4th ODI Cricket World Cup: Australia’s Historic Victory in the 1987
The Triumph Down Under: Cricket World Cup 1987
The 1987 Cricket World Cup, officially known as the Reliance Cup, was the fourth edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup. It was held from October 8 to November 8, 1987. This tournament was hosted by India and Pakistan.
The First Match
The first match of the 1987 Cricket World Cup was played between the host nation, India, and England. This inaugural match of the tournament took place on October 8, 1987, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India.
Here are some key highlights from the 1st match of the 1987 Cricket World Cup:
- Toss: England won the toss and elected to field first.
- Indian Innings: India had a decent start with their openers, Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikanth, putting up a partnership of 69 runs. However, they lost wickets at regular intervals and were eventually bowled out for 219 runs in 49.3 overs. Dilip Vengsarkar top-scored for India with 63 runs.
- England’s Bowling: England’s bowling attack was led by their captain, Mike Gatting, and the experienced seamer, Graham Dilley. Gatting was the most successful bowler, taking 2 wickets for 49 runs.
- England’s Innings: In reply, England faced a challenging target of 220 runs. They got off to a solid start with openers Tim Robinson and Bill Athey putting on a partnership of 101 runs. However, once the openers were dismissed, England lost wickets at regular intervals.
- Kapil Dev’s Crucial Spell: Kapil Dev, the Indian captain and legendary all-rounder, played a crucial role by taking 3 wickets for 35 runs in his 10 overs. His spell helped India make a comeback.
- England’s Fall of Wickets: England’s middle order struggled against the Indian bowlers. After a promising start, they were reduced to 183/7.
- Dramatic Finish: The match went down to the wire with England needing 11 runs off the last over. Chetan Sharma bowled the final over, and England managed to score 9 runs off it. India won the match by a narrow margin of 2 runs.
- Man of the Match: Kapil Dev was named the Man of the Match for his all-round performance, contributing both with the bat and ball.
India’s victory in the opening match of the 1987 Cricket World Cup set the tone for an exciting tournament. It was a closely contested encounter that showcased the competitive spirit of ODI cricket and set the stage for more thrilling matches to come in the tournament.
Centuries In World Cup 1987
The 1987 Cricket World Cup witnessed a total of 10 centuries scored by various batsmen. Here’s a list of the first century and the total centuries scored during the tournament:
- First Century of the Tournament: The first century of the 1987 Cricket World Cup was scored by Graham Gooch from England. He scored an impressive 115 runs against India in the tournament opener, which took place on October 8, 1987.
- Total Centuries in the Tournament: As mentioned earlier, there were a total of 10 centuries scored by batsmen throughout the 1987 Cricket World Cup. These centuries were achieved by various players representing different teams during the course of the tournament.
The centuries during the 1987 Cricket World Cup were memorable moments in the competition, showcasing the batting talent and skills of cricketers from around the world.
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4th ICC ODI Cricket World Cup Fifties:
The first fifty (half-century) of the 1987 Cricket World Cup was scored by Sunil Gavaskar from India. He achieved this milestone in the opening match of the tournament against England on October 8, 1987. Gavaskar scored 56 runs in that innings.
As for the total number of fifties scored in the 1987 Cricket World Cup, there were a total of 68 half-centuries scored by various batsmen during the course of the tournament. These fifties were crucial contributions to their respective teams and played a significant role in the success of the players and their teams in the competition.
Final Match of Cricket World Cup 1987:
The final match of the 1987 Cricket World Cup took place on November 8, 1987, at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India. It was a high stakes encounter between Australia and England, and it proved to be a memorable and thrilling contest. Here’s a summary of the final match:
Australia vs. England – Final (November 8, 1987):
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India.
- Result: Australia won by 7 runs.
- Toss: England won the toss and elected to field first.
- Australian Innings:
- Australia batted first and posted a competitive total of 253/5 in their 50 overs.
- David Boon was the standout performer for Australia, scoring a crucial 75 runs.
- Mike Veletta played a crucial knock of 45 not out.
- Geoff Marsh contributed with 24 runs.
- England’s Innings:
- England needed 254 runs to win the World Cup.
- England got off to a solid start with openers Tim Robinson and Bill Athey putting on a partnership of 101 runs.
- However, once the openers were dismissed, England lost wickets at regular intervals.
- Mike Gatting played a valiant innings of 41, trying to steady the innings.
- England was eventually bowled out for 246 runs in their 50 overs.
- Key Moments:
- The match was marked by tension and drama throughout. England was in a strong position at one stage but lost crucial wickets, including that of captain Mike Gatting, which shifted the balance in Australia’s favor.
- The final over of the match, bowled by Chetan Sharma, became one of the most iconic moments in cricket history. England needed 11 runs to win, and Sharma’s last ball was famously hit by Gatting with a reverse sweep, but he was caught by Greg Matthews. This dismissal sealed Australia’s victory by 7 runs.
- Man of the Match: David Boon (Australia) was named the Man of the Match for his pivotal innings of 75 runs.
Australia’s victory in the final marked their first-ever Cricket World Cup triumph. It was a historic moment for Australian cricket and set the stage for their dominance in the years to come. The 1987 Cricket World Cup final remains one of the most memorable and closely contested matches in the history of the tournament.
The top 5 run-scorers in Cricket World Cup 1987
- Graham Gooch (England): Graham Gooch was the highest run-scorer in the 1987 World Cup, amassing 471 runs in the tournament.
- Graham Lamb (England): Graham Lamb, another English batsman, scored 330 runs during the competition.
- Sunil Gavaskar (India): Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary Indian opener, scored 307 runs in the 1987 World Cup.
- Dean Jones (Australia): Dean Jones, an Australian middle-order batsman, accumulated 294 runs in the tournament.
- Mike Gatting (England): Mike Gatting, the captain of the English team, scored 277 runs during the 1987 Cricket World Cup.
These batsmen played pivotal roles for their respective teams and made significant contributions with the bat in the tournament.
The top 5 wicket-takers in Cricket World Cup-1987
- Craig McDermott (Australia): Craig McDermott was the highest wicket-taker in the 1987 World Cup, taking 18 wickets in the tournament.
- Dave Houghton (Zimbabwe): Dave Houghton, the Zimbabwean wicketkeeper and batsman, also took 18 wickets during the competition.
- Winston Benjamin (West Indies): Winston Benjamin, a West Indian fast bowler, claimed 15 wickets in the tournament.
- Abdul Qadir (Pakistan): Abdul Qadir, the Pakistani leg-spinner, took 14 wickets during the 1987 World Cup.
- Richard Hadlee (New Zealand): Richard Hadlee, one of New Zealand’s greatest cricketers and an all-rounder, picked up 13 wickets in the tournament.
These bowlers played vital roles for their respective teams and were instrumental in their team’s performances during the 1987 Cricket World Cup.
Man Of the Toutnament
The Man of the Tournament (also known as the Player of the Tournament) for the 1987 Cricket World Cup was David Boon from Australia. Boon was a key contributor to Australia’s successful campaign in the tournament, and his performances with both the bat and in the field were recognized with this prestigious award. He played a pivotal role in Australia winning their first-ever Cricket World Cup title in 1987.
