ICC Cricket World Cup 1979: West Indies Won — Viv Richards 138*, Joel Garner 5/38
The ICC Cricket World Cup 1979 was the second edition of the men's ODI World Cup, held in England in June 1979. West Indies won the tournament — their second consecutive World Cup title after 1975. Final: Lord's Cricket Ground, London, 23 June 1979. West Indies beat England by 92 runs. England scored 194 all out. West Indies won after Viv Richards scored an extraordinary 138 not out off 157 balls and Collis King contributed 86 off 66 balls — their partnership (139 for the 6th wicket) transformed the match. West Indies posted 286/9. Joel Garner then took 5/38 (4 wickets in the last 7 balls of England's innings, including 5 from the last over). Clive Lloyd captained West Indies; Mike Brearley captained England. The tournament involved eight teams. West Indies became the first team to win back-to-back World Cups. There were no upsets — the Final was between the two most powerful cricket nations of the era.
The 1979 ICC Cricket World Cup was the second edition of the men's 60-over World Cup, held entirely in England in June 1979. Eight teams participated. West Indies defended their 1975 title successfully, defeating England in the Final at Lord's by 92 runs on 23 June 1979. It was the first time a team had won back-to-back World Cup titles. West Indies captain Clive Lloyd and his squad were the dominant force in world cricket in the late 1970s, fielding an extraordinary collection of fast bowlers and explosive batsmen.
The Final at Lord's: Richards and King Transform the Match
England bowled West Indies out to 99/4 in the 30th over — the match was evenly poised. Then Viv Richards (coming in at No.6) and Collis King (No.7) produced a 139-run partnership off 77 balls that redefined the match. King scored 86 off 66 balls — a remarkable innings. Richards was unbeaten on 138 off 157 balls at the close of the West Indian innings, having hit 11 fours and 3 sixes. West Indies posted 286/9 — a total that would have been closer to 200 without the Richards-King stand. Chasing 287, England were 183/9 at one point before Joel Garner took 5/38, including cleaning up the tail to leave England all out for 194 — 92 runs short.
Joel Garner: Death Bowling Before the Term Existed
Joel Garner's 5/38 in the 1979 World Cup Final was decisive. Standing at 6ft 8in, his steep bounce and exceptional yorker from a delivery that skidded through unexpectedly was almost unplayable at the death. He took 5 of the last 7 English wickets and removed the tail efficiently. His four wickets in five balls in his second-to-last over turned a competitive chase into a rout. Garner remains one of the most feared ODI death bowlers of his era. Viv Richards was named Man of the Match for his 138 not out. It was West Indies' second World Cup title in two tournaments — a record equalled only by Australia's back-to-back wins in 1999 and 2003.
Frequently asked questions
What made Viv Richards' innings in the 1979 World Cup Final so significant?
Viv Richards scored 138 not out off 157 balls for West Indies in the 1979 World Cup Final at Lord's — at a time when West Indies had been reduced to 99/4 by England. His partnership of 139 with Collis King (86 off 66 balls) transformed the match from 99/4 to 238 at fall of the 7th wicket. Without the Richards-King stand, West Indies might have posted around 200. His innings — technically correct but powerfully struck (11 fours, 3 sixes) — is considered one of the great World Cup Final innings. He was named Man of the Match. Joel Garner then took 5/38 to bowl England out for 194, losing by 92 runs.
Why was the 1979 World Cup significant for West Indies?
The 1979 World Cup win was significant for West Indies for three reasons: it was their second consecutive World Cup title (after 1975), making them the first team to win back-to-back World Cups; it confirmed their status as the dominant side in world cricket during the late 1970s; and it featured arguably the most complete performance in a World Cup Final until Australia's 2003 campaign — Richards' 138* and Garner's 5/38 combining to comprehensively defeat England by 92 runs. The victory cemented Clive Lloyd's legacy as the captain who built and sustained West Indian dominance across formats.