7 biggest upsets in 50-over Cricket World Cup history

In the 10 editions of the 50-over World Cup thus far, there have been quite a number of upsets. Here, we look at 7 of the biggest among them.

#1 India v West Indies, 1983 Final

Kapil Dev with the trophy

Ahead of the tournament, no one would have given India any chance of making it to the knockouts, leave alone winning the final.

However, through some excellent performances in the group stages and the knockout games, India had reached their first ever World Cup final and were to face the mighty West Indies at Lord’s.

Batting first, India got off to a shaky start losing Sunil Gavaskar early. K Srikkanth and Yashpal Sharma then steadied the ship for a while before the former was dismissed for 38.

After that, India could not really get a move on as the West Indian quicks picked up wickets regularly. They were eventually bundled out for 183 in 54.4 overs with Andy Roberts picking up 3 wickets.

When play resumed for the 2nd innings, everyone expected the Caribbean team to win at a canter. And when Vivian Richards was at the crease, it seemed as if the match would be over well within 35 overs.

However, that was not to be the case. Kapil Dev pulled off a sensational running catch to dismiss Richards, helping his team claw their way back into the game.

Indian bowlers picked up crucial wickets from them on in as none of the West Indian batsmen managed to convert their starts, and, when Michael Holding was caught lbw off the bowling of Mohinder Amarnath, the miracle was complete.

India had pulled off a major upset, winning by 43 runs, to be crowned as World Champions.

#2 Australia v Zimbabwe, 1983

Duncan Fletcher (batting)

One of the biggest upsets in the group stages of that World cup was minnows Zimbabwe beating a strong Australia in Nottingham.

Put in to bat by the Aussies, Zimbabwe got off to a steady start but were soon in trouble at 94 for 5.

Out walked Kevin Curran to join Duncan Fletcher, and the duo put on a crucial 70-run stand before the former was dismissed. Fletcher, however, top scored with 76 not out and took his side to 239 for 6 at the end of the 60 overs.

Following Graeme Wood’s dismissal for 31, the Zimbabwean bowlers continued to pick up wickets at regular intervals, with Fletcher again starring with the ball.

Allan Border got out with the score reading 168 for 6, and it was then up to keeper Rodney Marsh to take his side home. However, despite his best efforts, a loss for the Aussies could not be prevented as Zimbabwe went to win by 13 runs.

#3 Kenya v West Indies, 1996

Kenya

Before the tournament began, no one would have imagined such a result.

West Indies entered into their match against Kenya in Pune, confident about securing valuable pints and boosting their net run-rate.

Put into bat, the Kenyans only managed a below-par 166 all out; Steve Tikolo top scored with 29.

Coming into bat, the West Indies were hoping for their openers to give them a good start. But that did not happen as the Kenyan bowlers bowled exceedingly well to keep the match alive.

Regular wickets at crucial junctures meant that the West Indies never got going. The possibility of a shock upset looked more and more likely, and, when Rajab Ali got Cameron Cuffy for 1, the embarrassment for the West Indies was complete.

They had been bundled out for 93, and that defeat was in some sense the start of the decline for the men from the Caribbean.

#4 Sri Lanka v Kenya, 2003

Kenya

Put in to bat first in a group stage match of the 2003 World Cup, Kenya scored 210 for 9 in their 50 overs at the Nairobi Gymkhana Ground, with Kennedy Otieno’s 60 off 122 being the top score.

When Sri Lanka came out to chase, they were in for a surprise. The Kenyans, spurred by a decent home crowd, came out fighting with the ball and especially in the field, diving all over the place to save every run.

Martin Suji, who was a part of the team in the previous upset over West Indies in 1996, picked up the crucial early wicket of Sanath Jayasuriya; however, it was the performance of off-spinner Collins Obuya, who picked up 5 for 24, that helped the Kenyans secure a 53-run win and create another major upset at the World Cup.

#5 India v Bangladesh, 2007

Rahim celebrates famous win

One of the 2 upsets that happened on that day, India stumbled to perhaps their most embarrassing defeat in a World Cup game as they lost to Bangladesh at Port-of-Spain.

Only Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh got among the runs as India never got going in their innings, managing 191 all out in 49.3 overs.

Helped by a blistering start from Tamim Iqbal, a number of dropped catches, and a composed innings from Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh got to the target with 9 balls to spare, sparking off wild celebrations in their camp and almost putting to an end India’s miserable campaign.

#6 Ireland v Pakistan, 2007

Trent Johnston

The second of the two upsets of the day, Pakistan lost to Ireland at Sabina Park in Jamaica.

Opting to field first, the Irishmen put early pressure on the Pakistani batsman, picking up wickets at regular intervals and stifling the batting unit. The sub-continental side were eventually bowled out for 132 with Boyd Rankin picking up 3 wickets.

Chasing a mere 133 to win, Ireland were guided by an excellent innings from Niall O’Brien; when captain Trent Johnston hit the winning six off Azhar Mahmood, the victory was complete, as was the second major upset of the day.

This match is also infamously remembered as Bob Woolmer’s last assignment as a coach before his passing away in mysterious circumstances after the team’s exit.

#7 England vs Ireland 2011 World cup

Kevin O’ Brien

After a dramatic tie versus India, England went in to their match against Ireland hoping to get full points.

They amassed 327 for 8 in 50 overs and then had Ireland at 111 for 5 when the turnaround happened; Kevin O’Brien smashed the England bowlers to all parts of the Chinnaswamy Stadium and, in the company of Alan Cusack – with whom he shared a match-winning 162-run stand, took the game away.

Kevin also went on to score the fastest hundred by a player in the history of the 50-over World Cup as Ireland scripted an epic come-from-behind win over England, leaving everyone shocked in the stadium.