The ICC Cricket World is the biggest stage when we talk about cricket. Every cricketer, while growing up, wants to be a part of it. All the superstars of the sport align here to give us the best matches we can experience in the sport of cricket. Cricket boards in every country make it a target for their country to be called the World Champions. As the stakes are so high every time the tournament starts, we get to experience some nerve-wracking matches that are full of entertainment for a cricket fan. In this article, we are going to see about ten games that are said to be the best to happen in this tournament.
1. New Zealand VS South Africa, 2015 Semi-Final
This match was between two nations that have never won the World Cup, and they played like they wanted to create history. The game was full of twists and turns that ended as a heartbreak for the Proteas. New Zealand had to chase 298 in 43 overs in a rain-affected battle where New Zealand did not get one of the best starts that they wanted. The hero for New Zealand was Grant Elliot, who stood his ground and took New Zealand over the line with just one ball remaining.
2. Ireland VS England, 2011 Group Stage
This match was the one that proved that anything is possible in the sport of cricket. The English side, having players like Andrew Strauss, Kevin Peterson, James Anderson, Ian Bell, and Stuart Broad, were the outright favorites for the game and batting first when they posted a big total of 327, it looked inevitable that England would win this easily. However, Irish Legend Kevin O’ Brien had some other plans. He came in the middle order while his team struggled and made a 50-ball hundred, which gave Ireland the win with five balls to spare.
3. Pakistan VS England, 1992 Final
The 1992 ICC World Cup Final was a match to remember for every cricket fan. This match was between teams that had never won the World Cup before. Pakistan somehow made it to the final after going through one of the worst starts to their tournament, while England were in its second successive final. Batting first, Pakistan posted 249 runs on the board, and then, the Wasim Akram show started, where he showed how magically a ball can swing and gave Pakistan its first World Title.
4. India VS West Indies, 1983 Final
In 1983, West Indies were the superpowers of cricket, being the only country to win a world cup, doing it twice (1975 & 1979) before reaching their third consecutive final against an India that was said to have no chance to get to the finals. So, it was clear who were the favorites going into the match. India put up a low score of 183, but we saw a scintillating performance from the Indian bowlers that made the unthinkable happen and made India the World Champions.
5. India VS Sri Lanka, 2011 Final
The 2011 World Cup Final was a treat to watch between two Asian giants at the peak of their powers. At the home soil of India, Sri Lanka posted a respectable 274-run total thanks to the century by Mahila Jayawardane. In its response, India had a horrible start, losing both its opener for cheap, making it difficult for the home side. Gautam Gambhir (97) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (91*) played the most important innings of their careers to take India over the line.
6. India VS Zimbabwe, 1983 Group Stage
India was the champions of the 1983 World Cup, but one of the most vital matches leading to that was the India and Zimbabwe match. We saw how a captain leads his team in the hardest of situations. India had one of the worst starts to in a must-win game, being 17-5. It looked like this would ensure India’s exit from the World Cup, but Kapil Dev came on the ground and scored an unbelievable 175 runs in 138 balls, taking India to 266, that proved to be a winning total for India.
7. Australia VS India, 1987 Group Stage
Australia was playing India away at Chennai during the World Cup Group Stages, 1987. That day, Chennai witnessed one of the closest matches ever seen in the World Cup. Australia batted first and reached a respectable score of 270. In response to it, India started well and got very near to the target. The match was so close that India needed two runs in two balls to win with a wicket remaining. Australia won the match by one run as Steve Waugh bowled Maninder Singh.
8. Australia VS South Africa, 1999 Semi-Final
This Semi-Final was probably the closest till this day. South Africa was out to play for their first world title, whereas a legendary Australia team was battling for superiority. As the match went till the last over, South Africa needed nine runs of the 50th over. After the first two balls of the over, it looked like South Africa had progressed as Lance Klusener hit the first two deliveries for boundaries. With one run needed, the last batsman got run out, and Australia won the game.
9. Australia VS West Indies, 1975 Final
Australia VS West Indies was the first World Cup final in Cricket history. The first World Cup final showed us how big of a thing it’ll become in the future. West Indies batted well, with Clive Lloyd getting a hundred in the Final. As their response, Australia did not start well but the lower order kept its hope alive. Sir Viv Richards showed a spectacular fielding performance, and Australia missed the target by 20 runs.
10. New Zealand VS England, 2019 Final
The 2019 World Cup Final was not for the soft-hearted people. It had everything, be it a fight, drama, or great play. Both New Zealand and England were competing for its first world title. When both the teams finished their innings, they drew at 241, which meant that the game would go on to a super over. In the super over, both the teams scored the same, but England won the tournament as per the Boundary count-back method.
