World Cup finals 1975-2003

1975: Lord’s

West Indies bt Australia by 17 runs

The final will be remembered as much for Clive Lloyd’s 102 as for Australia’s fightback. Add to it Viv Richards’s superb piece of fielding which led to three of the five run-outs.

1979: Lord’s

West Indies bt England by 92 runs

The West Indies were in trouble at 99-4 after being put in to bat by England skipper Mike Brearley, but Viv Richards (138 n.o.) and Collis King (86) put on 139 for the fifth wicket as England were set a 287-run target.

1983: Lord’s

India bt West Indies by 43 runs

India managed only 183 against a fearsome pace attack of Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Michael Holding and Marshall.

The West Indies were all out for 140 to hand India a 43-run victory.

1987: Kolkata

Australia bt England by seven runs

Australia had the crowd support at Eden Gardens after England had knocked out India and they were also fortune’s favourites as an ill-timed reverse-sweep by Mike Gatting made their day.

1992: Melbourne

Pakistan bt England by 22 runs

Imran Khan led from the front, top-scoring with 72 to help his side post 249-6. England were all out for 227. Neil Fairbrother top-scored for England with 62 before Imran sparked celebrations in his team’s camp by taking the last wicket.

1996: Lahore

Sri Lanka bt Australia by seven wickets

Sri Lanka played the final as if they had a score to settle with Australia who had caused controversy earlier in the tournament by refusing to play a group game in Colombo because of safety fears.

Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga defied history when he put the opposition in after winning the toss, for no team had previously won the Cup chasing a target.

Australia were 137-1 after a century stand between Mark Taylor (74) and Ricky Ponting (45) before Ranatunga restricted them to 241.

Australia dismissed explosive Sri Lanka openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana cheaply, but Aravinda de Silva received valuable support from Asanka Gurusinha (65) and Ranatunga (47 not out) to steer his team home.

1999: Lord’s

Australia bt Pakistan by eight wickets

The final was an anti-climax after Australia’s gripping tied semi-final against South Africa as leg-spin magician Shane Warne grabbed four wickets in what turned out to be his last World Cup match.

2003: Johannesburg

Australia bt India by 125 runs

Opinions are still divided over India skipper Sourav Ganguly’s decision to put Australia in to bat after winning the toss at The Wanderers with Ricky Ponting (140 not out) hijacking the game with a gem of a knock.

The Australian captain received valuable support from Damien Martyn (88 not out) to put the match beyond India’s reach as his team set a 360-run target.

Fast bowler Glenn McGrath finished with three wickets and fellow-paceman Brett Lee with two as India were bowled out for 234.

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