What started as a knockout competition to raise funds for expanding cricket, the Champions Trophy (CT) has grown into a full-fledged ICC tournament. It’s short, crisp, and a mini version of the ODI World Cup, delivering thrilling contests.
And that has been the case since its inaugural edition in 1998. Since then and in between, the Champions Trophy has recorded some iconic firsts. And this article will list those moments here.
First Edition
Bangladesh hosted the inaugural edition of the Champions Trophy in 1998. Back then, it was known as the Wills International Cup, organised on a knockout basis.
First Match and Win
New Zealand and Zimbabwe squared off in the first-ever Champions Trophy match. It was a preliminary quarter-final played on October 24, 1998, at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
The match wasn’t quite a popular fixture by any means, but it turned out to be a nail-biter. Zimbabwe won the toss and scored 258 runs in 50 overs. In response, New Zealand chased down the target on the last ball to register the first win.
First Batter Dismissed
During the opening match, Zimbabwe’s Grant Flower became the first batter to get out in the Champions Trophy. New Zealand’s left-arm pacer Geoff Allott got Flower caught out on the fourth ball of the second over. Flower scored just one run in three balls.
First Catch
As Craig McMillan caught Flower off Allott’s bowling, he became the first to take a catch in CT.
First Fifty and Century
Alistair Campbell racked up the first-ever fifty and century in CT. Despite Flower’s wicket, Zimbabwe’s captain held on to one end and stitched crucial partnerships.
In the meantime, the former opener brought up the first-ever fifty before converting it into a hundred. Alistair scored exactly 100 runs from 143 balls, including 7 fours and 1 six.
Also Read | The 10 Most Interesting Facts about IPL
First Run Out
In the second innings of the first match, Nathan Astle became the first victim of a run out. A direct throw by Murray Goodwin ended his knock on nine runs.
First Player of the Match
Campbell’s counterpart Stephen Fleming became the first to win the Player of the Match in CT. While chasing the 259-run target, the New Zealand skipper came to bat at No. 3 with his team in trouble at 11 for 1.
Then the left-hand batter accumulated 96 runs off 130 balls, falling short of a ton by just four runs. His brilliant knock helped the Kiwis get closer to the target and eventually win the match.
First Duck
In the first Quarter-Final of the 1998 edition, England’s Graham Lloyd became the first batter to earn a duck. South Africa’s Nicky Boje dismissed him on zero on the second ball he faced.
First Golden Duck
The second innings of the second Quarter-Final started with Sanath Jayasuriya bagging a golden duck. New Zealand’s Simon Doull removed the Sri Lankan opener on the very first ball of the innings.
First Stumping
Earlier in the second Quarter-Final, Romesh Kaluwitharana effected the first stumping. The Sri Lankan wicketkeeper stumped out Matthew Bell off Muttiah Muralitharan’s bowling.
Also Read | List: First Test Wins for Each Team in Test Cricket
First Five-Wicket Haul
As the inaugural edition came to an end, it gave us the first five-wicket haul. South Africa’s Jacques Kallis picked up the fifer when it mattered the most.
Kallis ran through the West Indies middle and lower order in the 1998 final. He returned with figures of 5 for 30 in 7.3 overs.
First Hat-Trick
Jerome Taylor registered the first hat-trick in Champions Trophy history on October 18, 2006. And it turned the momentum of the match in his side’s favour.
The West Indies were defending a moderate total of 234 against Australia with three overs to go into the game. Then Taylor returned into the attack, with Australia needing 25 runs off 18 balls.
Taylor conceded four runs on the four balls before dismissing Michael Hussey and Brett Lee on the last deliveries. He then came back for the last over and clean-bowled Brad Hogg on the first ball to complete his hat-trick. Taylor’s hat-trick ensured that the West Indies won by 10 runs.
First Champions Trophy Winners
It’s a bit surprising, but South Africa were the inaugural Champions Trophy winner. They won their first-ever ICC tournament by defeating the West Indies in the final on November 1, 1998.
Batting first, the Windies posted 245 runs on the board, with Philo Wallace scoring 103. In response, Proteas skipper Hansie Cronje led from the front with an unbeaten 61, while others assisted him with crucial knocks.
South Africa chased down the target with three overs to spare and lifted the first-ever Champions Trophy.
First Champions Trophy-winning Captain
As Cronje took his side home, he became the first captain to win the Champions Trophy.
First Player of the Series
Jacques Kallis became the first-ever Player of the Series award winner in the Champions Trophy. The all-rounder contributed significantly with bat and ball to help South Africa win the 1998 edition.
He amassed 164 runs in three matches at an average of 82, including a century. With the ball, Kallis took eight wickets, including the match-winning fifer in the final.
Kallis also won the Player of the Match award in the final for his 37 runs alongside 5/30.
Read Next | The 5 Youngest Captains to Win T20 World Cup
Leave a Reply