India vs Sri Lanka, The Wanderers, Johannesburg

• Javagal Srinath has become the most capped player for India in the World Cup by appearing in his 31st match since his World Cup debut in 1992. Mohammad Azharuddin had appeared in 30 World Cup matches from 1987 to 1999.
• During his knock of 97 runs, Sachin Tendulkar, for the second time in his World Cup career, has aggregated over 500 runs in a single World Cup tournament. He is the only player in World Cup history to reach this landmark, not just once but twice -- he had made 523 runs in the 1996 World Cup. Tendulkar now has 571 runs in the 2003 edition.
• The partnership of 153 runs between Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag was the best partnership for India against Sri Lanka for the first wicket in the World Cup. Sunil Gavaskar and Aunshuman Gaekwad had put on 60 at Manchester in the 1979 World Cup.
• The previous best partnership between the abovementioned pair was 134 runs, which they put on against England at Kanpur on 28-1-2002.
• The opening stand was also the best for any team in World Cup 2003. The South African pair of Herschelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten has put on an unbeaten 142 against Kenya at Potchefstroom on 12-2-2003.
• This was the first 100-plus opening partnership for India in LOIs since 12-11-2002 and after a gap of 18 matches. Sourav Ganguly and Sehwag had last put on 196 runs against the West Indies at Rajkot.
• This is the first 100-plus opening partnership for India in the World Cup since 27-2-1996 and after a gap of 21 World Cup matches. Ajay Jadeja and Tendulkar had put on 163 runs against Kenya at Cuttack.
• The last occasion a 100-plus partnership for the first wicket was made against Sri Lanka in the World Cup was by Australians Geoff Marsh and Tim Moody at Adelaide, way back in the 1992 World Cup. They put on 120 runs.
• Incidentally, the last time India played at this ground -- on 5-10-2001 -- Ganguly and Tendulkar had put on 193 against the home team for the first wicket!
• Tendulkar (on 52) became the third batsman after Pakistanis Saeed Anwar (2197 runs) and Inzamam-ul Haq (2139) to aggregate 2000 runs against Sri Lanka. He now has 2045 runs (avg. 48.69) in 51 matches against Sri Lanka.
• Tendulkar (97) has now been dismissed in the nineties on eight occasions, only Sri Lankan Aravinda deSilva has more scores (nine) in the nineties in LOI history. However this was Tendulkar's third such score in the nineties in the World Cup -- the most by any batsman in World Cup history.
• Chamida Vaas (18 wickets in 8 matches) has became the leading wicket-taker in World Cup 2003.
• He now also has the maximum wickets by a Sri Lankan bowler in a single World Cup. In the 1983 World Cup former pace bowler Ashanta deMel had taken 17 wickets in 6 matches.
• The two catches by Aravinda deSilva has taken his tally to13 in 33 World Cup matches. This is the most by a Sri Lankan fielder in the World Cup. He went past the tally of Sanath Jayasuriya who has 12 catches in 25 matches.
• Srinath's figures of 4-35 are his best bowling performance in the World Cup against a Test nation. He had earlier taken 4-30 against Holland at Paarl on 12-2-2003.
• These four wickets have also taken his tally of wickets to 42 in 31 World Cup matches. He now occupies the second position after Pakistani Wasim Akram (55 wkts in 38 matches) among the highest wicket-takers in World Cup history.
• Sri Lanka's five ducks equals the World Cup record for most ducks in an innings. Previously, England (194) against West Indies at Lord's in 1979 final and Canada (36) against Sri Lanka at Paarl earlier in this World Cup, have also the dubious distinction of recording five ducks in the same innings of a World Cup match.
• The four catches by Mohammad Kaif is a new World Cup record for the most catches by a fielder in a match. Interestingly, 16 other fielders have taken three catches in a World Cup match (with Sehwag being the only one to do it twice).
• Meanwhile, Kaif also becomes the only second fielder to take four catches against Sri Lanka in a LOI match after West Indian Phil Simmons at Sharjah on 11-10-1995.
• Kaif now joins Sunil Gavaskar (on 22-3-1985), Mohammad Azharuddin (13-9-1997), Tendukar (11-1-1998) and Rahul Dravid (14-9-1999) to become the fifth Indian to take four catches in a LOI match.
• The win by 183 runs was India's second biggest in terms of runs in LOIs. India had beaten Kenya by 183 runs at Paarl on 24-10-2001. However this win was India best in a World Cup match. India had beaten Namibia by 183 runs at Pietermartizburg on 23-2-2003.
• The six wins in a row in this tournament is India's best run in the World Cup. In the 1987 World Cup, India had won five matches in a row from 14-10-1987 to 31-10-1987.
• The man of the match award was Srinath's only fifth in 226 matches and his first in the World Cup. The last occasion Srinath won a MOM award was also against Sri Lanka way back on 3-4-1996 at Singapore. He was then appearing in his 91st LOI match, which means he is winning an award after a gap of 135 matches!