KARACHI: Judging by the long World Cup history, the West Indies are in desperate search of ending a 40-year itch against England after having clinically outplayed them by 92 runs in the final of the 1979 tournament.

The team from the Caribbean islands has lost each of their five subsequent World Cup fixtures to England despite coming very close on at least two occasions. But it must be said the West Indies of yesteryear were a mercurial bunch with Clive Lloyd being their inspirational leader who oversaw his side clinching the first two World Cup titles before losing their invincibility in a shock defeat in the 1983 final — a stage where they have never reached since.

On a glorious day of sunshine the final at Lord’s, England began well by reducing West Indies to 99-4. Among early victims to fall were Gordon Greenidge, Alvin Kalli­charran and Lloyd.

But as long as Vivian Richards was in the middle, England knew they can’t hold their advantage for long and so it proved. The great man produced probably the finest innings in a World Cup final. But even he was a mere spectator during a sensational rescue operation with Collis King, who slaughtered the English bowlers to all parts of the ground while making a spectacular 86 from just 66 deliveries with 10 boundaries and three sixes as he went after the part-time trio of Geoff Boycott, Graham Gooch and Wayne Larkins.

The Richards-King stand realised 139 runs before England dismissed King. Richards then opened up to finish with 138 off 157 balls (11 fours and three sixes) and carried West Indies to 286-9 in their 60 overs by nonchalantly depositing Hendrick over the square leg boundary for a six.

England were hampered by the slow pace of scoring from Boycott — who took 17 overs to enter double figures — and skipper Mike Brearley (64 off 130 balls), which cost them heavily as the openers plodded to 129. Boycott (57 off 105) escaped being out when Lloyd spilled a simple catch at mid-on when he tried to hit Richards.

The match ended dramatically as England collapsed from 183-2 by losing eight wickets for 11 runs — as the incoming batsmen all threw their bats in desperation against Joel Garner (5-38) and Colin Croft (3-42) — to be sent packing in 51 overs.

The two teams didn’t face each other on the biggest stage until 1987. In the first of the two fixtures in the double round-robin format event, Allan Lamb (67 off 68 balls) snatched a dramatic two-wicket win for England with three balls left at Gujranwala’s Jinnah Stadium as West Indies failed to defend 34 runs from the last three overs.

Gooch’s 92 was the foundation of England total of 269-5 from 50 overs in the return game at Jaipur. West Indies fell way short to lose by 35 runs despite Richie Richardson contributing 93.

Four years later, England ran out winners by six wickets quite easily after West Indies capitulated for 157 against Chris Lewis (3-30) and Phillip DeFreitas (3-34) before captain Gooch (65) and Neil Fairbrother (54) saw their team through.

The 2007 clash at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown turned out to be high-scoring thriller. Chris Gayle’s 58-ball 79 set the foundation of West Indies’ score of 300 all out with England captain Michael Vaughan unexpectedly starring with his occasional off-spin (3-39 in 10 overs).

Vaughan then scored a 68-ball 79 but it was Kevin Pietersen who took the plaudit with a 91-ball 100 as England pulled off a one-wicket victory on the penultimate ball of a match that brought down curtains on the glittering career of West Indies captain Brian Lara, who was run out for 18 in his last appearance.

The last World Cup encounter featuring these teams took place in Chennai where Andre Russell’s 49 was highest score of the game. Off-spinner James Tredwell snared 4-48 to win the man-of-the-match as England won by 18 runs.

Head-to-head summary

June 23, 1979 — Lord’s, West Indies won by 92 runs

Oct 9, 1987 — Gujranwala, England won by two wickets

Oct 26, 1987 — Jaipur, England won by 34 runs

Feb 27, 1992 — Melbourne, England won by six wickets

April 21, 2007 — Bridgetown, England won by one wicket

March 17, 2011 — Chennai, England won by 18 runs

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2019