May 15, South Africa vs India at Hove: An upset on the cards as India are 197 for two. But Lance Klusener changes the script with the scalps of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Mohammed Azharuddin. And as the contest heads for a photo-finish, Klusener smashes 12 off just six deliveries to mastermind South Africa's victory.

May 19, South Africa vs Sri Lanka at Northampton: South Africa were head for a shocking sub-150 total. But Klusener smashes 52 off 45 balls, including 22 in the 50th over bowled by Chaminda Vaas. A three wicket haul for 20 runs ensures him the Man of the Match Award.

The common factor in the above instances? The answer is printed onthe back of their jerseys. All sporting the No 13.

In a world of superstitions, the No 13 has come to be accepted as a dreaded figure. The Bombay Stock Exchange does not have a 13th floor. Instead, it has a floor marked `B'. Many five star hotels, fearing guests not opting to stay on the 13th floor, skip a floor. One internationally famous chain of hotel naming their 13th floor as 12A.

Triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of No 13, is rampant in most parts of the world. At the Last Supper, it is said that there were 13 people present (including Jesus) and it was the 12th disciple who betrayed him.

Therefore, it is quite significant that the World Cup kicked off only on May 14. But in World Cup matches, the jersey No 13s are creating panic among opponents.

In the Pakistan-West Indies at Bristol, Merwyn Dillon took two wickets off successive balls and then came back came to break a promising fifth wicket stand between Yousuf Youhana and Ijaz Ahmed. But Dillon's effort went in vain as the Yousuf Yohanna-IjazAhmed stand had done much damage for Pakistan to hit back strongly. The No 13s in this match: Dillon and Youhana!

It was Youhana at it again in the Pakistan-Scotland game at Chester-le-Street where the minnows had the 1992 World Cup champions at 92 for five. But man of the match Youhanna led the Pakistani rally with an unbeaten 81. Still believe these are mere numerological nonsense? Then there's more coming. In the one-sided New Zealand-Bangladesh match, though the Bangladeshis put up a total closer to the ground temperature, it was No 13 Hasibul Hossain who hit the only six of the Bangladeshi innings and scored the second highest number of runs.

Then, in the India-Zimbabwe game, No 13 Paul Strang chipped in with a crucial 18 runs and later put the brakes on the Indian run-rate when Ramesh and Jadeja were just about running away with the match. Sure, he didn't get a wicket, but check closely and you will find who triggered the Indian rot.

From the Indian angle, considering Debashis Mohanty wasspecially selected due to his prowess in seaming conditions, and Agarkar is getting quite a hammering, isn't it time the Indian think-tank start considering the possibilities of giving Mohanty a look-in? By the way, Mohanty is wearing jersey No 13!