Day of the minnows

Every dog has its day, even the underdog. Over to Andy Hampson.

Group match, Trent Bridge, June 9, 1983Zimbabwe beat Australia by 13 runs

The '83 World Cup began with a bang as Zimbabwe, under the astute guidance of captain Duncan Fletcher, pulled off a stunning win against Australia. Fletcher led by example, surviving two scares to hit an unbeaten 69 in his side's respectable 239 for six. Kepler Wessels and Rodney Marsh both hit half-centuries in reply, but Australia could not keep up with the rate. Fletcher took four for 42 to be named the man of the match.

Final, Lord's, June 25, 1983India beat West Indies by 43 runs

Since the inception of one-day cricket, India had proved pretty much lightweight opposition and had won just one World Cup game in the two previous tournaments. Their progress was again pretty unspectacular until surprise wins over Australia and England put them in the final. They were expected to have little chance against the giants of world cricket but after India managed just 183, West Indian complacency set in. Brilliant fielding and tight bowling, epitomised by Mohinder Amarnath's three for 12, saw India take the trophy.

Group match, Pune, February 29, 1996Kenya beat West Indies by 73 runs

By 1996 the West Indies were a ragged bunch and sulked their way around the sub-continent, refusing to play in Sri Lanka and criticising each other in the press. Against Kenya they were sloppy and petulant in the field, dropping catches and conceding numerous extras. They should still have surpassed Kenya's 166 but their response was reckless and they slumped to a humiliating 93 all out.

Group match, Northampton, May 31, 1999Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 62 runs

Quite how Asian minnows Bangladesh managed to overturn odds of 33-1 to beat one of the tournament favourites, a side with four wins from their previous four games, has been the subject of scrutiny ever since it happened. Yet it may just have been one of those days. Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar and Waqar Younis all beat the bat often enough without luck as Bangladesh posted 223 for nine. Khaled Mahmud then removed Shahid Afridi with his fifth ball and went on to claim three for 31 as Pakistan slumped to 161 all out.

Group match, Nairobi, February 24, 2003Kenya beat Sri Lanka by 53 runs

Kenya's surprise march to the semifinals owed a lot to New Zealand's refusal to play in Nairobi but they would not have got there without their stunning win over Sri Lanka. Kenya looked to have little chance as Muttiah Muralitharan whirled away but Kennedy Otieno's composed 60 and a violent blast from Peter Ongondo lifted them to 210 for nine. Murali, four for 28, was then spectacularly overshadowed by 21-year-old leg-spinner Collins Obuya, who took five for 24 as the Sri Lankans were whittled out for 157.

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