ICC World Cup 2019
Part 24 - 1987 Kangaroo's Era started
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First time in cricket history a world cup tournament is going to held outside England and the defending champions India had that honourable moment of conducting 1987 world cup along with their neighbouring country Pakistan. Till now the first three world cups were sponsored by Prudential Assurance and so were called as Prudential Cup. But this time India's business monopoly Reliance sponsored and the cup was named as "Reliance Cup". In this world cup only first time overs was reduced as 50 over per side. Previously it was 60 overs per side. The same Eight teams which played in 1983 world cup compete in this tournament too. Seven teams qualified directly. Zimbabwe alone beat Netherland at qualifying match and entered to play worldcup.
Participated Countries:
Group A: India, Australia, New Zealand and Zimbabwe
Group B: West Indies, Pakistan, England and Sri lanka
In Group stage each team has to play twice against others as like previous tournament. Defending Champions India and Australia finished with 20 points at the end of group A rounds. By a just small difference in run rate India finished as top from Group A. Both New Zealand and Zimbabwe went out of the tournament. NewZealand won 2 matches and Zimbabwe went white wash in this season.
From Group B Pakistan won 5 matches and finished at top with 20 points. England finished as second with 16 points from 4 wins. Two times Champion West Indies scored only 12 points and failed to qualify for Semi finals for the first time in world cup history. Till today they didnt qualify for finals after 1983. Sri lanka washed out completely as like Zimbabwe in group A. In a league match against Srilanka, West Indies hitter Sir Viv Richards scored his highest ODI score as 181 runs from just 125 balls with 16 boundaries and 7 sixes.
Semifinals:
In First Semi final Australia beat Pakistan by 18 runs margin. Top six australian batsmen scored a decent score which helps them to set target as 268 runs for Pakistan. Hosts Pakistan threatened Australia during chase. They came very much close to the target with the help of half centuries from Javid Miandad and Imran Khan. But Aussie's death over bowling from Mc Dermott and Reid swiped Pakistan wickets. Pakistan went all out for 249 runs from 49 overs. Australia qualified finals for the second time.
In Second semi finals once again India faced England. Both the teams already played semi in 1983 world cup which was won by India. But this time India losed the match to a one man stand innings century from Graham Gooch. While chasing a target of 255 runs India went all out for 219 runs. Once India were 204/5 in 40 overs. In last 10 overs they need 50 runs with 5 wickets remaining. But they lost remaining wickets for just 15 runs and England qualified finals for second time.
Finals:
Both England and Australia have already played world cup finals against West Indies and both of them lost. So this time any one of them going to create history. Both the teams were rivals in cricket as like India and Pakistan. So the Eden Garden stadium was flooded to witness the biggest ever finals. Australian opener David Boon laid a excellent platform for them and scored 75 runs. At the end of 1st innings M Veletta scored a quick 45 runs from 31 balls which helps Australia to set target as 254 runs. In last 6 overs alone Australia scored 65 runs.
254 is a reachable target for England when their opener Graham Gooch was in good form. As like expected England slowly reaching the target with the help of Gooch, Athey, Gatting and Lamb. But their run rate went lower and created unnecessary pressure at death overs. Finally England managed to score only 246 runs with 8 wickets loss. Australia team under Alan Border won the world cup by 7 runs. That day Border created a history in Australia's cricket history which reflects after 10 years and now Australia is the god father of cricket. Till now they won 5 world cups including a hat trick which West Indies failed to achieve.
Most Runs: Graham Gooch (Eng) with 471 runs
David Boon (Aus) with 447 runs
Most Wickets: Craig Mc Dermott (Aus) with 18 wickets
Imran Khan (Pak) with 17 wickets
Interesting Moments:
First ever Hat-trick and Closest Encounter
1. India's Chetan Sharma became the first bowler in taking hat-trick wickets in world cup history. He achieved this feet against a match at New Zealand.
2. Navjot Siddhu hit 9 sixes in this tournament which is the highest by a batsman in 1987 world cup.
3. 1987 world cup witnessed the first ever closest encounter match. In very first match of the tournament at Chennai. Australia beat India by just 1 run.
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