Cricket World Cup History: India’s golden moments in the World Cup

#2 Mohinder Amarnath’s man-of-the-match performances in the semi-final and final of 1983 World Cup

Amarnath was the star of the show in the semi-final and final of the 1983 World Cup

India had done well to reach the semi-finals but the hosts England were expected to beat them. Graeme Fowler and Chris Tavare started well, putting up an opening stand of 69 before Roger Binny dismissed both. Kapil Dev then turned to the gentle slow-medium of Mohinder Amarnath who had David Gower caught behind by Syed Kirmani.

After Allan Lamb was run out, Amarnath castled Mike Gatting as England were 150 for five, and eventually were bowled out for 213 off the last ball of their 60th over. Amarnath finished with two wickets for 27 in his 12 overs.

Sunil Gavaskar and Krishnamachari Srikkanth put on 46 but, both fell within four runs of each other's wicket. Amarnath and Yashpal Sharma added a splendid 92-run stand before the former was run out for 46 but won the 'Man of the Match' award for leading India to a six-wicket victory.

The final began on a poor note for India as Sunil Gavaskar fished at one from Andy Roberts and was gone early. Mohinder Amarnath joined Krishnamachari Srikkanth and they put on 57 for the second wicket. Amarnath was comprehensively bowled by Michael Holding for 27 and soon India was shot out for 183 in 54.4 overs.

There was a sensational start to the West Indies innings for India as Gordon Greenidge shouldered arms to an incoming delivery from Sandhu and was bowled for one. The imperious Vivian Richards batted like the monarch that he often was at the crease and just when he seemed to have decimated the Indian attack, he skied a Madan Lal delivery high over mid-wicket.

Kapil Dev turned and ran after the ball and clung on to the catch. Wickets began to tumble but Jeff Dujon and Malcolm Marshall tried to make a match of it. Then Amarnath struck, with Dujon chopping on to his stumps and Marshall being snapped up by Gavaskar in the slips. Not long after, Amarnath trapped Michael Holding leg-before as India clinched the World Cup, with Amarnath registering figures of 3/12 from his seven overs, and winning the Man of the Match award again.