Canada v West Indies

At Centurion, February 23, 2003. West Indies won by seven wickets. Toss: West Indies. One-day international debut: N. Ifill.

If the result came as no surprise, John Davison's batting was a complete shock. In 37 first-class matches in Australia, he averaged under 11; representing the country of his birth, however, he batted like a millionaire, clobbering a sensational hundred in just 67 balls - a World Cup record - and briefly giving Canada a glimmer of hope. By the time he was out to a stunning one-handed catch at long-on by Drakes, backpedalling furiously, Davison had made 111 from 76 balls and struck six sixes and eight fours, many of them one-bounce. There were moments of luck - he was dropped twice, and even watched open-mouthed as the ball trickled on to leg stump without dislodging a bail - but this was clean hitting par excellence. At 155 for one in the 21st over, Canada were motoring, but the departure of Chumney and, more importantly, Davison caused a terminal splutter: the last nine wickets fell for 47, five to Drakes. Taking their cue from Davison - and with an eye on net run-rate - Hinds and Lara cruised to 100 in the tenth over. For all of five minutes Hinds held the record for the fastest World Cup fifty before Lara snatched it from him and West Indies raced home with nearly 30 overs to spare.

Man of the Match: J. M. Davison. Attendance: 11,630.