. If teams were ranked even on points, net run rate would decide the ranking order.

The top two teams in each group proceed to the Super 8 stage of the competition. This format was widely expected to bring the eight top seeds into the Super 8 stage. [ [http://www.nationnews.com/story/342507181061364.php Day of reckoning] , Haydn Gill, Nation News, 11 March 2007. Retrieved on June 9, 2007.] [ [http://allafrica.com/stories/200703160118.html South Africa: Money Mania Has Turned World Cup Into a Marathon] , Business Day, 16 March 2007. Retrieved on June 9, 2007.] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/6463421.stm The day the minnows bit back] , Paresh Soni, BBC Sport, 17 March, 2007. Retrieved 18 March 2007.] However, Pakistan, fourth-ranked in the world and 1992 World Cup winners, were the dropped out of the tournament after defeats to West Indies and Ireland after only five days of cricket. On the same day as the Pakistan-Ireland match, India lost to neighbouring Bangladesh, their fifth win in 97 matches against the top eight Test nations. India also lost their group game to Sri Lanka, and were also eliminated from the World Cup, their worst performance since 1979. [ [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_sports/view/266025/1/.html Cricket: Sri Lanka qualify as India face World Cup exit] , Channel NewsAsia, retrieved 26 March 2007.]

Group A

Table

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Team overview

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Team overview

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Team overview

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Team overview

1st Match: West Indies v Pakistan, 13 March

Limited overs international
date = Tuesday 13 March
batting first

batting first = West Indies
score first innings = 241/9
overs first innings = 50
batting first highest scorer = Marlon Samuels
batting first highest scorer initial form = M. N. Samuels
batting first highest score = 63
batting first highest score balls faced = 70
bowling first best bowler = Iftikhar Anjum
bowling first best bowler initial form = Iftikhar Anjum
bowling first best figures = 10–3–44–3
batting second

batting second = Pakistan
score second innings = 187 all out
overs second innings = 47.2
batting second highest scorer = Shoaib Malik
batting second highest scorer initial form = Shoaib Malik
batting second highest score = 62
batting second highest score balls faced = 54
bowling second best bowler = Dwayne Smith
bowling second best bowler initial form = D. R. Smith
bowling second best figures = 10–0–36–3
result = cr|West Indies won by 54 runs [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/worldcup2007/engine/current/match/247457.html 1st Match, Group D: West Indies v Pakistan at Kingston, Mar 13, 2007] , scorecard from Cricinfo, retrieved 14 March 2007]
venue = Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica
umpires = B. F. Bowden (NZ) and S. J. A. Taufel (Aus)
motm = D. R. Smith (WI)

Hosts West Indies won the opening match of the tournament, exacting revenge for the 1–3 series defeat in Pakistan the previous year. The local newspaper, the Jamaica Observer, said that the day "was as good as it [could] get." The Observer also pointed out that the result "will have provided a considerable advantage for West Indies" if, "as expected", they and Pakistan go through to the Super Eights. [ [http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20070313T200000-0500_120337_OBS_SUPERB_START__.asp Superb start!] , Garfield Myers, Jamaica Observer, 14 March 2007. Retrieved on June 9, 2007.] Cricinfo described the West Indies' efforts with the bat as "staccato", but credited "a disciplined bowling performance", while criticising Pakistan's bowlers for "let [ting] the batsmen dismantle their confidence." [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/worldcup2007/content/story/285049.html Smith and Bravo come to the fore] , Will Luke, Cricinfo, 13 March 2007. Retrieved on June 9, 2007.]

After 28 overs, Pakistan were actually ahead of West Indies, with 97 for three compared to 94 for three; then Dwayne Smith took wickets with three of twelve deliveries, and Pakistan never got ahead again. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/worldcup2007/engine/current/match/247457.html?view=comparison 1st Match, Group D: West Indies v Pakistan at Kingston, Mar 13, 2007 - Over Comparison] , Cricinfo, retrieved 14 March 2007]

