World Cups are one of the most awaited & celebrated events in the history of World Cricket. And this time the event is more special as it will be hosted by India on the home ground making it memorable. The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is all set to kickstart on October 5 with New Zealand locking horns with Defending Champions England in the curtain-raiser clash of the tournament. All the participating nations have landed in India & are gearing up for the mega event. Ahead of the beginning of the ODI World Cup 2023, let’s find out some most memorable matches in the history of the ODI World Cup that have reserved a special place in the hearts of Cricket enthusiasts across the globe.
Top 10 Most Memorable Matches in ODI World Cup History
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West Indies defeated Australia by 17 runs (Lord’s 1975)
The inaugural edition of the World Cup was special in every sense & its final fixture is one of the most memorable matches in ODI World Cup History. A sensational 85-ball 102 by West Indies Captain Clive Llyod followed by an exceptional spell from left-arm swing bowler Gary Gilmour (five for 48 off 12 overs) helped the Windies to lay the foundation of a sensational win. Later, a zealous fielding show by Great Viv Richards, followed by Keith Boyce’s four-wicket haul & then a sensational last wicket stand of 41 runs between Jeff Thompson & Dennis Lillee helped West Indies to beat Australia by 17 runs. It was a sight to behold as the fighting spirit of the West Indies helped them to outclass Australia at a bigger stage.
2) India defeated Zimbabwe by 31 runs (Tunbridge Wells 1983)
Kapil Dev’s era in the Indian Cricket team was most memorable as he was the one who helped India to lift their maiden Cricket World Cup in 1983. And one fixture of that particular edition of the World Cup holds a special place in the annals of World Cup history.
During India’s fixture against Zimbabwe, Kapil Dev’s innings proved why India is known as the ‘Dark Horse’. India was already struggling at 17-5 & it was the time they needed a special heroic inning from their middle order. The legendary player Kapil Dev marched on the field & took his team to 266 for 8 in 60 overs. He played a captain’s knock of 175 runs off 138 balls to help India post a mammoth total on board. It was because of Kapil’s match-saving knock that India managed to pull a hard-fought 31-run win against Zimbabwe & became one of the most memorable matches in ODI World Cup history.
3) Pakistan beats New Zealand by four wickets (Auckland, 1992)
Pakistan is one the most successful teams in ODI World Cup history & there have been times when they displayed outstanding performances that have become the talking point among fans. One of their most memorable performance came against New Zealand during ODI World Cup 1992 which helped them to save themselves from elimination. It was Pakistan’s hero Inzamam-Ul-Haq’s sensational innings that helped Pakistan to continue its hunt for the prestigious trophy & saved them from elimination.
Chasing 262-7 in the semifinals, Pakistan was in trouble when it lost their captain Imran Khan & Salim Malik in the space of a few overs. The prolific batter Inzamam didn’t let his morale down & he went on to score a gleaming 60 off 37 balls within a few overs. His blistering knock helped Pakistan to make it to the finals of the World Cup for the first time in history.
4) Australia beats West Indies by five runs (Mohali, 1996)
When tales of memorable fixtures in ODI World Cup history are talked about, Australia’s epic semifinal appearance in World Cup 1996 is often discussed. During Australia’s semifinal match against West Indies, Australia was reeling at 15 for four inside 10 overs. They were in need of someone who could take an attacking approach in their batting as Curtly Ambrose & Ian Bishop rattled Australia’s batting order.
But it was Stuart Law (72) & Michael Bevan (69) who helped Australia to reach 207-8. In the chase of 207 runs Australian bowlers made a terrific comeback by scalping crucial wickets. West Indies was at 165-2 in the 42nd over & thanks to Australia’s bowling attack the Windies slipped to 202-10 falling 5 runs short of the target. The wrecker-in-chief Shane Warne (4-36) followed by Damien Fleming and Glenn McGrath guided Australia to the finals. This epic clash grabbed a special place in the history of the World Cup
5) Australia tie with South Africa (Edgbaston 1999)
Australia registered a tie with South Africa during the World Cup 1999 & this fixture became memorable as it was the World Cup’s first-ever tie. Australia scored a modest 213 runs total thanks to their fifth wicket stand of 90 runs between Captain Steve Waugh (56) & Michael Bevan (65). A 16-ball 31 not out by Lance Klusener took South Africa almost to the final, but Allan Donald was run out off the fourth ball of the final over. This resulted in South Africa’s collapse but they fought till the end & managed to register a closely fought tie. This stunning fixture was scripted as one of the most memorable matches in ODI World Cup history.
