Cricket World Cup: 1979

The man aptly named 'Big Bird' tore apart the England batting in the final. In 11 balls he had taken 5 for 4, and England had lost their last eight wickets for 11 runs.

Milestones & Records

The league match between SL and WI was abandoned without a ball being bowled. It was the first time such an instance occured in a World Cup.

Sri Lanka achieved their first ever victory in the World Cup when they upset India by 47 runs in the league stage. India did not win a single game in that World Cup.

Alan Hurst of Australia (5/21 against Canada) and Joel Garner (5/38 in the final against England) were the only two bowlers to take a five wicket haul in this edition of the WC.

Gordon Greenidge (106*) and Sir Vivian Richards (138*) were the only two batsmen to score centuries in the 1979 WC.