5th Match: Ireland v Zimbabwe, 15 March

Limited overs international
date = Thursday 15 March
batting first

batting first = Ireland
score first innings = 221/9
overs first innings = 50
batting first highest scorer = Jeremy Bray (cricketer)
batting first highest scorer initial form = J. P. Bray
batting first highest score = 115*
batting first highest score balls faced = 137
bowling first best bowler = Elton Chigumbura
bowling first best bowler initial form = E. Chigumbura
bowling first best figures = 6–2–21–2
batting second

batting second = Zimbabwe
score second innings = 221 all out
overs second innings = 50
batting second highest scorer = Stuart Matsikenyeri
batting second highest scorer initial form = S. Matsikenyeri
batting second highest score = 73*
batting second highest score balls faced = 76
bowling second best bowler = Kyle McCallan
bowling second best bowler initial form = W. K. McCallan
bowling second best figures = 9–1–56–2
result = Match tied [ [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/worldcup2007/engine/match/247461.html 5th Match, Group D: Ireland v Zimbabwe at Kingston, Mar 15, 2007] , scorecard from Cricinfo, retrieved 15 March 2007]
venue = Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica
umpires = I. J. Gould (Eng) and B. G. Jerling (SA)
motm = J. P. Bray (Irl)

Ireland had a much better first outing than fellow World Cup debutants Bermuda, managing a tie against the Test nation of Zimbabwe after Jeremy Bray scored his second One Day International century in the space of six weeks. Bray put on 43 with Eoin Morgan for the second wicket, but two wickets from Elton Chigumbura set them back to 64 for four after 15 overs.

Bray remained in, however, carrying his bat to 115 not out and sharing partnerships of 54 with Andrew White, 37 with captain Trent Johnston and 39 with Dave Langford-Smith. Zimbabwe used spinners Prosper Utseya, Sean Williams and Stuart Matsikenyeri at the end, who conceded few runs, ending with combined figures of 56 runs from 17 overs. Chigumbura, who had taken the top order wickets, was not reintroduced at the death.

In reply, Zimbabwe made their way to 20 overs with the loss of one wicket, slightly ahead of Ireland's total. However, Johnston broke through when he had Chamu Chibhabha caught, while Vusi Sibanda crept back on the stumps, dismantling a bail to be out hit wicket for 67 as he took off to make a single, not realising his misfortune. Another misfortune struck when Brendan Taylor was run out, essentially by the batsmen on strike (Matsikenyeri) who returned McCallan's ball with a fierce straight drive, taking Taylor's wicket down in the process.

Nevertheless, after Stuart Matsikenyeri's half-century, they required 15 runs with 36 balls remaining; however, they only got six of those runs off the next 30 balls, with Gary Brent and Chris Mpofu rarely managing to get off the strike. Kevin O'Brien, whose only over had cost eight runs, was brought back in the 49th, and he took one wicket and had Mpofu run out in a maiden over. Zimbabwe now needed nine off the last over with only a wicket in hand. Matsikenyeri hit two twos and a single, Ed Rainsford got off the strike with a single off his only ball, before Matsikenyeri tied the scores with a cut for two. With one ball, one wicket and one run in contention, Rainsford's desperate dash caused him to be run out and the match a tie - the third of World Cup history.

9th Match: Ireland v Pakistan, 17 March

Limited overs international
date = Saturday 17 March
batting first

batting first = Pakistan
score first innings = 132 all out
overs first innings = 45.4
batting first highest scorer = Kamran Akmal
batting first highest scorer initial form = Kamran Akmal
batting first highest score = 27
batting first highest score balls faced = 47
bowling first best bowler = Boyd Rankin
bowling first best bowler initial form = W. B. Rankin
bowling first best figures = 9–1–32–3
batting second

batting second = Ireland
score second innings = 133/7
overs second innings = 41.4
batting second highest scorer = Niall O'Brien (cricketer)
batting second highest scorer initial form = N. J. O'Brien
batting second highest score =72
batting second highest score balls faced = 107
bowling second best bowler = Mohammad Sami
bowling second best bowler initial form = Mohammad Sami
bowling second best figures = 10–0–29–3
result = cr|IRE won by three wickets (Duckworth/Lewis method) [ [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/worldcup2007/engine/match/247465.html 9th Match, Group D: Ireland v Pakistan at Kingston, Mar 17, 2007] , scorecard from Cricinfo, retrieved 17 March 2007]
venue = Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica
umpires = B. F. Bowden (NZ) and B. G. Jerling (SA)
motm = N. J. O'Brien (Irl)

Pakistan, ranked fourth in the ICC ODI Championship tables before the tournament, were eliminated from the tournament after five days, an event described by BBC in an online report as "unthinkable". [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/6457689.stm Ireland shock sends Pakistan home] , Oliver Brett, BBC, 18 March 2007] Niall O'Brien made 72, but was out stumped with 25 runs still to get and had to watch as his brother Kevin O'Brien and Trent Johnston put on 20 for the eighth wicket to win the game.

