Everyone knows the roll call of World Cup winners, and the unforgettable finals that led to them being crowned. India’s heist in 1983, Sri Lanka’s cruise to glory in Lahore in 1996 and the double-tie at Lord’s four years ago. But what we also recall as vividly are the upsets, the seismic results that had fans across the world sitting up and asking: “What? How could that happen?” This World Cup, after a muted start and a damp squib of an India-Pakistan clash, exploded into life with Afghanistan upsetting England, the defending champions. On Tuesday, the Netherlands, who don’t enjoy the Test status that Afghanistan have, topped that, beating in-form South Africa despite a top-order meltdown that left them 82-5. Here, RevSportz looks at the colourful history of World Cup upsets.
1979
Sri Lanka beat India by 47 runs. Manchester
Back then, Sri Lanka beating anybody was an upset. They were nearly three years from getting Test status. India became the first Test-playing team to lose a World Cup game against a side still to make that grade. Asked to bat, Sri Lanka compiled 238-5 in 60 overs riding on half-centuries from opener Sunil Wettimuny, No. 3 Roy Dias and No. 4 Duleep Mendis. It was a competitive total for those times. India’s top four got starts, but the highest was Dilip Vengsarkar’s 36. They were all out for 191.
PoM: Duleep Mendis (Sri Lanka)
1983
Zimbabwe beat Australia by 13 runs. Nottingham
It was first-ever ODI for the African nation. Australia had Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Allan Border, Kim Hughes and all. But Duncan Fletcher, the Zimbabwe skipper, played the game of his life. After losing the toss, Zimbabwe were 94-5 before Fletcher guided them to 239-6. He made an unbeaten 69 and then took 4-42 in 11 overs with his right-arm slow-medium. Despite a good start and half-centuries from Kepler Wesseles and Rod Marsh, Australia were restricted to 226-7.
PoM: Duncan Fletcher (Zimbabwe)
1992
Zimbabwe beat England by 9 runs. Albury
Nobody gave Zimbabwe a chance after they were asked to bat on a damp wicket and shot out for 134. Ian Botham and left-arm spinner Richard Illingworth took three apiece. But England kept sliding after losing Graham Gooch with zero on the board. Eddo Brandes, opening bowler and chicken farmer, took 4-21 in 10 overs. At 43-5, Zimbabwe were eyeing a famous win. England went close but not closer than 125 at this venue in New South Wales.
PoM: Eddo Brandes (Zimbabwe)
1996
Kenya beat West Indies by 73 runs. Pune
This was the mother of all shocks. Despite being in decline, West Indies were still a force. They played the semi-finals in this edition. On this day, everything went haywire. The Kenyan total of 166 hardly threatened at the break. But the men from the Caribbean were caught by surprise by opening bowler Rajab Ali and Maurice Odumbe’s off-spin. They took three each. The team with Brian Lara, Richie Richardson and Shivnarine Chanderpaul never recovered after being reduced to 43-5 and were bowled out for 93.
PoM: Maurice Odumbe (Kenya)
1999
Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 62 runs. Northampton
Bangladesh were still to get Test status when they met Pakistan on this fateful day. They had no chance of making progress and nothing to lose. None of them dug deep, but there were a string of contributions which took them to 223-9. Saqlain Mushtaq took five wickets. But before Pakistan realised what had happened after they started batting, they were 42-5. There was a bit of resistance, but nothing substantial to take them beyond 161. Khaled Mahmud made 27 and took 3/31.
PoM: Khaled Mahmud (Bangladesh)
2003
Kenya beat Sri Lanka by 53 runs. Nairobi
This was a group stage match and supposedly a walk in the park for Sri Lanka. Opener Kennedy Otieno played a lone hand making 60, but Kenya struggled to come to terms with Muttiah Muralitharan, who took 4-28 in 10 overs. But the Sri Lankan reply fell apart from 71-2 in the 18th over. Leg-spinner Collins Obuya took 5-24 in 10 overs to derail the chase. This win and another against Bangladesh helped Kenya qualify for the Super Six stage and eventually, for the semi-finals.
PoM: Collins Obuya (Kenya)
2007
Ireland beat Pakistan by 3 wkts (D/L method). Kingston
This was the international crowd’s first glimpse of an Irish side consisting of people who also played cricket after doing something else for a living. Pakistan took them lightly and paid a heavy price. This defeat ended their campaign at the group stage. They were in trouble after managing just 132. The bowlers took two early wickets, but then ran into Niall O’Brien. The left-hand batter, coming in at No. 4, made 72 and fell only after taking his team to the doorstep of victory.
PoM: Niall O’Brien (Ireland)
2011
Ireland beat England by 3 wkts. Bengaluru
This was England’s match for a long time. They called the shots after winning the toss. Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell cracked fifties. Their team posted 327-8. When Ireland slipped to 111-5 in the 25th over, it seemed game over. Then came Kevin O’Brien. The younger brother of Niall, who dented Pakistan’s hopes in 2007, launched a scarcely believable attack that cut the attack to smithereens. The 63-ball 113, with 13 fours and six sixes, was a highlight of this edition.
PoM: Kevin O’Brien (Ireland)
2023
Afghanistan beat England by 69 runs. Delhi
England, the defending champions, usually finish the match inside 45 overs when they chase something in the 280s. Afghanistan’s 284, built on Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ikram Alikhil’s half-centuries, looked respectable rather than threatening. But Afghanistan’s spinners took over after some good overs by the new-ball bowlers. Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi were incisive and Mujeeb Ur Rahman was too to handle. England were never in the chase in the true sense of the word.
PoM: Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan)