Looking back: Seven most memorable innings at the World Cup

The 11th edition of the ICC World Cup 2015 is set to kick off on February 14 between Sri Lanka and New Zealand and will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand. 

With every passing day the excitement levels are soaring and the fan base sees an upward trend as billions of cricket crazy fans around the world anxiously look forward to the month-and-a-half long mega event.

dna gives cricket fanatics a reason to cheer about bringing the seven best innings at the World Cup.

1. Pakistan v West Indies, June 11, 1975. Edgbaston, Birmingham. 

In an exciting Group B clash the Caribbean nation won by 1 wicket (with 2 balls remaining) against its Asian nemesis.

Wining the toss Pakistan elected to bat. Majid Khan and Sadiq Mohammad opened the innings. The Windies struck early in the match to end Mohammad's time at the pitch. Windies' pace battery kept striking at regular intervals which did not allow the oppositon batsmen to get big runs, restricitn them to a humble 266 in 60 overs for the loss of seven wickets. None of the batsmen reached the three-figure mark. However, contributions from Khan, Wasim Raja and Mushtaq Mohammad helped Pakistan advance and kept the run meter ticking. Half centuries from Mushtaq (55), Raja (58) and Khan (60) were the only saving grace.

Chasing 267 runs from 60 overs Windies sent Roy Fredericks and Gordon Greenidge to open the innings. Pakistan dealt an early blow to the rival batting line-up. At one stage they were 99/5 and their line-up crumbled like a pack of cards. Sarfraz Nawaz was the wrecker-in-chief dismissing Fredericks, Greenidge and Alvin Kallicharran.

In came Clive Lloyd who smashed a gutsy 53 against a fierce Pakistani bowling attack. Deryck Murray's performance of 65 n.o. helped the batting side inch closer to victory and lift the coveted cup.

2.England v West Indies, June 23, 1979. Lord's, London.

England won the toss and chose to field against Clive Lloyd-led West Indies in the finals. Before the batting team could even reach 100 runs they had lost four wickets (Greenidge, Haynes, Kallicharran, Lloyd). While West Indies kept losing wickets regularly Vivian Richards anchored the innings to ensure a steady flow of runs. A partnership between Richards and Collis King was the only batting performance worthy of remembering as the other batsmen barely managed a 50 and the last four batsmen could not manage more than a 0. Phil Edmond and Mike Hendricks shared the spoils for England. A powerful knock by Richards (138 not out) and King (86) helped post a total of 286 runs in 60 overs. 

Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Colin Croft struck in tandem to wreak havoc in the English batting camp. After Mike Brearley and Geoff Boycott gave England a fiery start Holding broke the partnership (129/1). The Windies bowling swung the game around and within 65 runs England had lost the remaining 9 wickets and were all out for 194. 

West Indies won by 92 runs with Player of the match awarded to Richards.

3. India v Zimbabwe, June 18, 1983. Nevill Ground, Tunbridge Wells 

In a Group B encounter India chose to bat first and made a dismal start. With India losing its key batsmen- Sunil Gavaskar, Kris Srikkanth, Mohinder Amarnath, Sandeep Patil and Yashpal Sharma all in single digits India had every reason to worry. At this stage India were 17/5 and Kapil Dev came in and played a captain's knock, scoring 175 not out. Dev batted it out all alone to help India reach 266.

A joint contribution from full-time and part time bowlers ensured Zimbabwe's collapse at 235.

India won by 31 runs and Kapil Dev was the Player of the match 

4. India vs England (semifinals), November 5, 1987. Wankhede Stadium, Bombay

In the second semifinal Kapil Dev-led India chose to field first. Standout performances off 115 by Graham Gooch and 56 by Mike Gatting powered the visitors' total to 254. Allan Lamb remained not out chipping in a handy 32.

Chasing a modest 255 none of the Indian batsmen contributed with the bat except Mohammad Azharuddin whose 64 off 74 was the only noteworthy performance. The Indian side collapsed for 219 runs.  

England won by 35 runs.

5. England v Pakistan (Finals), March 25, 1992. Melbourne Cricket Ground

Pakistan chose to bat on winning the toss and the Imran Khan-led side posted 249 runs. After losing Aamer Sohail (4 runs)and Rameez Raja cheaply (8 runs) and early (Pakistan were 24/2) a strong partnership between Khan and Javed Miandad follwed. Both of them made good contributions, knocks of 72 and 58 by Khan and Miandad respectively. 

Aaquib Javed, Wasim Akram and Mushtaq Ahmed were the pick of the bowlers. The troika combined well to pack of England for 227.

Pakistan won by 22 runs.

Player of the match was awarded to Wasim Akram.

6. Australia v India (Finals), March 23, 2003. New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg 

Winning the toss Sourav Ganguly chose to field. Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden got off Australia to a flying start. Indian bowlers looked aggression and intensity, looking toothless as the Australian duo sent the Indian bowlers on a leather hunt. India failed to get a breakthrough before 100 runs came up for the batting team. Harbhajan Singh gave India the much-needed wicket of Gilchrist. Soon after Hayden fell to the turbanator.

Captain Ricky Ponting doled out similar treatment to the opposition bowlers, lashing them around the park. His brilliant knock of 140 came off just 121 balls, comprising of four boundaries and eight 6s. India were clueless as nothing seemed to work as per their strategy. Runs rained for Australia as they amassed 359.

India's ordeal continued as this time it was Damien Martyn's turn to torment the ineffective Indian bolwers. Martyn slammed a quick 84-ball 88 runs.

With the Indian batting line-up failing up, the only respite was brought by in-form, firing batsman Virender Sehwag who scored 82.

India were cheaply bowled out for 234 and looked totally unprepared to face the Aussies at the finals of the mega event.

Australia won by 125 runs with Ricky Ponting claiming Man of the Match award.

7. Australia v Sri Lanka, April 28, 2007. Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados 

In the finals of Australia won the toss and chose to bat against the island nation. In a rain-marred match the number of overs to be bowled was reduced to 38.

Australia got off to a solid start in which Gilchrist slammed 149 off just 104 balls. Australia piled up 281 runs in 38 overs leaving Sri Lanka with a tough task at hand, making the chase almost impossible. 

Lanka needed 269 runs from 36 overs. Half centuries from Sanath Jayasuriya (63)    and Kumar Sangakkara (54) went in vain as they were bundled out for 215 runs.  

Australia won by 53 runs (D/L method) and Gilchrist was awarded Player of the match.