ICC Cricket World Cup 1979: West Indies Won Second Title at Lord's — Viv Richards' 138 Not Out
The ICC Cricket World Cup 1979 — the Prudential World Cup — was the second edition of the Cricket World Cup, held in England in June 1979. West Indies won the tournament for the second time, defeating England by 92 runs in the final at Lord's Cricket Ground on 23 June 1979. Viv Richards scored a magnificent 138 not out off 157 balls — the innings that defined the match — as West Indies posted 286 for 9. England were bowled out for 194. Joel Garner took 5 for 38 with his devastating yorkers. Clive Lloyd again captained West Indies. The 1979 final is regarded as the finest World Cup final until at least 2019.
The 1979 Cricket World Cup — the Prudential Cup — was hosted by England for the second consecutive time in June 1979. Eight teams competed over 60 overs per side. West Indies, the defending champions from 1975, came into the tournament as clear favourites. England reached the final by beating New Zealand and Pakistan. West Indies were led by Clive Lloyd and included Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Joel Garner, Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, and Collis King.
The Final: Viv Richards 138* and Garner's Yorkers
In the final at Lord's on 23 June 1979, West Indies batted first. At 99 for 4 — with Greenidge, Haynes, Kallicharan, and Lloyd back in the pavilion — Collis King joined Viv Richards. King smashed 86 off 66 balls (3 sixes, 10 fours) in a stand of 139. Richards, who had been measured and controlled while his partners fell, then cut loose: he finished 138 not out off 157 balls, with 3 sixes and 11 fours. West Indies posted 286 for 9. England needed 287. Joel Garner — 6ft 8in — bowled unplayable yorkers from his full height: 5 for 38 in 11 overs. England were bowled out for 194. West Indies won by 92 runs.
West Indies' Back-to-Back Title and the Legacy of the 1979 Final
The 1979 World Cup final is widely considered one of the greatest limited-overs matches ever played. Richards' innings combined classical elegance with devastating power; Garner's yorkers were unplayable at full pace. West Indies' back-to-back titles (1975 and 1979) confirmed their dominance of world cricket in the late 1970s. They would reach the 1983 final but lose to India. The 1979 final established Viv Richards as the most dominant limited-overs batsman of the era — his 56-ball century in a 1986 ODI against England showed the same qualities. The Lord's final also gave England cricket its most painful recurring memory: losing a World Cup final at home.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 1979 Cricket World Cup and what happened in the final?
West Indies won the 1979 Cricket World Cup (Prudential Cup) for the second time, beating England by 92 runs in the final at Lord's on 23 June 1979. Viv Richards scored 138 not out off 157 balls and Collis King hit 86 off 66 balls — adding 139 together — as West Indies posted 286 for 9. England were bowled out for 194 by Joel Garner (5/38), whose yorkers from his 6ft 8in height were unplayable. It was West Indies' second consecutive World Cup title.
Why is the 1979 World Cup final considered one of the greatest in the tournament's history?
The 1979 World Cup final at Lord's is widely regarded as one of the greatest limited-overs matches ever played. Viv Richards' 138 not out combined classical elegance with sustained power over 157 balls; Collis King's 86 off 66 balls was a cameo of extraordinary hitting; and Joel Garner's 5 for 38 with unplayable yorkers from his 6ft 8in height made England's target impossible. The margin — 92 runs — reflected West Indies' total dominance. Clive Lloyd won the World Cup as captain for the second time.