KARACHI: A 5-4 scoreline in favour of the West Indies suggests how fiercely the battles between them and Australia have been in the World Cup chronicle. These two sides have always produced exhilarating cricket and have been responsible for winning seven titles with the Australians lifting the trophy on five occasions.

Who can ever forget the thrilling final of the inaugural World Cup in blazing shine at Lord’s when West Indies under Clive Lloyd were in the process of building a formidable squad of players who were to dominate world cricket for almost 20 years? The likes of Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge and Andy Roberts were the nucleus of that side that went on to retain the title four years on.

The decline of West Indies saw Australia take their mantle. In their last five meetings against the boys from Caribbean, Australia have won four times after West Indies had been on top in the first four fixtures.

The closest game, apart from the 1975 final, was the semi-final of the 1996 tournament when the Aussies staged a dramatic comeback to recover from 15-4 to post 207-8 and then restrict West Indies to 202 all out — with the redoubtable Shane Warne taking 4-36 — after they had been 1652-2 at one stage.

Head-to-head summary

June 14, 1975 —The Oval, West Indies won by seven wickets

June 21, 1975 — Lord’s, West Indies won by 17 runs

June 11-12, 1983 — Headingley, West Indies won by 101 runs

June 18, 1983 — Lord’s, West Indies won by seven wickets

March 18, 1992 — Melbourne, Australia won by 57 runs

March 4, 1996 — Jaipur, West Indies won by four wickets

March 14, 1996 — Mohali, Australia won by five runs

May 30, 1999 — Old Trafford, Australia won by six wickets

March 27-28, 2007 — North Sound, Australia won by 103 runs.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2019