Pakistan were put in to bat, and were bowled out for 132, with extras being the top scorer as Ireland offered 23 wides. Pakistan's captain Inzamam-ul-Haq still credited Ireland's bowlers with bowling "tight lines," while taking the blame for "too many poor shots", as all ten batsmen were out caught. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/6463199.stm Credit to Irish bowlers - Inzamam] , BBC, 18 March 2007] Boyd Rankin took the most wickets, including Younis Khan and top-scorer Kamran Akmal, while Andre Botha's spell of five runs from eight overs also yielded the wickets of Inzamam and opener Imran Nazir.

When Ireland batted, Bray, who had made a hundred in the previous match, fell lbw to Mohammad Sami, who took three for 29 after being left out of the side four days earlier. Ireland fell to 15 for two, but O'Brien and William Porterfield added 37 before Porterfield played a ball from Mohammad Hafeez onto his stumps and was bowled. O'Brien made shots off Hafeez, however, who ended with 15 runs off four overs, one of the three most expensive bowlers of the game. He was eventually stumped for 72, before Iftikhar Anjum struck twice in two balls, Ireland now needing 20 with three wickets in hand. Kevin O'Brien and Trent Johnston got there, however, with Ireland captain Johnston winning the game with a six, the second of the game.

Following the defeat and early exit from the World Cup, there was a huge negative reaction from the millions of passionate Pakistani fans and government, calling for the captain, coach and the president of the board to resign. [cite web | url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/wc2007/content/current/story/285882.html | title=Lowest point in Pakistan cricket, say former players | publisher=Cricinfo | date=2007-03-18 | accessdate=2007-06-09]

On the morning after the game, Pakistan's coach Bob Woolmer was found unconscious in his hotel room, and was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead soon afterwards. [cite web | url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/wc2007/content/current/story/285953.html | title=Bob Woolmer's death stuns cricket world | publisher=Cricinfo | date=2007-03-18 | accessdate=2007-06-09] Players, experts and the rest of the cricketing world mourned the death of "the cricket scholar", in the words of former South African Test bowler Fanie de Villiers, [ [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/wc2007/content/story/285952.html 'He gave his life to cricket and died for it' - Donald] , Cricinfo, 18 March 2007. Retrieved on June 9, 2007] while commentators such as Cricinfo's Dileep Premachandran criticised the "effigy-burners" in Pakistan who, in his opinion, did not "possess common sense". [cite web | url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/wc2007/content/current/story/285948.html | title=The price of passion | publisher=Cricinfo | date=2007-03-18 | accessdate=2007-06-09] On the same day, Pakistani captain Inzamam-ul-Haq announced his retirement from one-day cricket. [cite web | url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/wc2007/content/current/story/286039.html | title=Shattered Inzamam retires from one-day scene | publisher=Cricinfo | date=2007-03-18 | accessdate=2007-06-09]

13th Match: West Indies v Zimbabwe, 19 March

Limited overs international
date = Monday 19 March
batting first

batting first = Zimbabwe
score first innings = 202/5
overs first innings = 50
batting first highest scorer = Sean Williams (cricketer)
batting first highest scorer initial form = S. C. Williams
batting first highest score = 70*
batting first highest score balls faced = 88
bowling first best bowler = Jerome Taylor
bowling first best bowler initial form = J. E. Taylor
bowling first best figures = 10–0–42–2
batting second

batting second = West Indies
score second innings = 204/4
overs second innings = 47.5
batting second highest scorer = Brian Lara
batting second highest scorer initial form = B. C. Lara
batting second highest score = 44*
batting second highest score balls faced = 68
bowling second best bowler = Christopher Mpofu
bowling second best bowler initial form = C. B. Mpofu
bowling second best figures = 9–1–34–1
result = cr|West Indies won by six wickets [ [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/worldcup2007/engine/match/247469.html 13th Match, Group D: West Indies v Zimbabwe at Kingston, Mar 19, 2007] , scorecard from Cricinfo, retrieved 19 March 2007]
venue = Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica
umpires = I. J. Gould (Eng) and S. J. A. Taufel (Aus)
motm = S. C. Williams (Zimbabwe)

