ICC World Cup 2011
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West Indies beat England in the final to get their second World Cup trophy
West Indies beat England in the final to get their second World Cup trophy © Patrick Eagar

World Cup -1979

The Richards Cup

Another World Cup, same winner. West Indies steamrolled their way to a successive world title on the back of some destructive batting (and bowling) from their No. 3. Australia picked a team of mostly unknowns, thanks to the Packer affair, though West Indies and Pakistan included their rebels. The final featured a brilliant hundred from Richards, an even more brilliant 86 from Collis King, and a destructive five-for from Joel Garner.

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Player Mat Runs HS Ave SR
CG Greenidge (WI) 4 253 106* 84.33 62.31
IVA Richards (WI) 4 217 138* 108.50 74.06
GA Gooch (Eng) 5 210 71 52.50 63.82
GM Turner (NZ) 4 176 83* 88.00 56.05
JG Wright (NZ) 4 166 69 41.50 50.00
Player Mat Wkts BBI Ave Econ
M Hendrick (Eng) 5 10 4/15 14.90 2.66
BJ McKechnie (NZ) 4 9 3/24 15.66 3.07
Asif Iqbal (Pak) 4 9 4/56 17.44 3.34
CM Old (Eng) 5 9 4/8 17.44 2.70
MA Holding (WI) 4 8 4/33 13.25 2.58
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Who is the only bowler to have taken a five-for in a World Cup final?

a. Glenn McGrath b. Wasim Akram c. Joel Garner

The last over of the innings was bowled by Mike Hendrick, whose 11 previous ones had cost 36. Mike Brearley, England's captain, had almost everyone back on the ropes as Hendrick ran in to bowl the final delivery. "I had sussed with his long-off and long-on back that it would be fullish to allow me one or two," Viv Richards recalled. "It was the correct ball, much fuller but slightly off the line, and I stepped to the off side and flicked it. I left the field thinking, 'That shot is my invention.'"


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A taste of what was to come
Pakistan v West Indies, second semi-final
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Walsh backs West Indies to win the World Cup
ESPNcricinfo Weekly: The West Indies feature in this edition with former fast bowler Courtney Walsh making his World Cup picks, while great batsman Sir Viv Richards reflects on one of the great World Cup partnerships ()
'We broke down a lot of barriers'
How We Won the World Cup: 1979, part four: Viv Richards talks about Collis King's brilliant innings, Joel Garner's devastating spell, and what the win meant to the team ()
'I wanted to be shining on the big stage'
How We Won the World Cup: 1979, part three: Viv Richards on what made Pakistan tough opponents, what West Indies' success meant back home, and Clive Lloyd's influence ()
'We felt we could defend any total'
How We Won the World Cup: 1979, part two: Viv Richards talks about the West Indies pace attack, the prospect of playing against the old enemy, and his cricket philosophy ()
'We had the nucleus of the 1975 team'
How We Won the World Cup: 1979, part one: Viv Richards looks back at the second World Cup: coming to terms with the post-Packer era, and what made West Indies strong contenders ()
'No one was more aggressive than Viv Richards'
Great World Cup Performances: Ian Chappell on the World Cup performance of a batsman who intimidated even Imran Khan ()

West Indies had slipped to 99 for 4 when King joined Richards. What followed was a breathtaking onslaught that turned the match on its head. For once, Richards was for a while outshone. As King reached the middle, Richards offered him some advice. "Hey man, take it easy... we have plenty of time." King was having none of it. "Smokey," he replied, "I ain't gonna let Geoffrey [Boycott] get this, man."


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