Cricket World Cup History: 5 most memorable games

#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.