17th Match: Pakistan v Zimbabwe, 21 March

Limited overs international
date = Wednesday 21 March
batting first

batting first = Pakistan
score first innings = 349 all out
overs first innings = 49.5
batting first highest scorer = Imran Nazir
batting first highest scorer initial form = Imran Nazir
batting first highest score = 160
batting first highest score balls faced = 121
bowling first best bowler = Gary Brent
bowling first best bowler initial form = G. B. Brent
bowling first best figures = 10–0–68–3
batting second

batting second = Zimbabwe
score second innings = 99 all out
overs second innings = 19.1
batting second highest scorer = Elton Chigumbura
batting second highest scorer initial form = E. Chigumbura
batting second highest score = 27
batting second highest score balls faced = 11
bowling second best bowler = Shahid Afridi
bowling second best bowler initial form = Shahid Afridi
bowling second best figures = 4–0–20–3
result = cr|PAK won by 93 runs (Duckworth/Lewis method) [ [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/worldcup2007/engine/match/247473.html 17th Match, Group D: West Indies v Zimbabwe at Kingston, Mar 21, 2007] , scorecard from Cricinfo, retrieved 21 March 2007]
venue = Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica
umpires = B. G. Jerling (SA) and S. J. A. Taufel (Aus)
motm = Imran Nazir (Pak)

Pakistan were considering forfeiting the game, but have been ordered to complete it by the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/286453.html Chairman tells Pakistan to play final game] , from Cricinfo, retrieved 21 March 2003] Imran Nazir led the way for Pakistan, an almost solo performance of 160 from just 121 balls as Pakistan made 349 all out, bowled out on the second last ball. No other players made 40; Inzamam-ul-Haq made 37 in his final One Day International, while number nine Iftikhar Anjum came in with four overs to spare and hit 32 from 16 balls before being last out to Elton Chigumbura.

Zimbabwe lost Vusi Sibanda, Justice Chibhabha and Friday Kasteni before rain arrived after 10.2 overs with the score at 33 for 3. Play eventually resumed with the innings cut to just 20 overs, leaving Zimbabwe with a reduced target, though they still needed a further 160 runs from 58 balls.

21st Match: West Indies v Ireland, 23 March

Limited overs international
date = Friday 23 March
batting first

batting first = Ireland
score first innings = 183/8
overs first innings = 48
batting first highest scorer = Jeremy Bray (cricketer)
batting first highest scorer initial form = J. P. Bray
batting first highest score = 41
batting first highest score balls faced = 72
bowling first best bowler = Chris Gayle
bowling first best bowler initial form = C. H. Gayle
bowling first best figures = 10–0–23–2
batting second

batting second = West Indies
score second innings = 190/2
overs second innings = 38.1
batting second highest scorer = Shivnarine Chanderpaul
batting second highest scorer initial form = S. Chanderpaul
batting second highest score = 102*
batting second highest score balls faced = 113
bowling second best bowler = Kyle McCallan
bowling second best bowler initial form = W. K. McCallan
bowling second best figures = 10–0–35–1
result = cr|West Indies won by eight wickets (Duckworth/Lewis method) [ [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/worldcup2007/engine/match/247477.html 21st Match, Group D: West Indies v Ireland at Kingston, Mar 19, 2007] , scorecard from Cricinfo, retrieved 23 March 2007]
venue = Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica
umpires = B. F. Bowden (NZ) and I. J. Gould (Eng)
motm = S. Chanderpaul (WI)

The match was interrupted by rain near the end of Ireland's innings; West Indies were set an adjusted target of 190 from 48 overs.

References