How the action unfolded in the first round of the 2007 World Cup:

March 11
Sir Garfield Sobers opens the ninth World Cup at a colourful ceremony in Trelawny.

March 12
Australia skipper Ricky Ponting hits back at Sunil Gavaskar after the former India captain said the Aussies were unpopular winners. Ponting says Gavaskar is 'high and mighty'.

March 13
West Indies beat Pakistan by 54 runs at Sabina Park in the tournament opener. Gavaskar won't relent in his attacks saying he wouldn't be surprised if an Aussie got 'whacked' in a bar.

March 14
Australia crush Scotland by 203 runs to get their title defence off to a flying start with skipper Ricky Ponting hitting his 23rd career one-day century. Kenya beat Canada by seven wickets.

March 15
Sri Lanka beat Bermuda by 243 runs, the second biggest winning margin in World Cup history, but fellow debutants Ireland clinch a thrilling last ball tie with Zimbabwe. Former Zimbabwe star Andy Flower calls for sporting sanctions against the Mugabe regime.

March 16
Herschelle Gibbs makes history by becoming the first player to hit six sixes in an over in an international one-dayer as South Africa pile up 353 in just 40 overs to beat the Dutch by 221 runs. New Zealand beat England by six wickets.

March 17
Sensational Saturday as Ireland beat Pakistan by three wickets to send the 1992 champions out of the tournament. Bangladesh secure only their second win over India with a five-wicket triumph.

March 18
Tournament rocked by death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer who was found unconscious on floor of his hotel room. Woolmer had told of the stresses of the job in the light of his side's defeat to Ireland. Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq quits one-day cricket and gives up captaincy. On the field, England beat Canada but Andrew Flintoff dropped and stripped of vice-captaincy. Australia crush Netherlands by 229 runs to reach the Super Eights.

March 19
India beat Bermuda by 257 runs, the biggest winning margin in the history of one-dayers, after making 413-5, the highest ever World Cup total. West Indies become the second team through to next round with six-wicket win against Zimbabwe.

March 20
Jamaican police say they are treating Woolmer death as suspicious after autopsy proves inconclusive. On the field, New Zealand reach the Super Eights with a win against Kenya while South Africa also coast into the second round with a win over Scotland

March 21
Ireland make sure of a historic place in the Super Eights after Pakistan beat Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka are virtually assured of their spot in the second round with a comprehensive win against Bangladesh. Overnight, rumours circulate that Woolmer may have been strangled.

March 22
Police in Jamaica say Woolmer was strangled to death and a murder hunt is under way. Despite the murder, the ICC says the tournament will continue. New Zealand secure a third win with victory over Kenya while Scotland end with the Group A wooden spoon after losing to the Netherlands.

March 23
Pakistan team all provide DNA samples in the Woolmer investigation as speculation increases that the death was linked to match-fixing. India are on the verge of being knocked out after losing to Sri Lanka, their second defeat in three matches. West Indies cruise past Ireland by eight wickets.

March 24
Inzamam and assistant coach Mushtaq Ahmed questioned in the Woolmer investigation, but both insist it is routine and they will leave for home later in the day with the rest of the team. Australia beat South Africa by 83 runs while England make the Super Eights with a comfortable win over Kenya.

March 25
India will learn their fate. They need Bermuda to beat Bangaldesh or Rahul Dravid's men face an embarrassing early exit.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)