India, Pakistan & the World Cups
India's World Cup Victory in 1983
The
1983 Prudential World Cup in England was a turning point in the history of cricket and for the Indian Subcontinent. The West Indies, India, Australia, and the newcomers Zimbabwe contested the B group, and it got off to a rousing start when India with only one World cup win to this point beat the favourites, the West Indies, by 34 runs. They along with their neighbours, Pakistan, reached the semi-finals for the first time, bringing the spirit of the subcontinent into the world arena for the first time. Though Pakistan lost to West Indies, India beat the then world champions in the final to bring the trophy to Asia for the first time.
Binny with 18 (still a record for most wickets in a World Cup tournament), and Madan Lal with 17 wickets were their leading bowlers, and Kapil Dev topped the batting averages. Kapil's Kapil Dev 175* against Zimbabwe still remains one of the most astonishing comebacks in a cricket match.
Finals: India won by 43 runs
Score: INDIA 183 all out in 54.4 overs [Srikkanth 38(57 b, 7-4s 1-6); Roberts 3-32]
Beat W INDIES 140 all out in 52 overs [IVA Richards 33(42 b, 7-4s); Madan Lal 3-31 Amarnath 3-12]
Pakistan's World Cup Victory in 1992
The 1987 World Cup in India and Pakistan was disastrous for both the countries as they lost in their semifinal matches held in their respective countries. Despite Australia's (the 1987 champions) failure to reach the final of the
1992 Benson & Hedges Cricket Championships, a record World Cup final crowd of more than 85,000 greeted Pakistan and England at the MCG.
Before the finals, a supreme effort from Inzamam-ul-Haq (60 off only 37 balls) aginst New Zealand secured Pakistan's place in the 1992 World Cup final. Pakistan's greatest moment in World Cup history came in 1992 with victory in Australia. After a slow start they built as a team over the course of the competition, winning as other more fancied opponents slipped by the wayside. They beat a tired and beleaguered England in the final with ease.
Finals: Pakistan won by 22 Runs
Score: PAKISTAN 249 for 6 Wickets in 50 overs [Imran Khan 72(110 b, 5-4s 1-6; Miandad 58(98 b, 4-4s); Derek Pringle 3-22]
Beat
ENGLAND 227 all out in 49.2 overs [Neil Fairbrother 62(70 b, 3-4s); Wasim Akram 3-49 Mushtaq Ahmed 3-41]
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