Best matches in world cups

[Harsh Thakor]

This is my list of the 16 best matches ever staged in the world cup in order of merit.It assesses the intensity,quality of cricket and impact.Apologize to readers if I have left out some classics. 1.South Africa -Australia 1999 at Edgbaston A game which ended in a tie where the ebb and flow had the impact of a great Hollywood thriller with continuous twists and turns and an enthralling unexpected climax.In a run chase of 213 South Africa was cruising before Shane Warne's devastating bursts.It recovered to come within touching distance of famous win and looked like coasting home till the fall of Kallis.Perhaps Kluesener was called too late who launched some death -defying blows in the last overs to tie the score.Temperament cost the Proteas a famous win with Alan Donald infamously run out with the scores level.The Aussie mental strength won the day. 2.England-India 2011 Chasing a target of 338 runs to win England were cruising home with Kevin Pieterson and Ian Bell in full flow .Needing less than 8 runs per over with 7 wickets remaining it looked like a walk in the park.However a late flurry of wickets by Zaheer Khan brought India back who escaped with a tie. 3.India -Australia 1987 at Madras Had a dramatic twist to the tale like famous epic.India looked home and dry needing less than a run a ball with less than 100 runs to win.However the mental resilience of Australia prevailed on the day who rose up like a phoenix from the Ashes.They persistently deployed a line of attack with utmost organization of strategy.In a famous last over Steve Waugh bowled Maninder Singh to seal victory.I have never seen a team give a better lesson in defending a run chase when the opponents are coasting home .The wickets of star Indian batsmen like Vengsarkar or Kapil Dev were dug out.It depicted the importance of winning games in the mind. 4.West Indies-Pakistan 1987 at Lahore Chasing 218 to win Pakistan collapsed to 69-5 before a recovery stand by Salim Yousuf and Imran Khan brought them 37 runs abreast their target.However the Calypsos came back to put Pakistan at a precarious 203 -9 when the last over began.With the heart of a lion Abdul Qadir hit a six and a four and off the final ball Courtney Walsh gave a repreive to Salim Jaffer by warning him .Qadir scored the final 2 runs required for victory as though the spirits posessed him. 5.West Indies -Pakistan at Edgbaston in 1975 Pakistan posted a highly competitive score of 266 runs.A brilliant spell by Sarafraz Nawaz penetrated through the West Indian top order who collapsed to 36-3.Although coming back at 153-5 they went on to look dead and buried at 166-8 and then 203-9.Then a classic last wicket partnership by Andy Roberts and Deryk Muray steered West Indies home to victory with 2 balls to spare.It was one of cricket's great set Houdini escapes which in many ways defined the destiny of West Indian cricket.Few games better revealed the fighting do-or-die spirit of West Indies who ressurected themselves from the grave. 6.South Africa -Sri Lanka 2007 in West Indies. An amazing burst by Malinga almost ressurected the Lankans from the grave when South Africa's target looked like a walk in the park.Few games better depicted that the fate of a cricket match is decided only on the last ball. 7.England-Australia semi final in 1975 at Leeds A classic exhibition of seam bowling by Gary Gilmour cut the ice through the English batting which palpitated to a score of amaegre 93.Then a sensational burts by John Snow,Tony Greg and Arnold sent Australia reeling at 39-6.Gary Gilmour defying all odds steered them home to a 4 wicket win. 8.West Indies-Australia 1975 final West Indies posted a staggering total of 292 runs with Clive Lloyd executing one of cricket's classics scoring 102 of 82 balls.Chasing the target Australia had an even chance before 3 spectacular run outs by Viv Richards of Ross Edwards and the Chappell brothers.At 233 it looked allover bar the shouting but last pair Lillee and Thomson did not call the shots.Ina spectacular last wicket 41 runs stand they tok their taem within sight of an upset win.With 8 balls to go Thosmon was run out and classic of cricket ended.Few games elevated the spirit of the game more. 9.England-Pakistan at Leeds in 1979 England collapsed to 118-8 before coming back in typically overcast Headingley conditions to reach 165-9.At 44-6 it looked like Pakistanis doomsday with Mike Hendrick ripping apart the Pakistani top order.A late order fight back brought Pakistan to 115-8 and then 145-9 .Ultimately Pakistan felt 14 runs a drift.One of the best ever hard-fought low scoring games. 