World Cup: Of magical knocks and winners

Chennai, Mar 12 (UNI) The quadrennial mega cricket event is all set to begin tomorrow with hosts and two-time World Cup winner West Indies taking on Pakistan at Jamaica.

What makes the Cup matches arouse excitement in the hearts of one-dayer fans is their favourite batsman smashing fours and sixes and turning a match around with a magical knock.

With just a day to go and prospect of a superlative batsmanship very much likely in the inaugural contest tomorrow too, the moment is perfect to recall some of the great knocks in the World Cups gone by since the first one in England in 1975.

In the inaugural Prudential Cup, there were two great knocks much to the delight of fans-- West Indies captain Clive Lloyd snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the final with a superlative 102 against Aussies who had them tottering at 50-3.

Enjoying one life, Lloyd, hit a century off 82 balls and before falling after adding two more runs, he smashed 12 fours and two sixes. Sure enough, the knock gave the Windies the maiden Cup championship title.

MORE UNI