Cricket World Cup History: 7 greatest finals of all time

#6 1987: A shot that cost England the World Cup against Australia

Border's Australia did extremely well

1987 was probably the only time when Australia were underdogs going into a final. Mike Gatting's England was the clear favourite against Allan Border's Australia. Batting first, David Boon and Geoff Marsh gave Australia a steady start.

Just like the semi-finals, Boon played the sheet anchor role. The finishing touch was given by Border and Mike Veletta whose 31-ball 45 propelled the score to 253. Tournament's leading run-scorer Graham Gooch started the chase well for England. With Bill Athey and Gatting at the crease, it seemed England would coast to victory.

But Gatting played a reverse sweep against his conventional sagacity which brought the downfall of him and his team. Allan Lamb tried his best with a 45, but Border and Steve Waugh made run-scoring difficult with their slow bowling. Australia won the game by seven runs and lifted their first World Cup.