10.1979 semi final between England and New Zealand. Chasing 221 to win the Kiwis needed 69 of the last 10 and 26 of the last 3.However they put off the shutters at 212-9 with England's all-round experience prevailing towards the end. 11.South Africa -West Indies 2003 Chasing target of over 270 South Africa looked down and out till late onslaught by Lance Kluesener that brought them within a doorstep of a spectacular win.One of Brian Lara's most memorable innings in one day cricket was witnessed. 12.England-Australia 1987 Reliance cup final Chasing 253 to win England looked on coarse till Mike Gatting fell to reverse sweep to be caught by Border.The extremely disciplined outcricket by Australia and organization of strategy took he game further and further from England till a late batting spree by Phillipi Defreitas who almost turned the game scoring 14 run sin the 3rd last over with 35 runs still to get.However the Aussie nerves prevailed. 13.India -West Indies 1983 final Chasing a mere 184 to win West Indies were bundled out for a paltry 140.At 57-2 with Viv Richards in full flow the West Indies looked like coasting home before India spectacularly ressurected themselves from the grave to bring their opponents to 74-6.A spectacular catch of Viv Richards by Kapil Dev turned the tide of the game.The Indians at that time looked as though the spirits posessed them.Rarely has cricket seen such spirit radiated or elevated as by India.Mohinder Amarnath did the finishing job with excellent control.I have never seen Madan Lal unleash such life on the cricket field. Never in cricket has David better countered Goliath 14.England-West Indies at Gujranwala in 1987 Chasing 239 to win England need 91 of the last 10 overs with 4 wickets in hand.Alan Lamb came to the party in executing one of the World cup's best knocks in a run chase with the highest degree of clinical and innovative strokeplay.With 13 required of the last over of Walsh Lamb timed three boundaries to perfection to get England over the line. 15.Pakistan-New Zealand semi-final in 1992 Inzama Ul Haq turned a game 180 degress when the Kiwis almost had the game in the bag.With Javed Miandad Inzy took Pakistan to within touching distance of the victory target before Miandad eventually steered the side home with Moin Khan.One of the game's best battles. 16.1996 semi final between West Indies and Australia at Chandigarh West Indies won the game for 90% of the match till a sensational collapse with 43 stil required and 8 wickets left.In the end Fleming bolwed Walsh with the Calyspos just 4 runs adrift of qualifying for the finals.Error of Richie Richardson not to carry the game on his shoulders in the last over possibly cost West Indies the game.It was one of Australia's great escapes.

[bulbul]

1999 OZ vs SA QF.

[MechEng]

India vs Bermuda 2007.

[Scarves]

TC Makes horrible choices since I doubt he was alive for most. For the matches I've been alive. - Australia v. Windies semi final - 1996 - Zimbabwe v. India - 1999 - Australia v. South Africa - 1999 - West Indies v. South Africa - 2003 - South Africa v. New Zealand - 2003 - Australia v. England - 2003 - India v. England - 2003 - Sri Lanka v. Kenya - 2003 - Australia v. India - 2003 WC - Man I still laugh at that match - B'Desh v. India - 2007 - B'desh v. South Africa - 2007 - England v. Ireland - 2011 That's all I can remember I guess

[adi B]

wasnt there a thread already for this?any way i think the saf vs aus sf 1999 is the best match till now.some others are england vs windies 2007,srl vs saf 2007,ind vs zim 1999,pak vs aus 1999,aus vs wi 96 sf,ind vs aus 92 wc