What a match on Monday night, as Pakistan defeated England by 14 runs, despite quick centuries by Joe Root and Josh Buttler.
Thrilling, but pales in comparison with matches featured today.
Botham stars in England’s last over win over India at Perth in 1992
The 1991-92 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand was the first to be played in coloured clothing and using white balls, with some matches played under lights.
In the opening match, England scored 9-236 after skipper Graham Gooch (51 runs) and Robin Smith (91) added 110 for the second wicket.
Then wickets tumbled to India’s medium-pacers, as England lost 6-27.
India’s contrasting openers, sedate Ravi Shastri (only two fours in his 51) and aggressive Kris Srikkanth (39 with seven fours), put on 63 runs. Shastri spooned a tall catch to Phil DeFreitas, who dropped it but ran him out.
Then the great all-rounder Ian Botham dismissed a well-set Sachin Tendulkar (35) and Vinod Kambli.
India needed 36 from three overs, when last man Javagal Srinath joined Subroto Banerjee. The pair added 26 valiant runs, Banerjee hitting a four and a six.
But the march to an unexpected victory was ended by the long and accurate arm of Botham, who ran out Srinath, with India nine runs short and four balls remaining.
Captain Mohammad Azharuddin lamented 13 wides bowled by his bowlers.
Australia beat India by one run at Brisbane in 1992
Dean Jones started proceedings with a fluent 90 off 108 balls – his second scoring shot a six off fast-medium bowler Javagal Srinath. India’s opening bowlers, Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar, had identical figures of 3-41.
Rain stopped play when India was 1-45 in the 17th over, cutting 15 minutes and three overs from the second innings, but the target was dropped by only two runs; 236 instead of 238.
Mohammad Azharuddin stroked 93 from 103 balls and Sanjay Manjrekar 47 from 42 before both were run out, the chasing team needing 13 from the last over, being fired down by Tom Moody.
Kiran More hit the first two balls for fours but was bowled off the fourth. Prabhakar took a single but was run out off the fifth delivery.
Four runs needed off the last ball.
Javagal Srinath lifted the ball high in the sky, Steve Waugh dropped it just inside the boundary, but threw it accurately to acting wicketkeeper David Boon and last man Venkatapathy Raju was run out.
India was all out for 234 to lose by one run.
Thus India had scored three fewer runs in three fewer overs and lost. Illogical, don’t you think Roarers?
kgoat
Guest
Thanks for adding this match. For me this match has been the best match ever in world cup history. I remember my brother chewed up the bedcovers in tension. that last over was something...dean jones diving twice at the boundary, wickets cartwheeling and that last bowl dropped catch was something we didn't see steve waugh repeat again :)
Neel
Roar Guru
South Africa haven’t had much luck in World Cups and that moment in 1992 and the 1999 World Cup semi-final tie were for me the moments that have defined South Africa’s performance at World Cups. Most cricket fans would feel a sense of relief if South Africa lift the World Cup one day. Hopefully, that day comes soon for their fans sake and most of the cricketing world’s sake.
satz
Roar Rookie
The rain rule in 1992 was the most atrocious i have ever seen. It was blasted heavily in the subcontinent media. We suffered at Brisbane but i don't think that was the reason we fared badly. In the Brisbane match,we had to score at 7 runs an over for over 25 overs. Regarded near impossible in those days. The lower order let slip what could have been an exceptional win.