Top 5 Cricket World Cup finals of all time

Australia and New Zealand will take each other on in the final of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup on Sunday. This will be the first ever trans-Tasman World Cup final. While the Kiwis have been unbeaten on their way to the final, the Aussies have lost just one game, in the group stage against New Zealand.However, going into the final, Australia have a lot of momentum on their side, having beaten India convincingly in the 2nd semi-final. Moreover, they will also enjoy home advantage as the match will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the Mecca of Australian cricket.With the final being the most awaited game of the tournament, we decided to look back at some of the memorable finals that have been played over the years.

#5 India vs Sri Lanka, Wankhede Stadium, 2011 World Cup

Pre-tournament favourites India and Sri Lanka took on each other in the final of the 2011 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. In a game worthy of a final, India beat their neighbours by 6 wickets and lifted the World Cup trophy for the second time in their history, thereby becoming the first host nation to win the World Cup.

After winning the toss, Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara opted to bat first. The Indian bowlers, led by the inspirational Zaheer Khan, bowled some tight lines as runs were hard to come by. The fielders threw themselves around to save every run as they complemented the bowlers brilliantly. While wickets fell around him, Mahela Jayawardene made his way to a strokeful 103 off just 88 balls. Lusty blows down the order from Nuwan Kulasekara and Thisara Perera powered the Lankans to 274/6 in 50 overs.

After losing openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar with just 31 on the board, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli steadied India’s chase with an 83-run partnership. However, Dilshan took a brilliant return catch to dismiss Kohli which pegged India back. Much to everyone’s surprise, Indian captain MS Dhoni promoted himself ahead of in-form batsman Yuvraj Singh. He then added 109 runs for the fourth wicket with Gambhir as the Men in Blue inched closer. After Gambhir’s dismissal, Dhoni took charge of the chase and took his team home in the company of Yuvraj.

Result – India win by 6 wickets

Man of the Match – MS Dhoni

#4 Australia vs West Indies, Lord\'s, 1975 World Cup

In the first ever World Cup final in 1975, a mighty West Indies team took on a determined Australian team at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. In a keenly contested final, the Windies prevailed by 17 runs and heralded a new era in world cricket.

After winning the toss, Australian skipper Ian Chappell elected to field. Rattled by disciplined bowling from the Australian pacers, the Windies were reeling at 50/3. Captain Clive Lloyd then compiled a brilliant 102 off just 85 balls as he took his team towards a formidable total. However, his dismissal triggered a mini-collapse as the West Indies lost 3 wickets in the space of just 10 runs. Useful contributions down the order took Lloyd’s team to a solid 291/8 in 60 overs.

In pursuit of the target, Australia looked steady at 81/1. However, Vivian Richards sent Alan Turner packing with a pin-point throw. A steady partnership between the Chappell brothers followed, only to be broken by another brilliant throw from Richards. Realising that another wicket could spell doom for their team, Ian Chappell and Doug Walters then added 49 for the fourth wicket.

Another piece of brilliance in the field from Richards led to Ian’s dismissal. This wicket seemed to have opened the floodgates as the Aussies kept losing wickets at regular intervals and lost their way. A heroic 41-run partnership for the last wicket could not save them as the Calypso Kings lifted the first ever World Cup.

Result – West Indies win by 17 runs

Man of the Match – Clive Lloyd

#3 Australia vs England, Eden Gardens, 1987 World Cup

Traditional rivals Australia and England locked horns in the final of the first 50-over World Cup and the first World Cup outside England. In a thrilling contest at the historic Eden Gardens, Australia prevailed by 7 runs and lifted the coveted World Cup trophy for the first time.

In order to build scoreboard pressure, Aussie skipper Allan Border won the toss and elected to bat. A 75-run opening partnership between David Boon and Geoff Marsh laid the foundation for a solid total. A 76-run partnership for the second wicket followed as Australia looked in command. However, the fall of 3 quick wickets allowed England to come back into the game. Some quick runs down the order from Border and Michael Veletta took the Australians to a formidable 253/5 in 50 overs.

In reply, the Poms were jolted early as they lost the wicket of Robert Robinson. Partnerships of 65 and 69 for the second and third wicket respectively followed as England steadily moved towards the target. At this stage, English skipper Mike Gatting had an absolute brain fade as he was dismissed trying to play a reverse sweep off Border’s bowling. There were no significant partnerships thereafter as England kept losing wickets at regular intervals. In the end, they fell agonisingly short of Australia’s total by 7 runs.

Result – Australia win by 7 runs

Man of the Match – David Boon

#2 England vs Pakistan, The MCG, 1992 World Cup

England and Pakistan squared off for the summit clash of the 1992 World Cup in front of a record crowd at the MCG. In a game that seesawed for a large part, Pakistan, led by their inspirational captain Imran Khan who was playing in his last game, pipped England by 22 runs to lift the World Cup.

After winning the toss, Imran Khan opted to bat first. An excellent spell from England pacer Derek Pringle meant that both Pakistani openers were back in the hut with just 24 on the board. Senior pros Javed Miandad and Imran himself then rescued Pakistan’s innings as the duo compiled a 139-run partnership for the third wicket. Following their dismissal, some late fireworks from Inzamam-ul-Haq and Wasim Akram allowed Pakistan to set a target of 250 for England.

England had a shaky start to their chase as their top 4 batsmen were back in the hut with just 69 on the board. A 72-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Neil Fairbrother and Allan Lamb brought the Poms back into the game. However, Akram returned to dismiss Lamb and Chris Lewis off consecutive deliveries, both of which were absolutely magical. Thereafter, Fairbrother and the lower order tried in vain to get close to Pakistan’s total. In the end, England lost by 22 runs as Pakistan gave their captain the perfect send-off.

Result – Pakistan win by 22 runs

Man of the Match – Wasim Akram

#1 India vs West Indies, Lord\'s, 1983 World Cup

Underdogs India took on then two-time defending champions West Indies in the final of the 1983 World Cup in what was widely regarded as the battle of David and Goliath. However, the unthinkable happened as Kapil’s Devils beat the mighty West Indians by 43 runs and lifted the World Cup to pull off one of the biggest upsets in cricketing history.

In a bid to allow his pace battery to take maximum advantage of a lively Lord’s wicket, Clive Lloyd won the toss and opted to field. After losing star batsman Sunil Gavaskar early, India looked like heading towards some respectability courtesy of steady knocks from Kris Srikkanth and Mohinder Amarnath. However, Amarnath’s wicket triggered a collapse as the remaining Indian batsmen surrendered to the bowling might of the Windies. With 5.2 overs to play, India were shot out for just 183.

At the innings break, Lord’s sensed another victory for Lloyd’s men given their batting might. True to the expectations, the Windies looked like heading towards a hat-trick of World Cup triumphs at 50/1. Soon, though, a flurry of key wickets, including that of the dangerous Sir Viv Richards, followed as the men from the Caribbean slipped to 76/6 and India looked in command. Thereafter, a brief 43-run partnership between Jeffrey Dujon and Malcolm Marshall threatened to take the game away from India. However, Amarnath returned to pick 3 of the last 4 wickets to hand India a 43-run win.

Result – India win by 43 runs

Man of the Match – Mohinder Amarnath

Check RCB Squad 2024 Details. Follow Sportskeeda for IPL 2024 Live Score, Schedule, Points Table

Quick Links

Edited by Staff Editor