2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy

The 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy started on 3 October and was hosted by Kenya, all the matches were played at Gymkhana Club Ground, Nairobi, Kenya. Eleven teams participated in the tournament, the top 5 teams ranked according to 1999 Cricket World Cup seedings qualify for the KnockOut Stage automatically. The remaining three teams qualify from the Pre-Quarter-Finals, which was held from 3 to 5 October, between 6 of the lowest ranked teams according to 1999 Cricket World Cup seedings. The final was played on 15 October 2000 and was a day-nighter contested between India and New Zealand at the Gymkhana Club Ground.

It was New Zealand's first Finals appearance at major ICC events. They had previously lost the Semi-Finals on four occasions between 1975 and 1999. India played in their second final at major ICC events, having played and won the 1983 Cricket World Cup Final.

A total ten matches were played in the tournament. The top 5 teams ranked according to 1999 Cricket World Cup seedings qualify for the KnockOut Stage automatically. The remaining three teams qualify from the Pre-Quarter-Finals, which was held from 3 to 5 October, between 6 of the lowest ranked teams according to 1999 Cricket World Cup seedings. Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand and Zimbabwe qualified for the KnockOut Stage automatically, while India, Sri Lanka and England qualified from Pre-Quarter-Finals beating Kenya, West Indies and Bangladesh respectively. India faced Australia, Sri Lanka faced Pakistan and England faced South Africa in the Quarter-Finals. India, Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa defeated Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and England respectively in the Quarter-Finals, and qualified for the Semi-Finals.

The first Semi-Final was played between New Zealand and Pakistan on 11 October 2000 at Gymkhana Club Ground, Nairobi, Kenya. Pakistan, who had won the toss, elected to bat first. Pakistan were bowled out for 252. Saeed Anwar scored 104 runs from 115 balls. Shayne O'Connor take a five-wicket haul his match figures were (5/46) bowling 9.2 overs, which help the New Zealand team to bowl out Pakistan for such mediocre score. New Zealand innings did start well losing their 2 wickets for 15, but Roger Twose and Craig McMillan steady the innings and put a brilliant partnership of 135 runs facing 158 balls and thus, they achieved the target with an over and 4 wickets remaining. Shayne O'Connor was awarded Man of the Match for his match figures (5/46) and New Zealand entered in their first ever Finals at major ICC events.

India played South Africa in the second Semi-Final of the tournament on 13 October 2000 at Gymkhana Club Ground, Nairobi, Kenya. India captain, Sourav Ganguly won the toss and decided to bat first. Indian openers gave them a steady start, with 66 for no wicket in 14 overs. Sourav Ganguly scored a brilliant century scoring 141 runs facing 142 balls he was not out throughout the innings and India scored the mammoth total of 295 runs losing 6 wickets. South African openers could not give their team a good start as both Kirsten and Hall were back in the pavilion for just the score of 23 in 4 overs and soon they were reduced to 50/4 then Jonty Rhodes, Mark Boucher and Lance Klusener steadied the innings for some extent but that could not help too much as they were bowled out for 200 and lost the match by 95 runs. Sourav Ganguly was named the Man of the Match for his brilliant knock of 141 runs.

The match was umpired by West Indies' Steve Bucknor and England's David Shepherd. Sri Lankan Ranjan Madugalle was the match referee and Australia's Darrell Hair was the third umpire.

New Zealand won the toss and elected to field. Indian openers gave a superb start to their team, and put a brilliant partnership of 141 and scoring the runs at the run rate of over 5 runs per over, but then, their middle could not take any advantage of the start given by their openers and finished the innings scoring 264 runs and losing 6 wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Sourav Ganguly's golden run in the tournament continued as he yet again scored a brilliant century scoring 117 runs from 130 balls. New Zealand innings yet again did not start well as they lost their 2 wickets inside 6 overs for the score of 37, and later reduced to 132/5 but then, Chris Cairns and Chris Harris put a brilliant partnership of 122 runs which help them to win their first major ICC event and also their first ICC KnockOut Trophy title.

15 October 2000 Scorecard

India  264/6 (50 overs)	v	New Zealand 265/6 (49.4 overs)
Sourav Ganguly 117 (130) Scott Styris 2/53 (10 overs)		Chris Cairns 102* (113) Venkatesh Prasad 3/27 (7 overs)

New Zealand won by 4 wickets (with 2 balls remaining) Gymkhana Club Ground, Nairobi  Kenya Umpires: Steve Bucknor (WI) and David Shepherd (Eng) Player of the match: Chris Cairns (NZ)

• New Zealand won the toss and elected to field.
• New Zealand won the 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy.

This was the first and to date the only ICC event won by  New Zealand.