Cricket World Cup History: 5 most memorable games

The 1st instalment of the ICC World Cup was played out in 1975 in England and since then, the tournament has only gone from strength to strength.

Each edition has witnessed a plethora of nail-biting finishes while those games have been extremely high on the drama quotient too. Unsurprisingly, the competition has become one of the most watched global events and one can expect it to scale higher viewership peaks come the latest chapter of the World Cup.

The 2019 World Cup commences on the 30th of May with hosts, England locking horns with the perennial underachievers, South Africa. Thus, the game looks primed to provide the ultimate spectacle, considering both cricket world cup teams haven’t yet tasted World Cup success.

However, over the years, there have been several such matches which have lived up to the expectations and have been etched in the memory of every cricket fan.

Thus, with the current segment only a stone’s throw away, it is fitting that we take a walk down memory lane and re-live some of the most memorable encounters to have ever been played on the grandest stage.

Without further ado, here is a look at them.

(Honourable Mentions: West Indies vs Australia, 1975 WC Final; India vs Australia, 1987; India vs Zimbabwe, 1983; New Zealand vs Australia, 2015 Group Stage)

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#5 England vs Ireland (2011)

Kevin O'Brien and Ireland stunned England

The England vs Ireland fixture played out at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru also came to be known as the ‘Kevin O’Brien’ game and rightly so.

The English arrived at the Chinnaswamy on the back of some patchy form and having indulged in an absolute classic with India at the same venue a few days back. They got off to a decent start and posted a total of 327 in their stipulated 50 overs. The Three Lions’ innings was powered by Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott.

Thus, many would’ve been forgiven to think that the tie was indeed done and dusted at the half way mark, owing to the fact that such a score had never been chased down before in World Cup cricket.

The people of such an opinion seemed to be vindicated at the start of Ireland’s innings as they found themselves tottering at 111 for 5. However, a stocky, right hander by the name O’Brien had different ideas.

Kevin conjured one of the finest innings on the biggest stage as he smashed the English bowlers all around the park. He ended up completing his ton off 50 deliveries and that remains the fastest century in the World Cup till date.

Yet, it was the authority that he displayed at the crease that made the chase simply astonishing.

On many an occasion, a David beats a Goliath when the latter has an off-day. However, on the 2nd of March, 2011, England gave a pretty good account of themselves only to be completely flummoxed by the bravery of their neighbours.

In hindsight, the aforementioned defeat also signalled the downward spiral England were to endure in the first half of the 2010s whereas for the Irish, it represented a ‘coming off age’ victory.

Thus, the said game just had to find a place in our list of the most memorable WC games ever.

#4 India vs Pakistan (2003)

India beat their rivals convincingly at Centurion

India and Pakistan have enjoyed a storied cricketing rivalry over the years with their political differences only adding to the spice of the encounter. However, on countless occasions, the match, billed as the ‘mother of all clashes’, has flattered to deceive. Yet, that certainly wasn’t the case when the duo went toe to toe at Centurion in the 2003 World Cup.

Coming into the World Cup, Pakistan certainly weren’t the force they were four years ago. But, a line-up comprising Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saeed Anwar, Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis could never be written off completely. And of the mentioned players, Anwar did come to the party against India.

The left-hander scored a masterful ton and helped Pakistan put up a competitive total on the board. A target of 274 on a rather lively Centurion wicket was definitely not a walk in the park. Yet, a certain Sachin Tendulkar made a mockery of the chase.

The Little Master stroked his way to a sumptuous 98 off 75 deliveries before he was caught off-guard by a vicious Akhtar bouncer. However, the likes of Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh ensured that his work wasn’t undone and India cruised to victory in the 46th over.

Though the match wasn’t as close as some of the others on this list, the image of Sachin cutting and pulling the Pakistani pacers ferociously provided a memory for the ages.

Moreover, at that juncture, Akhtar was at the peak of his powers and even though he eventually dismissed the Master Blaster, it wasn’t before the latter had weaved his magic.

Thus, riding on one of Sachin’s greatest ever ODI innings, the above game makes it to our list.

#3 New Zealand vs South Africa (2015)

New Zealand were jubilant while South Africa were left heartbroken

New Zealand and South Africa went head to head in the 1st semi-final of the 2015 ICC World Cup at Auckland with expectations hitting fever pitch for both teams. Before the game, neither had made a World Cup final and thus, the pair had the opportunity to write themselves into cricketing folklore. And boy, didn’t they engage in a titanic struggle to cross the penultimate hurdle.

After electing to bat, the Proteas rode on Francois Du Plessis’ gritty 82 to lay a solid platform. However, rain played a part in the game and the stop-start nature hurt their momentum in the middle phases.

