Hosts: England
Winners: India
Runners-up: West Indies
Most runs: David Gower (ENG) 384 runs
Most wickets: Roger Binny (IND) 18 wickets
This was the last edition of the Prudential World Cup, hosted again by England, the eight teams were again divided into 2 groups of four each. But unlike the previous two editions, these teams played each other twice in the group stage to determine the four semi-finalists.
England dominated proceedings as always in the group stage winning 5 out of their six fixtures in Group A with a single loss to the Kiwis. There was stiff fight for the second place between Pakistan and New Zealand. With the Kiwis ahead with three wins, the final group match between the two teams was a potential decider to who would accompany the hosts to the semis.
A century by Zaheer Abbas set the tone and Pakistan did just enough to beat the Kiwis and then edge them out on run-rate as both teams finished with 12 points.
Two-time defending champions West Indies were shocked by India in their first outing but regained momentum to win the next five matches to top Group B.
Buoyed by their early success against the Windies, the Indians beat Zimbabwe twice and Australia once to enter the semi-finals for the first time. But all that looked distant when India were reeling at 17/5 in a must win encounter against the Zimbabweans. In came Kapil Dev and scripted one of the finest ODI innings ever to have been played in the history of the game. His blitzkrieg 175 at Tunbridge Wells and a World Cup record 126-run 9th wicket stand with Syed Kirmani bailed the team out.
England's campaign came to a sad end yet again as darkhorses India first scuttled them out for 213 and then chased it down with great ease.
West took the fight out of Pakistan early as the Asians meandered to a low total of 184 for 8 in their 60 overs. Vivian Richards (80) showed his big match temperament yet again as West Indies won with 12 overs to spare.
The final was played at Lord's yet again and with a hat-trick of titles on the line, West Indies were looking to romp home in style after reducing the Indians to 183 all out.
The bowling line-up of Garner, Holding, Marshall and Roberts ripped apart the Indian batting with opener Srikkanth top scoring with 37 runs.
Although Greenidge departed early, Viv Richards it seemed wanted to get off the field in a hurry as he looked to finish the game off fast. But then came the moment which changed the game on its head. Kapil Dev ran 40 yards to take a stunner off Madal Lal's bowling to send back Richards. Three more quick wickets and the impossible looked possible.
But Windies keeper Jeff Dujon provided some resistance down the order. In came Mohinder Amarnath and his 'military-medium' bowling foxed the tailenders as West Indies ran out of steam and ended on 140 all out.
'Kapil's Devils' had stunned the world and won the World Cup and cricket ceased to be just a sport in India from that day onwards.
