By the skin of their teeth

West Indies v Pakistan, 1975
Two unpredictable and volatile teams came together in the eighth match of the inaugural World Cup, but it was a level head and some tenacious batting - rather than flashy strokeplay - that decided the result. West Indies were in some strife in pursuit of 267 when the sixth wicket fell at 145 and Deryck Murray strode to the crease. They had sunk further, to 203 for 9, when he was joined by Andy Roberts. In a magnificent match that hung in the balance until the very end, the last pair chipped steadily away at the target and, having seen off the marauding Sarfraz Nawaz, eventually sealed the result in the final over amid palpable tension.

England v New Zealand, 1979
New Zealand started their habit of reaching the latter stages of world tournaments early in World Cup history, and an almost capacity crowd of 22,000 watched them launch a brave assault on England's 221 at Old Trafford in the 1979 tournament. Contrasting half-centuries from Mike Brearley and Graham Gooch had set up England's total but New Zealand's bowlers never lost control and their batsmen needed to score at under four an over to win. John Wright's patient fifty held them together but wickets fell regularly and a daring late assault from Warren Lees and Lance Cairns added to the drama. New Zealand couldn't quite manage the 14 wanted off the last over, sent down by Ian Botham, but they left the competition with their reputation enhanced.

England v New Zealand, 1983
Four years later the two sides were at it again, this time during the group stage - and with a different result. David Gower defied an untrustworthy pitch to put together a sparkling 92 as England were bowled out for 234 - which seemed like more than enough when New Zealand stumbled to 146 for 5. A typically determined knock from Jeremy Coney kept them in with a shout, and Coney found a willing partner in Richard Hadlee. They put on a vital 70 for the seventh wicket before Hadlee was bowled by Bob Willis. With two wickets left, New Zealand needed four runs off the last over, and off the fifth ball, with the scores level, John Bracewell struck a four to settle the issue.

India v Australia, 1987
Australia showed their mettle early in their campaign as they marched to a maiden world title in 1987. Battling 95-degree heat and high humidity, Geoff Marsh made 110 out of Australia's 270 for 6, but that didn't look like nearly enough when India raced past 200 for the loss of only two wickets. Craig McDermott then came back well from an early hammering to work his way through the middle order with four wickets. Even so, India, with four wickets in hand, needed just 15 from the last four overs. As the tension mounted, however, all sense went from their batting, and two run-outs meant six were needed from the final over with last man, Maninder Singh, on strike. He managed two twos, but then had his off stump flattened by Steve Waugh.

Pakistan v West Indies, 1987
In a tournament renowned for its close finishes, these two teams showed what their combined chemistry could do, with a nerve-jangling match that wasn't decided until the final ball. Phil Simmons, on debut, and Viv Richards, in his last World Cup, were the mainstay of West Indies' 216. Pakistan looked out of the contest at 110 for 5 in the 35th over, but Saleem Yousuf's fifty took them past 200 before the match ended in a maelstrom of runs and wickets. Abdul Qadir proved Pakistan's hero in a hair-raising finish. With nine wickets down, 14 runs were wanted from the final over. A six from the fourth ball sent the Lahore crowd into ecstasy, and two runs from the final ball sealed the result.

Australia v India, 1992
The margin of victory was just one run yet again when Australia and India met at the Gabba in the 1992 World Cup. India began slowly in pursuit of Australia's 237 for 9, before Mohammad Azharuddin's 102-ball 93 upped the tempo. After a brave lower-order assault, 13 runs were required from Tom Moody's final over, and Kiran More struck the first two to the fine-leg boundary. He was bowled by the next, and after Manoj Prabhakar was run out on the fifth ball, four were needed the last delivery. Javagal Srinath swung high into the leg side, Steve Waugh dropped the ball just inside the boundary but threw it in to Australia's acting wicket-keeper, David Boon. Venkatapathy Raju was beaten returning for the third run, which would have levelled the scores.

India v Zimbabwe, 1999
Though the balance of power drifted almost throughout, it was not until the very end of this game that it truly burst into life. India looked like passing Zimbabwe's 252 at a canter, when, in a moment of inspiration, Alistair Campbell tossed the ball to Henry Olonga for the penultimate over with just nine needed. His previous three overs had cost 17 - he lost his run-up and bowled some spectacular wides and a beamer. But now he steamed in with nothing to lose and almost immediately had Robin Singh caught at cover. He yorked Javagal Srinath with his fifth delivery and trapped Venkatesh Prasad in front of his stumps with his last to send a small contingent of Zimbabwe supporters into utter delirium.

Australia v South Africa, 1999
The match that surpassed all others for the sheer excitement of its flick-flacking drama, all the more so for being a World Cup semi-final. Half-centuries from Steve Waugh and Michael Bevan steeled the Australian innings, while Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald shared nine wickets, and no side was ever on top for long. A mesmeric performance from Shane Warne, who took four wickets of his own, kept Australia in the game, and his dismissal of Jacques Kallis with 39 still needed off the final five overs raised the tension to almost unbearable levels. Enter the Player of the Tournament, Lance Klusener, to take South Africa to the brink before, in an unforgettable climax, Australia rose from the dead to steal a tie.

Sri Lanka v West Indies, 2003
Ramnaresh Sarwan came within a couple of meaty blows of writing his name permanently into the annals of West Indian heroes against Sri Lanka at Newlands in 2003. He had just 10 runs to his name when he was struck a sickening blow on the head by Dilhara Fernando and was stretchered off to hospital, blood pouring from the wound. West Indies' run chase subsided in his absence, and they were 169 for 7 when, in the stuff of sporting fairytales and schoolboy dreams, Sarwan raced back from the hospital with a police escort, entering the field in a maroon cap and to a whooping standing ovation. He batted from that moment with no fear, and the result was still in doubt into the final over, but Pulasthi Gunaratne held his nerve to seal a Sri Lankan win.

Ireland v Zimbabwe, 2007
As the country's collapse took its toll on the sport, Zimbabwe cricket was in freefall when they met Ireland - going in the opposite direction - at Sabina Park. Jeremy Bray's unbeaten hundred held Ireland's innings together and ensured a competitive total of 221 for 9. Despite a fluent fifty from Vusi Sibanda, Zimbabwe never took control and their nerves began to fray as wickets tumbled in the closing stages. Stuart Matsikenyeri kept them afloat but needless panic set in and Andrew White bowled a faultless final over to seal a thrilling tie.

Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2007
A match made remarkable by the feats of just one man. Sri Lanka's Super Eight game against South Africa at the Providence Stadium was meandering towards a one-sided win before Lasith Malinga returned for a final burst. Just 10 runs were needed, and that was soon down to six after Shaun Pollock clipped the second ball of Malinga's spell to the midwicket boundary. But what followed was utter slingy madness. Pollock and Andrew Hall were dispatched in consecutive balls, and after Chaminda Vaas gave away just one run from the next over, Malinga stormed in, to have Jacques Kallis caught behind for his hat-trick, and immediately after, shattered Makhaya Ntini's stumps with a searing yorker. Just three more were needed, but it took the South Africans a further 12 balls - and a nervous slash to third man - to seal the win.