Afghanistan defeats England by 69 runs in the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
Let’s examine five great upsets at the world cup of cricket in the competition’s history:
In the opening match of the tournament at Trent Bridge, Zimbabwe, playing in their first-ever One-Day International, shocked an Australian squad that included Allan Border, Dennis Lillee, and Jeff Thomson.
Zimbabwe, batting first, reached 239-6 in 60 overs thanks to an unbeaten 69 from Duncan Fletcher.
At one point, the Aussies looked to be cruising on 61 for no loss, but Fletcher stole the show with the ball with 4-42. Kepler Wessels top-scored for Australia, but they were not enough.
India, who entered the World Cup with just 17 victories in their first nine years as an ODI side, stunned the two-time defending champions West Indies in the championship match.
India scored a meager 183 runs, with Kris Srikkanth topping the scoring with a meek 38 as the West Indies’ pace trio of Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, and Andy Roberts showed no compassion.
Viv Richards had the highest score of 33, but Mohinder Armanath (3-12) and Madan Lal (3-31) smothered the colorful West Indies batsmen.
In this group-stage match, Kenya labored to 166 all out, with three wickets apiece from Courtney Walsh and Roger Harper.
But the African nation saw opening bowler Rajab Ali take Brian Lara’s wicket for just eight runs, in what was hailed at the time as one of the biggest surprises in history.
West Indies scored only ninety-three, with Harper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul being the only players to reach double figures. Chanderpaul’s 19 runs came from 48 balls.
Maurice Odombe, who bowled 3-15 in his 10 overs, assumed the post of captain.
Ireland eliminated Pakistan from the 2007 World Cup in Jamaica, capping off St. Patrick’s Day in grand fashion.
