The ODI World Cup 2023 in India has witnessed a major milestone, breaking a 31-year-old jinx. For the first time since the 1992 World Cup, all participating teams in the competition have won at least one match. This significant record was achieved as Sri Lanka secured their first victory in the tournament by defeating the Netherlands at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, successfully chasing down a target of 263 runs. The victory was largely attributed to a brilliant knock from Sadeera Samarawickrama.
This achievement means that all teams taking part in the World Cup 2023 have registered at least one win in the tournament. Notably, the Netherlands also managed to secure a notable win over South Africa, and Afghanistan defeated England earlier in the competition.
To put this accomplishment in perspective, in previous World Cup editions since 1992, there were teams that failed to secure a single win. For example:
- In the 1996 World Cup, the Dutch side could not win a single game.
- In the 1999 edition, both Kenya and Scotland lost all their matches.
- The 2003 World Cup saw Namibia and Bangladesh without a single win.
- In the 2007 World Cup, four teams—Canada, Bermuda, Zimbabwe, and Scotland—failed to secure a victory.
- In the 2011 World Cup, jointly hosted by India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, both the Netherlands and Kenya struggled to win a game.
- The 2015 World Cup, hosted by Trans-Tasman rivals Australia and New Zealand, witnessed Scotland and the UAE without a win.
- In the 2019 World Cup, Afghanistan was the sole team that did not secure a single win.
With this 31-year-old jinx broken, the World Cup 2023 in India has certainly turned out to be an exceptional and record-breaking tournament, with all participating teams experiencing the taste of victory.
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