The captain of India, Kapil Dev, receives the Prudential World Cup Trophy from Lord Carr of Hadley, after India's victory over the West Indies in the World Cup Final. Photo / Getty Images.
The captain of India, Kapil Dev, receives the Prudential World Cup Trophy from Lord Carr of Hadley, after India's victory over the West Indies in the World Cup Final. Photo / Getty Images.
With five weeks to go before the start of the Cricket World Cup, the Herald lists the stories that have defined the tournament.
2) Kapil Dev's World Cup
By the time the third edition of the World Cup rolled around - again in England, again in whites with a redball and again 60-over matches - the formula was set in stone: eight teams would turn up and seven of them would watch the West Indies take home the trophy.
Things were going pretty much to plan. The West Indies finished top of Group B, India finishing second. The West Indies destroyed Pakistan in one semifinal, while India had to play the hosts on a tricky Old Trafford pitch.
India bowled first and charismatic young captain Kapil Dev took 3-35 from his 11 overs as England struggled to 213. India cruised to victory as the under-the-radar talents of Mohinder Armarnath (46), Yashpal Sharma (61) and Sandeep Patil (51 not out) made telling contributions.
The match had a comical ending. When India scored their 213th run, several in the crowd thought the game was over and so began the obligatory pitch invasion. When the field was finally cleared, England captain Bob Willis, who was bowling, placed all his fielders on the off side, in front of the pavilion, so as soon as the ball was bowled they could sprint up the stairs and avoid the melee.
The final at Lord's on a green, ultra-bouncy wicket was expected to be nothing more than a Windies' coronation. When India managed just 183 the worst fears were seemingly confirmed.
The final's pivotal moment came, however, when West Indian maestro Viv Richards was on 33 and threatening to take the game away. He pulled the medium pace of Madan Lal high over midwicket and Dev, with the sort of athleticism not associated with cricket in those days, turned and sprinted, taking a stunning catch a few yards in from the boundary.
The West Indies middle and lower orders then wilted under the pressure and it was a beaming Dev, to everybody's shock and delight, who was left holding the trophy on the balcony of the Member's Stand, providing the World Cup with one of its most enduring images.
