1987 World Cup Home

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1987 (hosted by India and Pakistan): Like India did four years earlier, Australia defied odds and the pundits’ pre-tournament predictions to emerge triumphant in the first edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup held away from the United Kingdom.

To make their joy doubly sweet victory was achieved over traditional enemy England, in the summit contest at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta. by R Prasad | Direct Link

Both sides gate-crashed the party set out by India and Pakistan by knocking the joint hosts out in the semi finals. And at the end of a thriller, Allan Border-led Australia emerged winners by the narrow margin of 7 runs.

Australia chose to bat first on winning the toss and rode on a solid innings of 75 by burly opener David Boon, who hit seven fours in his 125-ball effort. Michael Valetta’s late-order assault that yielded him 45 in 31 balls helped raise a highly competitive total of 253 for five in 50 overs, 79 of these coming in the last ten overs. This was the first ICC Cricket World Cup where teams faced 50 overs instead of 60.

Speedster Neil Foster was the pick of the bowlers with figures of one for 38 in ten overs.

England started their innings on a poor note, losing Tim Robinson with just one run on the board before a 65-run second-wicket stand between Graham Gooch and Bill Athey, who top-scored with 58 off 103 balls, revived their hopes.

But with things heating up, England lost Athey, Gooch and skipper Mike Gatting - who played a reverse sweep to be caught behind off the left arm slows of counterpart Border - for 41. This was for most people the turning point of the match.

Despite valiant efforts by lower order batsmen John Emburey and Phil Defreitas, who drove and clubbed speedster Craig McDermott for a four and a six in his 17, England failed to achieve the target, at one point being asked to get 34 from the last three overs.

Steve Waugh had Defreitas caught by Bruce Reid and McDermott then bowled the last over efficiently when England needed 17 for victory to restrict the chasers to 246 for 8 and enable Australia power their way to the first of their three ICC Cricket World Cup crowns.