Here is a detailed recount of some of the most thrilling final matches in Cricket World Cup history:
1. 1975 – West Indies vs. Australia
- Venue: Lord’s, London
- Result: West Indies won by 17 runs.
- Key Moments:
- West Indies scored 291/8, with Clive Lloyd smashing a spectacular 102 off 85 balls.
- Viv Richards’ brilliance in the field contributed to three crucial run-outs of Australian batsmen.
- Australia fought valiantly, but the steady fall of wickets and pressure from West Indies’ bowlers sealed the game.
2. 1983 – India vs. West Indies
- Venue: Lord’s, London
- Result: India won by 43 runs.
- Key Moments:
- India, the underdogs, scored a modest 183 runs. Kris Srikkanth’s 38 was the top score.
- The Indian bowlers, led by Mohinder Amarnath (3/12), dismantled West Indies’ batting, dismissing them for 140.
- Kapil Dev’s iconic catch to dismiss Viv Richards turned the match in India’s favor, marking a monumental upset.
3. 1987 – Australia vs. England
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Result: Australia won by 7 runs.
- Key Moments:
- Australia posted 253/5, with David Boon anchoring the innings with a solid 75.
- England seemed on track during their chase, thanks to Mike Gatting’s quickfire 41.
- A pivotal moment occurred when Gatting played a reverse sweep off Allan Border and was caught, triggering a collapse.
- England fell short by just 7 runs, making this one of the closest World Cup finals.
4. 1992 – Pakistan vs. England
- Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia
- Result: Pakistan won by 22 runs.
- Key Moments:
- Imran Khan’s 72 and Javed Miandad’s steady 58 helped Pakistan post 249/6.
- England lost quick wickets but kept fighting, with Neil Fairbrother and Allan Lamb resisting.
- Wasim Akram’s magical spell (3/49) included two game-changing deliveries that swung the game in Pakistan’s favor.
5. 1996 – Sri Lanka vs. Australia
- Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- Result: Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets.
- Key Moments:
- Australia set a target of 241/7, with Mark Taylor scoring 74.
- Sri Lanka’s openers, Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana, were dismissed early, but Aravinda de Silva’s unbeaten 107 turned the tide.
- De Silva also took 3 key wickets, earning him the Player of the Match award.
- Sri Lanka became the first host nation to win the World Cup, marking a historic moment for cricket.
6. 1999 – Australia vs. Pakistan
- Venue: Lord’s, London
- Result: Australia won by 8 wickets.
- Key Moments:
- Pakistan was bowled out for a meager 132, with Shane Warne taking 4/33.
- Australia chased the target effortlessly in just 20.1 overs, with Adam Gilchrist smashing 54 off 36 balls.
- While the match was one-sided, Australia’s clinical performance remains iconic.
7. 2003 – Australia vs. India
- Venue: Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
- Result: Australia won by 125 runs.
- Key Moments:
- Ricky Ponting’s explosive 140* off 121 balls, supported by Damien Martyn’s 88*, led Australia to a mammoth 359/2.
- India lost early wickets, including Sachin Tendulkar for just 4 runs, to Glenn McGrath.
- Virender Sehwag’s 82 offered resistance, but the target proved too steep, and India was bowled out for 234.
- Australia’s dominance in the match solidified their status as a cricketing powerhouse.
8. 2007 – Australia vs. Sri Lanka
- Venue: Kensington Oval, Barbados
- Result: Australia won by 53 runs (DLS method).
- Key Moments:
- Adam Gilchrist’s blazing 149 off 104 balls powered Australia to a formidable 281/4.
- Sri Lanka struggled under lights due to rain interruptions and a revised target, falling short despite a spirited effort from Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara.
9. 2011 – India vs. Sri Lanka
- Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- Result: India won by 6 wickets.
- Key Moments:
- Mahela Jayawardene’s unbeaten 103 guided Sri Lanka to 274/6.
- Gautam Gambhir’s crucial 97 and MS Dhoni’s iconic 91* led India’s chase.
- Dhoni’s finishing six remains one of the most celebrated moments in Indian cricket history.
10. 2019 – England vs. New Zealand
- Venue: Lord’s, London
- Result: Match tied; England won on boundary count after Super Over.
- Key Moments:
- Both teams scored 241 in their respective innings. Ben Stokes’ heroic 84* took England to a tie.
- The match went to a Super Over, where both teams scored 15 runs.
- England was declared winners due to their superior boundary count (26 to New Zealand’s 17), sparking a global debate on the fairness of the rule.
These finals highlight the diverse challenges faced by teams in World Cup history, from tight finishes to dominant displays. These finals have showcased the unpredictable nature of cricket and the sheer excitement of World Cup tournaments.