1999

A World Cup final was a low key affair. Pakistan were simply demolished by Australia, who hustled them out for 132 (extras top-scored, with 25) and smashed their way to an eight-wicket victory with a massive 29.5 overs to spare. It was quite simply a case of a great Australian team at the peak of their powers, and an enigmatic Pakistan side at their worst.

1994

Another England-New Zealand Lord’s Test, and a nervy denouement. England scrambled to a draw with only two wickets left, thanks to Alec Stewart

1979

World Cup semi-final day, and England booked a place in the final for the first time with a thrilling nine-run victory over New Zealand at Old Trafford. England’s most economical overs came from, of all people, Geoff Boycott (9-1-24-1) and Graham Gooch (3-1-8-0). Gooch also biffed three sixes in his 84-ball 71, an innings that made him Man of the Match. On the same day, West Indies overwhelmed Pakistan by 43 runs at The Oval – but their passage to the final was not without one or two scares. Chasing 294, Pakistan were in pole position at 176 for 1 with 20 overs remaining and Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas going like a train, but Colin Croft turned the tide with a blistering 12-ball spell in which he blew away Majid, Zaheer and Javed Miandad.
Viv Richards then nailed a high-class trio of his own: Asif Iqbal, Mudassar Nazar and Imran Khan.

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Suhas Bengeri