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Five World Cup finals to remember

3 minute read

From the West Indies' maiden crown to the farce of the 2007 title being decided in darkness, World Cup finals always toss up something out of the ordinary.

Adam Gilchrist Picture: Racing and Sports

BEST OF THE BEST: THE WORLD CUP'S FINEST FINALS

WEST INDIES ROMP TO MAIDEN TRIUMPH OVER AUSTRALIA - 1975

Questions were asked before the first tournament if the World Cup concept had any merit, but by the end there were no doubts. Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards stood tall when it mattered most in the decider. Lloyd hit 102 from 85 balls to help the West Indies from 3-50 to 8-291. Then Richards pulled off three run-outs to have Australia fall 17 runs short.

INDIA UPSET THE WINDIES - 1983

No one gave India a chance of beating the West Indies, but seamers Mohinder Amarnath and Madan Lal had other ideas. The West Indies were cruising at 1-50 chasing 184 for victory, before Lal removed Desmond Haynes. From there a procession of West Indian stars followed, as Amarnath took 3-21 and Lal 3-31 to have the two-time champions all out for 150 in one of cricket's greatest upsets.

GATTING'S REVERSE SWEEP GIFTS AUSSIES THE TITLE - 1987

Mike Gatting hasn't stopped hearing about his reverse sweep from the 1987 final. In the closest decider yet, England were 2-135 chasing 254 for victory when Gatting tried to reverse sweep Allan Border. He top edged it to wicketkeeper Greg Dyer and the momentum immediately swung. England later needed 17 off the last over, but went down by seven as Australia claimed their maiden title. Thirty-two years later, and England are still searching for theirs.

AKRAM'S MAGIC GETS PAKISTAN THE TROPHY - 1992

Wasim Akram put on a show in the first World Cup final under lights and in coloured clothing. With Allan Lamb and Neil Fairbrother set at the crease for the fifth wicket and England needing 108 to win from 16 overs, the game was in the balance. Enter Akram. He bowled the perfect outswinger to Lamb to take his off stump from a good length, before bowling Chris Lewis next ball with one that swung back in at him. From there England were done, as Akram finished with 3-49 and the favourites 22 runs short.

AUSSIES WIN IT IN THE DARK OF NIGHT - 2007

Still the most bizarre World Cup final. Adam Gilchrist hit a 72-ball century with a squash ball squeezed into his glove for all 149 of his runs at Barbados as Australia whacked 4-281 from 38 overs in a rain-affected match against Sri Lanka. But that was just the start of the chaos. With no working lights, umpires went to call the game off early before Australia were wrongly told they'd have to return the next day and start again. As a result, the spinners came on and bowled the final three overs in darkness, with fans unable to see the Aussies wrap up the 53-run win.