6) Australia beats England by two wickets (Gqeberha, 2003)
When you register second-best bowling figures in World Cup 2023 history you truly deserve to win. The same was the case during Australia’s World Cup fixture against England during World Cup 2003. Though Australian batters failed to hit the mark but it was Andy Bichel’s unbeaten 34 stitching a stunning 73-run stand for the ninth wicket along with Michael Bevan’s unbeaten 74 helped Australia to post a decent total on board. Later Bichel’s breathtaking 7-20 helped Australia to restrict England to 204 bowling them out in 48 overs. However, Bichel’s nerve-triggering bowling spell helped Australia to outclass England & register a mouth-watering win in the crucial World Cup 2003 fixture.
7) India’s tie with England (Bengaluru 2011)
Indian team’s desirable tie with England is undoubtedly one of the most memorable matches in ODI World Cup history. The major limelight was two extraordinary things after dinner break which lit the M Chinnaswamy stadium. India’s Sachin Tendulkar played a scintillating knock of 120 runs off 115 balls. But he got tough competition from England’s Captain Andrew Strauss who ended up scoring 158 runs off 135 balls. His scintillating knock was the highest Individual score in ODIs by an England batsman at that time. His zealous knock almost took England towards a glorious win but in the last over Munaf Patel held his nerves & conceded just one run off the last ball to Graeme Swann resulting in a tie.
8) India beats Sri Lanka by Six Wickets (Wankhede 2011)
And when the most memorable matches in World Cup history are discussed how can we forget the epic ODI World Cup 2011 finals which India won after defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets? That final has a special place in the heart of every Indian as Men in Blue never won a World Cup at home. It was special in every sense as no team could chase a target of more than 250 runs so far in the World Cup finals. But all thanks to Captain Cool MS Dhoni who made chasing such a huge target possible in World Cup 2011. MS Dhoni played the captain’s knock of an unbeaten 91 off 79 balls after Gautam Gambhir’s 97 runs knock which helped India to script history & lift the prestigious World Cup. MS made a smart decision of promoting himself up in the order above Yuvraj to chase a target of 274 runs. Earlier Lanka displayed grit & determination to post a massive 274-6 runs total for Men in Blue to chase. Their epic run chase was based on Mahela Jayawardene’s pleasing 103 not out off 88 balls.
9) New Zealand beats South Africa by Four Wickets (Auckland 2015)
Some epic World Cup matches deserve to be listed as the most memorable matches in World Cup history. One such stunning fixture was New Zealand’s match against South Africa which helped the Black Caps to march in the World Cup 2011 finals for the first time ever. Grand Elliot’s blistering knock did the job for New Zealand whose dream of featuring in finals turned true. On the other hand, their opponents, South Africa were handed a DLS target of 298 off 43 overs. When five runs were needed from the last two balls, Elliott (84 not out, 73 balls) swung Dale Steyn over long-on for a six — a shot he, or the 41,000-odd excited spectators at the Eden Park, will remember forever. However, they couldn’t complete the chase with the match ending in a tie.
10) England tied Final fixture against New Zealand (Lord’s 2019)
World Cup is enthralling but if its final match ends in a tie then that edition & fixture becomes unforgettable. The World Cup 2019 Final between England & New Zealand is a perfect example of one of the most memorable matches produced in the ODI World Cup history. Batting first, the Black Caps posted a 241-run target with eight wickets down. In reply, Ben Stokes unbeaten 84 off 98 balls helped England to take the match into a Super Over.
Later in the Super over England scored 15 for no loss of wicket which was very well defended by England’s prolific pacer Joifra Archer. The match was tied for the second time, but England won its first World Cup, having scored more boundaries. Winning a World Cup based on the number of boundaries hit was unique in its own sense. And the World Cup 2019 finals was truly an action-packed drama in all sense.
England will begin its title defense against New Zealand on October 5 in the opening clash of the ODI World Cup 2023. The upcoming edition of the World Cup is special in every sense as some top teams will battle it out for the prestigious trophy on the soil of India. Coming back to our topic of discussion we had a glimpse of some epic most memorable matches in the history of the ODI World Cup.
Out of these fixtures which one is your favorite & why? Share with us your views as we love to get those interesting answers.
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