History of the ICC Cricket World Cup: West Indies’ performance (Part 2)
To read part 1 of this article, please click
http://www.senore.com/History-of-the-ICC-Cricket-World-Cup-West-Indies-performance-Part-1-a53891.
1983: West Indies were to lose their first ever World Cup match in the 1983 tournament. That loss came at the hands of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 in the first group stage match between the two sides. However, the champions were able
to redeem themselves after winning the second group match between the two countries. West Indies won 5 of the 6 group stage matches to progress through to the semi-finals.
The 1983 semi-final was a rematch of the 1979 competition between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-c71319 was the only batsman to pass the score
of fifty for Pakistan but his 70 runs came from 176 balls and just one boundary. The defending champions comfortably accomplished the total with the loss of only 2 wickets. Vivian Richards, who was awarded the man-of-the-match award, scored 80 from just 96
balls to secure the win.
West Indies met India again in the final and sent in the Asian giants to bat after winning the toss. India’s batting line-up faced hostile bowling from the West Indies’ pacemen and were bowled out for 183 runs. The highest scorer
for India was Kris Srikkanth who got 38 from 57 balls. West Indies was expected to cruise past the low total but the young Indian side, led by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kapil-Dev-c70234, had other plans. West Indies were bowled out for 140 runs as India pulled off perhaps the biggest upset
of World Cup history. None of the high profile batsmen managed to perform with Richards getting the highest score of 33 from 28 deliveries. For India, both Amarnath and Madan Lal bagged 3 wickets. Madan Lal was declared the man-of-the-match as he had also
managed to get some crucial runs towards the end of the Indian innings. Hence, India grabbed the World Cup trophy to end West Indies’ reign as the world champions.
1987: The fourth edition of the World Cup in 1987 was the first occasion the tournament was held outside of England. The competition was co-hosted by India and Pakistan. West Indies were hoping to win their third
title in 4 attempts. The two-time champions were grouped with Pakistan, England and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in the group stages. West Indies managed to win only 3 of the six games they played and therefore failed to qualify for the semi-final for the first time in a World
Cup tournament.
1992: The 1992 World Cup was co-hosted by Australia and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754. All nine participating teams were grouped together with the top four qualifying for the semi-final. West Indies failed to make it to the semi-final
this time around as well. The team managed to win only 4 of its 8 games in the group stages.
West Indies needed a win in their final group match against home side Australia to book a place in the semi-final. However, the once mighty West Indians failed to chase down the target of 217 set by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746. If the Caribbean
team had managed to win the match they would have taken the place of eventual champions Pakistan in the semi-final. Pakistan had compiled a total of 9 points while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 ended up with 8 points. A win against the home side would have taken the West Indies
to 10 points, ensuring them a semi-final spot.
To be continued.
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