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OTD In 1987: Allan Border's Australia Stun England At Eden Gardens To Win First World Cup

Australia won their first ever World Cup on this day in 1987 [Source: @cricketworldcup/x.com]Australia won their first ever World Cup on this day in 1987 [Source: @cricketworldcup/x.com]

Thirty-seven years ago today, Australia bagged their very first World Cup title in a thrilling finish against England at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. It was November 8, 1987, and no one knew then that this was just the beginning of Aussie dominance in cricket. They pulled off a win by a tight seven runs and set off a legacy that would make them one of the most feared teams in World Cup history.

OTD in 1987: Australia Kicked Off Their Dominance with First World Cup Title Win

Having won the toss, Australian skipper Allan Border decided to bat first. It turned out to be a smart choice as Australia put up a solid 253/5 on the board which gave them a fighting chance.

Opener David Boon anchored the innings with a fighting 75 off 125 balls, making sure the Aussies kept the scoreboard ticking as wickets kept falling at the other end.

Mike Veletta chipped in towards the end with a quick 45* off 31 balls with six fours, pushing the total up to a competitive score. Eddie Hemmings was the top bowler for England, taking two wickets.


England Crumble Under Pressure

England’s chase got off to a dismal start as opener Tim Robinson fell for a duck. Graham Gooch and Bill Athey tried to bring some stability, but the Aussies kept the pressure on.

Athey top-scored with 58 off 103 balls, but he couldn’t make it big. England skipper Mike Gatting looked good with 41 off 45 balls, but his dismissal came at the worst time. Both Gatting and Allan Lamb (45) missed out on half-centuries.

Australia’s bowlers kept their cool in the crunch moments. Border and Steve Waugh both took two wickets each, helping restrict England to 246/8 in 50 overs. It was enough for a seven-run win—a slim margin, but enough to seal the deal. This victory was the start of something big for Australia.

This first World Cup win was the start of Australia’s golden run. They showed the world they had the determination to pull through when it mattered most. That win by just seven runs in Kolkata lit a fire that saw them go on to dominate world cricket for decades. The Aussies had arrived, and they were here to stay.