5 worst collapses in World Cup history

#2 Pakistan vs England, Group Stage, 1992 World Cup

Alec Stewart’s glove-work was one of the highlights of England shooting out Pakistan for 74

The weather gods love to play spoilsport, especially when they contribute to one team’s low score. To even things out, they then unleash their fury in the form of heavy showers, and sometimes a bit of lightning, nullifying the opposition’s advantage. That’s exactly what unfolded at the Adelaide Oval on March 1, 1992 – it was the 13th game of the tournament, in addition, an ominous sign in itself.

Put into bat by England skipper Graham Gooch, Pakistan’s top order crumbled against a fine exhibition of swing and seam by Derek Pringle and Phil DeFreitas. In no time, they were reduced to 32/5, and only Saleem Malik seemed capable of handling the conditions as well as put up any semblance of a fight. Ian Botham, Dermot Reeve and Gladstone Small also joined the party with their colleagues, bowling with venom, as Pakistan’s lower order came out a little too early for their liking – eventually folding for 74, their lowest ever score in One-Day Internationals. Talismanic skipper Imran Khan’s absence was sorely felt, according to most of the Pakistan supporters.

Wasim Akram, who would later play a central role in his side’s triumph at the summit clash against the same opponents, dismissed Gooch early in the chase, but further spells of rain caused the game to be reduced to 16 overs, with the target set to 64. However, a total of three hours were lost to the inclement weather, and eventually the game was abandoned with England eight overs into their reply. Pakistan had thus escaped certain defeat, although their shambolic batting performance would go down in tournament history as one of the worst ever collapses.