By Mohsin Ali
Can you guess the platform where the stars emerge and legends are made shaping the sports scenario? If you are unable to guess immediately then no need to be worried, we are here to disclose that the realm is cricket. As the cricket has countless fans across the globe and they want to know names of the players who scored centuries in the cricket ICC World Cup finals.
The quadrennial ICC World Cup fixtures produced countless legends coupled with ensuring exceptional amusement for the cricket-fans. We are very much sure that a large number of cricket-lovers do not know the name of the player who made a century in the first Cricket World Cup in 1975.
So, stay with us as in this article we will delve into the details of the cricket history papers to detect names of the players who made centuries in the Cricket World Cup finals.
Amid pressure players have to perform in the matches particularly in finals as such fixtures are considered crucial where players have to perform to lead their teams to victory.
West Indies legend skipper Clive Lloyd was the player who helped his team to become the first Cricket World Cup champion in 1975 and he posted 102 runs on the scoreboard. With his stellar batting and marvelous strokes, Clive Lloyd slated his name in cricket history. The West Indies side led by Clive Lloyd had faced Australia at Lord’s on June 21, 1975 and the tournament title was Prudential World Cup.
Having the trait of inspirational leadership, Clive Lloyd’s innings was peppered with 12 fours and 2 sixes in 85 balls. The Kangaroos’ Gary John Gilmour dismissed him with the help of Rod Marsh, who took his catch.
West Indies won this mega event by 17 runs as it posted a total of 291 runs for 8 and the Australian side could not chase it falling for 274 runs. Clive Lloyd was declared player of the match.
Clinching the ICC World Cup title is the dream of every country and cricketing nations strive for glory. This time again, the West Indies had clinched the cricket world cup in 1979 by trouncing England by 92 runs and unbeaten century of Viv Richards steered his team to victory.
The final match of the tournament titled as “Prudential World Cup” was organized at the Lord’s, on June 23, 1979. It was a sixty overs match.
The cricket legend, Viv Richards, knocked 138 runs in 157 balls peppered with 11 fours and 3 sixes. He earned the player of the match award in this second world cup victory.
After the 1979 ICC World Cup no player could score a century in any final.
Then came the 1996 ICC World Cup final titled “Wills World Cup ” held in Lahore on March 17 in 1996, where cricket-lovers celebrated the century posted by the Sri Lankan legend, Aravinda de Silva. The magnificent Aravinda de Silva knocked unbeaten 107 in 124 balls adored with 13 fours while charging the Australian bowlers.
Sri Lanka (245/3) had become the ICC World Cup champion by trouncing Australia (241/7) by 7 wickets with 22 balls remaining.
In 2003 ICC World Cup final played on March 23 at Johannesburg, South Africa, Australia and India clashed for the final and it was Kangaroos captain– Ricky Pointing—who smashed unbeaten 140 (121) with 4 fours and eight sixes. Australia posted a mammoth total of 359/2 providing no space for the Indian side to chase it and the entire team fell at 234 in 39.2 overs.
Ricky Ponting, a player who knows how and when to play according to the conditions clinched the ICC World Cup title for his team. The ability of Ricky Ponting also helped his side to clinch the ICC World Cup 2007 title.
The ICC World Cup 2007 final was played between Australia (281/4) and Sri Lanka (215/8) on April 28, in Bridgetown. Australian opener Adam Gilchrist, the swashbuckling Australian wicketkeeper-batsman, knocked 149 runs in 104 balls coupled with 13 fours and 8 sixes. Adam Gilchrist was also declared the man of the match as he also took two catches in this fixture.
The Sri Lankan supremo, Mahela Jayawardene smashed 103 runs in 88 balls hitting 13 fours in the ICC World Cup final played at Wankhede, India on April 02 in 2011. He did not spare any Indian bowler to amass a good total for his team (274/6). However, the Indian team led by MS Dhoni did not leave any chance for his rival side to clinch the title and chased the target in 48.2 overs for a loss of 4 wickets.
Dhoni being considered globally the most effective captain scored undefeated 91 runs and was declared player of the match. His stroke plays highlighted his skills to grasp the opportunity.
No batter could score a century in the last ICC World Cup final held at Lord’s, on July 14, 2019 between New Zealand (241/8) and England (241) in 50 overs. The match was decided on the boundary counts and England emerged victorious.
The cricket-lovers are eagerly waiting for the emergence of new stars and heroes of the future in the ICC World Cup 2023 being played in India.
The cricket enthusiasts are ready to celebrate the outstanding achievements of players in the World Cup final but the question is who will bell the cat?