World Cup 1996: Teams, summary, winner, most runs and wickets

The 1996 edition returned to India and Pakistan, with Sri Lanka as co-host. There were 12 teams this time, with Kenya, Netherlands, and the UAE featuring for the first time. Sri Lanka won the final with a 7-wicket win against Australia, becoming the first host team to win the tournament, and the the first to win a final batting second.

With Australia and West Indies conceding their tour matches, Sri Lanka beat the other teams to enter the quarter-finals unbeaten. The shock result of Group A took place at Pune, when Kenya bowled out West Indies for 93 to win by 72 runs. Nevertheless, Australia, India, and West Indies qualified along with Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka introduced a new brand of cricket, using explosive batsmen at the top, followed by an experienced, steady middle-order, and backed by slow, accurate bowlers on subcontinent tracks. Sanath Jayasuriya, who fitted both bills, was named Man of the Series (221 runs at 36.83, strike rate 132, 7 wickets at 33, economy 4.52, 5 catches).

South Africa beat everyone – convincingly, too – in Group B, and Pakistan beat everyone else. Unfortunately, South Africa were blasted out of the tournament by Brian Lara in the quarter-final, while Pakistan lost to India in a high-octane match at Bangalore. Sri Lanka and Australia eliminated England and New Zealand respectively.

India reached 98/1 before collapsing to 118/8 against Sri Lanka in the semi-final before the Calcutta crowd pelted bottles on the ground, bringing the match to a premature close. The match was awarded to Sri Lanka. At Mohali, Australia recovered from 15/4 to reach 207/8, then bowled out West Indies for 202 after they were 165/2.

Sri Lanka won the final by 7 wickets, chasing 242 with some ease after being 23/2. Aravinda de Silva was named Man of the Match for his 3/42, 2 catches, and 107*.

Semi-final 1, Eden Gardens, Calcutta, March 13: Sri Lanka 251/8 in 50 overs (de Silva 66, Mahanama 58, Ranatunga 35, Tillakaratne 32; Srinath 3/34, Tendulkar 2/34) vs India 120/8 in 34.1 overs (Tendulkar 65; Jayasuriya 3/12). Match awarded to Sri Lanka. Man of the Match: Aravinda de Silva.

Semi-final 2, PCA IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh, March 14: Australia 207/8 in 50 overs (Law 72, Bevan 69, Healy 31; Ambrose 2/26, Walsh 2/35) beat West Indies 202 in 49.3 overs (Chanderpaul 80, Richardson 49*, Lara 45; Warne 4/36, McGrath 2/30, Fleming 2/48) by 5 runs. Man of the Match: Shane Warne.

Final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, March 17: Australia 241/7 in 50 overs (Taylor 74, Ponting 45, Bevan 36*; de Silva 3/42) lost to Sri Lanka 245/3 in 46.2 overs (de Silva 107*, Gurusinha 65, Ranatunga 41*) by 7 wickets. Man of the Match: Aravinda de Silva. Man of the Series: Sanath Jayasuriya.

Most runs: Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 523 runs, 7 matches
Most wickets: Anil Kumble (India) – 15 wickets, 7 matches