1979 Cricket World Cup Finals: A trip down memory lane

The 1979 Cricket World Cup, or the Prudential Cup as it was known back then, will always be looked back on with fond memories. It was a two-week affair with 8 teams participating in the tournament, just like in 1975, and culminated with the final taking place at Lord’s, the Home of Cricket. The history and tradition of the Lord’s Cricket Ground overwhelms all and sundry, and each player, no matter how good he is, wants the stamp of having done well at Lord’s. Apart from its daunting atmosphere, it also holds the distinction of being the only venue in the world to have hosted more than one World Cup final, having hosted the event in 1975, 1979, 1983 and 1999.

The 8 teams were split into two groups consisting of 4 teams each: England, Pakistan, Australia and Canada formed Group A, while West Indies, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and India formed Group B.

England and Pakistan qualified for the knockouts from Group A, while the West Indies and New Zealand made the cut from Group B. Subsequently, West Indies beat Pakistan and England beat New Zealand to reach the finals of the 2nd Cricket World Cup.

The final taking place at Lord’s proved to be a one-sided affair with the defending champions West Indies coming out on top with a resounding victory margin of 92 runs. The final is remembered till date for one of the best innings ever played, by none other than the inimitable Sir Vivian Richards, who made 138* from 157 balls to take the team to 286.

 

You can find more such classic videos on the official website of Lord’s Cricket Ground, England.