OTD 1992: How did the Pakistan national cricket team clinch the ODI World Cup?

Pakistan lifted their maiden Cricket World Cup crown and created history on this day in 1992. It was a fitting farewell for the great Imran Khan, as Pakistan clinched the final of the first-ever World Cup to be played in coloured jerseys and the white ball. Pakistan defeated a strong England side by 22 runs in A pivotal moment in the history of cricket

Electing to bat first at a packed MCG, Pakistan were slow to start, with a fantastic opening spell from Derek Pringle and Chris Lewis, the former who picked up brilliant figures of 3 for 22 from his 10 overs. Walking in at one-drop, Pakistan skipper Imran Khan steadied the ship and held the innings together, stitching a partnership with Javed Miandad. England’s bowling proved difficult to face, as Pakistan only crossed 100 in the 31st over. 

After Miandad was dismissed by Richard Illingworth for 58, with the score reading 163 for 3 in 39.3 overs, Imran was joined by Inzamam-ul-Haq, who scored an unbeaten 42 off 35 balls. Imran was dismissed in the 44th over for a well-made 72. Inzamam was joined by Wasim Akram, who scored a quickfire 33 off just 18 balls, taking Pakistan to 249/6 in their 50 overs.

The batting cameo was not the last impact that Akram would have in the game, as he started proceedings for Pakistan, picking up the wicket of Sir Ian Botham in the third over. The legendary all-rounder was dismissed for a duck. England were reeling at 69/4, with Aaqib Javed dismissing Alec Stewart and Mushtaq Ahmed dismissing Graeme Hick and the dangerous Graham Gooch. 

Neil Fairbrother and Allan Lamb steadied the innings, but that work was undone by Akram’s two balls of reverse-swinging perfection. The first delivery in the 35th over knocked off Lamb’s off-stump. A ball etched in the memory of cricket fans all around, it pitched on middle stump from around-the-wicket and beat Lamb’s outside edge. Akram dismissed Chris Stevens on the next ball, which was a beautiful in-swinger that took out the stumps once more. Fairbrother was dismissed by Aaqib for 62, and in the final over of the innings, while Imran Khan dismissed Richard Illingworth to bowl England out for 227, clinching Pakistan their maiden title.

Akram was adjudged the Player of the Match for his game-breaking spell of 3/49 and his late cameo with the bat. This was Imran Khan’s last international match for Pakistan, and a fitting farewell for a stalwart of Pakistan cricket. In the end it just had to be him. Pakistan’s talisman was there in their moment of need and closed off what was a historic moment for the country and the sport. 

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