Top 5 Best World Cup Finals in Cricket

image-ln0eid4wScoreboard from 2019 World Cup final signalling Super Over (x.com)

The cricketing world has witnessed countless epic clashes over the years, regardless of the format. However, when it comes to the gentlemen’s sport overall, there has been no stage grander, no moment more electrifying than an ODI World Cup final.

Since the tournament’s inception in 1975, World Cup finals have emerged as ultimate battlegrounds where heroes have forged their destinies in cricketing lore with a permanent ink, one that never fades.

Commemorating some of the greatest World Cup finals of all time, here at OneCricket we explore through time to revisit five of the most iconic title matches to date.


Top Five Greatest ODI World Cup Finals of all time:

1. England vs New Zealand: World Cup 2019 Final

image-ln0ehirmEngland players after winning the World Cup 2019 on boundary count (x.com)

The final of the 2019 cricketing carnival at London’s iconic Lord’s stadium continues to remain an unparalleled spectacle of the sport. The captivating match featured a high-stakes showdown between the two first-time World Cup trophy chasers, England and New Zealand.

England, in pursuit of New Zealand’s 241, found themselves in a nerve-wracking situation in the 100th over of the match. However, it was Ben Stokes’ dexterity and good fortunes that came up clutch for the host nation, as they somehow gathered 14 runs from the final over to level up with the Kiwis.

The thrilling tie led to a historic Super Over, the first ever in any ICC final, where a rebellious Stokes alongside Jos Buttler belted Trent Boult for 15 runs. New Zealand representatives James Neesham and Martin Guptill did manage to match England’s total, but a bizarre boundary countback rule ultimately favoured Eoin Morgan’s troops on the celebrated evening.


2. India vs Sri Lanka: World Cup 2011 Final

image-ln0egq01Indian players rejoice after MS Dhoni's World Cup-winning six in 2011 (x.com)

World Cup 2011 co-hosts India and Sri Lanka made their way to the finals at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, where a packed, full-capacity crowd was eagerly awaiting their arrival. After a controversial toss-call eventually allowed Sri Lanka to bat first, Indian ace speedster Zaheer Khan kept things tight from his end in the initial stages of the innings.

However, Mahela Jayawardene broke through for the visitors with a sensational World Cup final hundred, lifting his side to a competitive 274 after top-order jitters to a rampaging Zaheer.

The Indian innings, fuelled by Gautam Gambhir’s 97 and powered by MS Dhoni’s unbeaten 91, guided them to overcome the total in a tense run-chase with an over-and-a-half to spare. The ‘Men in Blue’ eventually lifted their World Cup crown for the first time in 28 years, thus ultimately ending their title drought and giving outbound Sachin Tendulkar a fitting farewell at the twilight of his career.


3. Australia vs England: World Cup 1987 Final

image-ln0eg3y6Australian players celebrate Gatting's wicket at 1987 World Cup final (x.com)

Both Australia and England sustained heartbreaking defeats at the hands of West Indies in 1975 and 1979 World Cup editions respectively. Aiming to rectify their past records, the two century-old Ashes rivals decided to take their adversary to India’s Eden Gardens with a chance to conquer the 1987 World title.

Playing for their nation in front of a packed Eden Gardens’ crowd, both Australia and England fought tooth-and-nail until a winner was determined in the final over of the match.

England, chasing Australia’s 253, held a firm grip over the contest until captain Mike Gatting’s ill-judged reverse sweep dried up runs and mounted up their own asking rate. Allan Border’s troops pounced on the opportunity and ensured the Englishmen remained just behind the line, as seven runs was all it took for Australia to clinch their maiden World Cup trophy in 1987.


4. Pakistan vs England: World Cup 1992 Final

image-ln0efjubPakistan players smelling victory at the 1992 World Cup final (x.com)

For the second time in succession, England succumbed to the pressure of a World Cup final. With demons of 1987still fresh in the memories of several 1992 English players, the team, under Graham Gooch faced first-time finalists Pakistan at the iconic MCG on March 25.

For starters, Pakistan gathered up 249-6 off the back of Imran Khan’s 72, Javed Miandad’s 58 and Inzamam-ul-Haq’s 42. England in response slipped and fell on their way to losing four wickets for just 69 runs in their first 21 overs. Thereafter, Allan Lamb and Neil Fairbrother tactically added 72 runs at near run-a-ball for nearly an hour to signal England’s gaining advantage at the title clash.

However, it took just two deliveries for swing wizard Wasim Akram to undo England’s hard work of 13 overs. Now exposed with their tail, the English lower-order never recovered and ended up falling 22 runs short of their task to hand Pakistan their maiden and only World Cup glory to date.


5. India vs West Indies: World Cup 1983 Final

image-ln0ef2moIndian players celebrating a wicket in 1983 World Cup final (x.com)

The 1983 World Cup showdown defied all expectations as a dark-horse Indian team disrupted West Indies’ title hat-trick dream at Lord’s, thus disregarding the heavily-stacked odds pitched against them prior to the final.

Led by dynamic all-rounder Kapil Dev, the Indian team scored 183 runs upfront off the back of Krishnamachari Srikkanth’s 38 and a bunch of meaningful contributions from others. What unfolded thereafter was a momentous upset, as World Cup veterans West Indies faltered in their run-chase while Indian bowlers Mohinder Amarnath and Madan Lal displayed nerves of steel.

While the win continues to remain one of the most celebrated triumphs from India’s sporting folklore, the result also marked a seismic shift in the cricketing landscape.