ICC Knockout Trophy 2000 Final: New Zealand’s Historic Triumph
The 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy final (now known as the Champions Trophy) was held on October 15, 2000, in Nairobi, Kenya. It featured India vs New Zealand, marking a significant moment in cricket history as New Zealand won their first major ICC trophy.
Match Summary
Venue: Gymkhana Club Ground, Nairobi
Toss: India won and elected to bat first
India’s Innings
India, led by Sourav Ganguly, started strongly, with Ganguly himself scoring a brilliant 117 runs off 130 balls. He was well-supported by Sachin Tendulkar (69 runs) as India set a competitive target. However, the lower-order failed to capitalize, and India finished at 264/6 in 50 overs.
Key Batters:
Sourav Ganguly – 117 (130)
Sachin Tendulkar – 69 (83)
Best New Zealand Bowlers:
Jacob Oram – 2/49
New Zealand’s Run Chase
Chasing 265, New Zealand had a shaky start, losing early wickets, but the innings was anchored by Chris Cairns, who played a match-winning knock. His unbeaten 102 off 113 balls guided New Zealand to victory.
Key Performers:
Chris Cairns – 102 (113)*
Roger Twose – 31 (29)
Chris Harris – 46 (63)
New Zealand reached the target with 4 balls to spare, winning by 4 wickets.
Match Result:
Chris Cairns was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance.
Significance of the Victory
This was New Zealand’s first-ever ICC trophy victory.
Chris Cairns’ heroic century remains one of the best performances in a major ICC final.
It was a heartbreaking loss for India, who had dominated much of the tournament but fell short in the final.
This match remains one of the most memorable in ICC knockout history, marking the emergence of New Zealand as a formidable force in world cricket.
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