Post the resumption, AB De Villiers and David Miller produced a scintillating end-overs assault to catapult South Africa to 281 for 5 in their allotted 43 overs.

Courtesy the DLS method, New Zealand’s target was adjusted to 298 off 43 overs. The hosts got off to a belligerent start with Brendon McCullum leading the charge. The opener mercilessly attacked Dale Steyn at the start and ensured his side got the better of the opening exchanges.

However, once he was dismissed, New Zealand stuttered and stumbled their way to 149 for 4 in the 22nd over. Corey Anderson and Grant Elliot then joined hands and stitched together a useful 103 run partnership which left the Black Caps on the cusp of victory.

Yet, the departures of Anderson and Luke Ronchi in quick succession added another layer of intrigue to an already captivating tale.

The onus then fell on Elliot to take his team home and he did so adroitly with just a ball to spare. The all-rounder kept his cool at all times and made sure New Zealand reached their maiden World Cup final.

The image of South African cricketers falling to the ground after losing yet another knock-out game was heart-breaking for the entire cricketing fraternity, let alone their own countrymen.

New Zealand on the other hand, were jubilant for they had left their fans with a lasting memory.

Thus, that game at Auckland makes our list at No.3.

#2 India vs West Indies (World Cup Final, 1983)

India lifted the 1983 World Cup against all odds

The game of cricket has evolved considerably and high-scoring matches have become the norm these days. Yet, despite all the fireworks such encounters provide, they can never rival the beauty of a tight, low-scoring thriller where even a minute mistake has the potential to be an error of gigantic proportions.

Back in 1983, ODI cricket was still finding its feet and not many had been captured by the idea of scoring briskly. Thus, it was only fitting that cricket’s biggest prize was decided by the archetypal low-scoring classic.

West Indies won the toss and put India into bat under slightly adverse batting conditions. The Indian batsman found the going tough against Andy Roberts, Michael Holding and Malcolm Marshall. They eventually ground their way to 183 but the score hardly looked daunting for a team boasting of Sir Viv Richards, Desmond Haynes, Gordon Greenidge and Clive Lloyd.

However, like many occasions in that World Cup, the Indians brought their A-game to the fore when their backs were up against the wall.

Though the West Indians started brightly, Madan Lal’s inspired spell, which included the scalp of Richards, threw a spanner in their works.

The West Indies side then folded spectacularly with Mohinder Amarnath applying the finishing touches for India.

The dismissal of Holding by Amarnath sent the whole of India into delirium and set the ideal platform for the country to establish itself as a cricketing superpower.

Thus, the game takes the runner-up spot on our list.

#1 Australia vs South Africa (Semi-final, 1999)

Australia and South Africa played out arguably the greatest ODI ever at Birmingham in 1999

In the late 1990s, Australia was starting to exert its dominance on the world stage. In 1996, they made the final but they narrowly missed out to Sri Lanka. Thus, seething from their inability to add to their tally, the Aussies looked a team possessed in England in 1999.

Though the Steve Waugh-led side had its fair share of shaky moments in the said tournament, they held their nerve at crucial junctures to find themselves in the last four. After all, it was their skipper who had navigated a safe passage to the semi-final courtesy a superb hundred against South Africa earlier in the tournament.

However, the Proteas looked anything but fazed when faced with the prospect of facing the Aussies in the semis.

They got off to the ideal start and reduced the latter to 68 for 4. However, an excellent rear-guard action by Waugh and Michael Bevan catapulted Australia to 213.

The Proteas also endured a sticky start and lost their first four wickets for 61. Yet, their middle order steadied the ship and brought them to the brink of victory.

Like many a time before, Lance Klusener led the South Africans’ charge in the second half of the innings. However, on that fateful night in Edgbaston, it just wasn’t to be for the all-rounder.

With 9 to get off the final over, the left-hander smashed two fours off the first two balls. Yet, what unfolded post the brace of boundaries was the epitome of capitulation.

On the third ball, Allan Donald very nearly ran himself out after a needless bit of running. However, the fast-bowler outdid himself the next delivery when a combination of anxiety, indecision and ball watching contrived to deny South Africa a place in the final.

The match ended in a tie and at the 1999 World Cup, the head to head record between the sides was considered to decide the winner in such an instance. Thus, Australia, having won their previous encounter, proceeded to the final by the tiniest of fine margins.

And unfortunately on that evening in Birmingham, the South Africans added weight to the old adage, ‘Many a slip between the cup and the lip’.

The game competes in a short list to be crowned the best cricket match ever. Hence, it simply is the most memorable game ever played in the World Cup.