One of the most amazing things about sports is watching an underdog overcome all the odds and rise to the top, much to the delight of many script whirlwind heists. When it comes to cricket, nothing compares to what Team India, led by Kapil Dev, accomplished in the summer of 1983 when they overcame West Indies in the championship match at Lord’s.
However, there have been few instances in the last 20 years where an underdog went on to defeat the odds and win a world championship.
Before the competition, oddsmakers had given India a 66-1 shot at winning the World Cup. India pulled off the unthinkable by holding the powerful West Indies, which included batsmen like Desmond Haynes, Gordon Greenidge, Viv Richards, and Clive Lloyd, to a meager 183 runs. The most excellent lineup at the moment. One of the greatest cricket underdog victories for the subcontinent came against a strong West Indies team.
Here are some instances of brilliant underdog victories managed marvelously by newbies:
West Indies vs. Kenya, 1996 World Cup
Chanderpaul led the way with 19 runs as the West Indies were bowled out for 93 when chasing a modest total of 166 against the underdog Kenya. It was Kenya’s first-ever victory in official ODIs, which made it all the more intriguing that extras were the leading Kenyan scorers in this game. It was also the first occasion that the West Indies had lost to an associate country. Nevertheless, despite Kenya’s shocking loss.
Zimbabwe vs. India, 1999 World Cup
In their match against India at the 1999 World Cup’s Group stage, Zimbabwe grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat. India lost 3 wickets in 5 balls for 3 runs, finishing at 246/7 in 44.1 overs while chasing 253 from 46 overs, losing the match by 3 runs. The final 3 wickets were taken by Henry Olonga. Grant Flower’s 68 helped Zimbabwe score 252 from their 50 overs earlier in the game, and India was penalized 4 overs for their slow over-rate. The fact that India was competing without their star Sachin Tendulkar didn’t assist their cause.
Pakistan vs. Bangladesh, 1999 World Cup
When Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by a commanding margin of 62 runs in their World Cup debut, they pulled off a major shock. Batting first, Bangladesh produced 223 with Akram Khan leading the way with 42 points. Pakistan’s team, who was tasked with chasing the score, got off to a horrible start and was reduced to 42-5 before being all out for 161. In Bangladesh, a holiday was proclaimed to commemorate this triumph.
2005’s Australia vs. Bangladesh:
A tri series between Bangladesh, England, and Australia took place in England. While batting first, Australia struggled but eventually reached 249 thanks to fifty-plus scores from Martyn and Clarke. When Bangladesh was 72-3 in the 21st over of the target chase, and Australia appeared to be firmly in control, a young Bangladeshi named Mohammed Ashraful produced a superb hundred and partnered for 130 odd runs with the captain Habibul Bashar. The audience at Sophia Gardens went wild as Aftab Ahmed hit a six to end the game. One of the biggest cricket underdog victories occurred when Bangladesh defeated the powerful Australia while they were regarded as minnows at the time.
Ireland vs. England, 2011 World Cup
Ireland defeated England at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore by chasing down a massive 330 while playing in just their second world cup. At the midway point of the inning, Ireland took the batting powerplay because their necessary rate had grown to 8. Kevin O’Brien got going on the English Bowlers and quickly set a World Cup record for the fastest century by finishing it off in just 50 deliveries. Ireland successfully surpassed the goal with 5 balls remaining, shocking the cricketing world.
2011 bilateral series between Zimbabwe and New Zealand:
New Zealand had won the series, so they were aiming for a clean sweep. The Kiwis were the favorites to win the game after scoring 329 runs in their first innings of play thanks to centuries from Ross Taylor and Ken Williamson. After 30 overs, Zimbabwe had scored 183/5 thanks to more than run-a-ball fifties from Taylor and Taibu.
Sources:
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