Statistical highlights

India vs Australia, SuperSport Park,Centurion

• Since 26-12-2002 (the start of the limited-overs series against New Zealand) Sourav Ganguly has aggregated a paltry 75 runs in nine innings, while averaging 8.33 runs per innings, at a strike rate of 39.28 runs per 100 balls!
• Rahul Dravid's single run off 23 balls (S/r: 4.35) equals the worst scoring rate by an Indian batsman in LOIs making a single run. Sachin Tendulkar too had made 1 off 23 balls against New Zealand at Gwalior on 11-11-1999. 
• Mohammad Kaif, since his match-saving knock of 111 not out against Zimababwe, at the Premadasa stadium in Colombo, on 14-9-2002 has scored just 164 runs in the last 20 matches and 16 innings, while averaging 11.71 runs per innings.
• Tendulkar, during his knock of 36, became the fifth batsman in LOIs to aggregate 1000 runs against the Australians in matches away from home. West Indians Viv Richards (2032 runs), Desmond Haynes (1616) and Richie Richardson and India's present coach New Zealander John Wright (1022) are the only others to aggregate over 1000 runs against the Aussies away from home. Tendulkar now has 1019 runs.
• The 40-run partnership between Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh was India's best for the 8th wicket against Australia in the World Cup, going past the previous best of 19 runs between Kumble and Javagal Srinath at Mumbai on 27-2-1996.
• The Kumble-Harbhajan partnership, meanwhile, equals India's best for the 8th wicket against Australia. Manoj Prabhakar and Chetan Sharma had put on an unbeaten 40 at Bangalore on 27-10-1989.
• The above partnership was now the best for the 8th wicket by any visiting team at this ground. The previous best was the 33-run stand between Sri Lankans Aravind de Silva and Pramodaya Wickramasinghe against Pakistan on 4-12-1994. However, the record partnership for the 8th wicket at this ground still remains the 77 run stand between South Africans Lance Klusener and Mark Boucher against India on 10-10-2001.
• Jason Gillespie's figures of 10-2-13-3 (R/o: 1.30) was the second most economical bowling performance by an Australian bowler (bowling their full quota of overs) against India after Glenn McGrath who had figures of 10-4-8-4 (R/o: 0.80) at Sydney on 14-1-2000.
• Incidentally, Gillespie's figures were the third most economical performance by an Australian bowler (bowling their full quota of overs) in the World Cup. Leg-spinner Shane Warne has the best figures (10-4-11-3; R/o 1.10) against the West Indies at Manchester on 30-5-1999 and followed by left-arm arm pace bowler Gary Gilmour (12-6-14-6; R/o 1.17) against England at Leeds on 18-6-1975.
• Incidentally, Gillespie's figures equals the most economical bowling performance on South African soil by any bowler bowling his full quota of overs. Teammate Glenn McGrath had almost an identical analysis of 10-1-13-2 (R/o: 1.30) against the home team at Cape Town on 14-4-2000.
• India's total of 125 was its lowest in a World Cup match. The previous lowest was the 132-3 it made in 60 overs against England at Lord's on 7-6-1975. India's lowest when the team has been dismissed was the 158 (in 37.5 overs) also against Australia at Nottingham on 13-6-1983.
• India's total was now the lowest at this ground by any team. Sri Lanka had made 140 (in 33.2 overs) against South Africa on 29-11-2002.
• Matthew Hayden became the 15th Australian and 104th batsman in LOIs to reach the aggregate of 2000 runs. Hayden was appearing in his 56th match and 53rd innings since his debut way back in May 1993. He now has 2030 runs to his credit.
• The margin of defeat by 9 wickets equals India's worst in a World Cup match. The West Indies had beaten India by the same margin at Birmingham on 9-6-1979.
• This was India's sixth defeat against the Australians in 8 World Cup matches and their fourth World Cup loss in a row against Australia since 1992.
• This was Jason Gillespie's fifth man of the match award of his career in 48 matches.