The fast and furious! - Memorable bowling performances in World Cup history - Part One

Moving on from some of the greatest matches in World Cup history, the focus now comes upon some of the best ever bowling spells to have occurred in the quadrennial extravaganza over its illustrious history.

Though there have been many noteworthy performances by great batsmen, the below mentioned list rounds off part one of memorable bowling performances in World Cup cricket.

From Gary Gilmour ripping apart England in the 1975 semi-final to Joel Garner handing out a bowling master-class to the very same opposition, World Cup cricket has never been shorn off great bowlers.

So read on and enjoy the first instalment of some memorable bowling performances in World Cup cricket history!

Gimour typhoon hits England!

If we start from the origins of the tournament then the first ever great bowling performance definitely belongs to Australia's Gary Gilmour who blew England away in the 1975 semi-final at Leeds, registering figures of 6 for 14.

Agreed that though the Headingly wicket was a bowlers paradise in that particular match, but still Gilmour did enough damage to ensure that his spell would set the barometer for future matches to come by.

Gilmour was almost unplayable that day as he was assisted him with ample pace and swing, which in turn proved to be England's demise.

England had no answer to Gilmour's assault on a virtual green-top, and crumbled to bits, as the Australian swung the ball like a rubberband, and polished off the first six batsmen for single digits.

England are sent packing!

Dennis Amiss (2), Barry Wood (6), Keith Fletcher (8), Tony Grieg (7), Frank Hayes (4) and Allan Knott (0) bore full brunt of Gilmour's fury and were sent packing off in quick succession.

By the time Gilmour was finished with his carnage, England had collapsed to 36 for 6, and were well and truly out of the contest.

Though Mike Denness (27) and Geoff Arnold (18) did some damage control, England collapsed to 93 all-out, thus leaving Australia with the simple task of hunting down the meagre total.

Gilmour the batsman!

The chase was not easy though, as the Aussies suffered an almost similar fate, with John Snow (2 for 30) and Chris Old (3 for 29) reducing them to 39 for 6, with the wicket resembling a batting graveyard.

Though England sensed a miraculous win at that stage, it was not to be as Gilmour the batsman thwarted their plans and pulled off a close win for Australia, thanks to an unbeaten 55-run stand with Doug Walters for the seventh wicket.

As Australia huffed and puffed to a narrow four-wicket win and stormed their way into the final, the English were left lamenting as to what really went wrong, whereas an elated Gilmour deservedly picked up Man-of-the-match honours later for his game winning performance!

'Big Bird' Garner takes flight!

The 1979 World Cup final was a battle between the best team on the planet and another one itching to leave it's mark as potential pretenders to the throne.

With a pace-quartet of the likes of Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Michael Holding and Colin Croft, defending champions West Indies were the team to beat in that era, and England were never going to have it easy against Clive Lloyd's men.

After being put in to bat first, West Indies racked up a huge 286 in 60 overs, thanks to Viv Richard's magnificent unbeaten 138 and Collis King's 86.England were battered on a batting beauty by the two West Indian batsmen, and as skipper Mike Brearly and Geoff Boycott came out with hopes of lauching a frantic run-chase...they were about to face the wrath of the original 'Angry Bird'!

Garner derails England!

With the English cruising along at 183 for 2 and victory very much a definite possibility, not many would have predicted a spectacular batting collapse, especially with Graham Gooch looking in such pristine touch.

But Garner had other ideas as he first dismissed Gooch (32) with a ball that viciously skidded in and disturbed his furniture.

That wicket probably added fuel to the fire as David Gower was packed off in simlar fashion by Garner for a duck a few balls later.

With the impressive Colin Croft (he packed off Derek Randall, Ian Botham and Mike Hendrick) playing ideal foil to Garner, the giant pacer had no worries in dismantling England, as he later consumed 

Joel Garner gave England a harrowing time in the 1979 final! (India.com)

Wayne Larkins (for a golden duck), Chris Old (another duck!) and Bob Taylor (duck again!) in a space of eleven deliveries, meaning England had just crashed to an embarrassing 92-run defeat!

Picture this - Garner took five wickets for a mere four runs in 11 deliveries, which ensured that England had collapsed from 183 for 2 to 194 all-out, thus giving West Indies it's second consecutive World Cup triumph.

Almost each of Garner's deliveries were delivered from a height of almost fourteen feet, which tormented England to no end, and add to that Croft's (3 for 42) hostility, and it all but proved to be too much for Brearly's men in the end.

For the record - Garner finished with figures of 5 for 38, and though Richards was awarded player of the match, the game would always be remembered for the former's heroics with the ball, which in-turn handed England a bowling lesson!

Winston Davis batters Australia!

Though the 1983 World Cup saw India upset the  mighty West Indies in the final, still the tournament saw Lloyd's men play their brand of fearless and aggressive cricket, in the initial stages.

Their best probably came against Australia in a league fixture at Leeds, where pacer Davis blew away Kim Hughes' men with a clinical performance with the ball.

West Indies, who scored a modest 252 on a dicey Headingly pitch, later gave Australia the shock treatment, thanks to the lithe Davis, who skittled them out with figures of 7 for 51.

From 114 for 3, Australia were gunned down for 151, thanks to Davis ripping the heart out of their batting, aided by a concotion of lethal fast bowling.

Australia looked clueless as to how to handle Davis' fiery pace and steep bounce, as they tumbled like nine-pins and collapsed to a 101-run defeat.

Davis breathed fire with the ball, and as a procession of Australian batsmen made their way back to the hut, West Indies had a new star in the making!

Davis' figures were then the best ever in an ODI match till then, and though he had a short career span (he playd 35 limited over games in all), that performance captapulted him amongst the league of great West Indian fast-bowlers!

So as part one ends with Gilmour, Garner and Davis' exploits in detailed description, part two has Shane Warne, Shane Bond, Andy Bichel and Ashish Nehra awaiting to provide you with similar entertainment