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Cricket World Cup moments: Benedict Bermange counts down from 50-41

Benedict Bermange’s ‘World Cup Moments’

Each and every Cricket World Cup has delivered some truly memorable moments and this summer's will be no different!

To help get you in the mood ahead of our biggest summer ever, Sky Sports Cricket statistician Benedict Bermange has compiled his top 70 World Cup moments.

So sit back and enjoy - and why not join the debate and share your memories by filling out the feedback form at the foot of this page? Then make sure you join us for the first match of the 2019 Cricket World Cup when hosts England take on South Africa at the Kia Oval - live on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event from 9.30am on Thursday, May 30.

50: Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels add 372 together against Zimbabwe in 2015
Chris Gayle lit up the Manuka Oval in Canberra in 2015 with a swashbuckling double-century - the first in World Cup history - which included a record-equalling 16 sixes. Marlon Samuels was overshadowed in a world-record partnership of 372 for the second wicket, but he ended up unbeaten on 133. Zimbabwe put up a good fight in reply, but it was too much for them.

during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between the West Indies and Zimbabwe at Manuka Oval on February 24, 2015 in Canberra, Australia.
Image: Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels shared a world-record partnership of 372

49: Chaminda Vaas takes a hat-trick with first three balls of match in 2003
Sri Lanka won the toss, put Bangladesh in to bat at Pietermaritzburg in 2003 and Chaminda Vaas opened the bowling. With his first three deliveries he dismissed Hannan Sarkar, Mohammad Ashraful and Ehsanul Haque to complete an astonishing hat-trick. Sanwar Hossain also fell in that dramatic first over which left Bangladesh reeling at five for four.

Chaminda Vaas, 2003 Cricket World Cup
Image: Chaminda Vaas, took a hat-trick with the first three balls of the match Bangladesh

48: Zimbabwe beat Australia in a shocker in 1983
In one of the biggest upsets in the history of World Cup cricket, Zimbabwe, playing their first ever match in the tournament, beat Australia by 13 runs at Trent Bridge. Australia put Zimbabwe in and captain Duncan Fletcher's unbeaten 69 helped them to 239-6. Despite 76 from Kepler Wessels, four wickets from Fletcher turned the tide and Australia ended on 226-7.

Zimbabwe stunned the world with shock victory over Australia
Image: Zimbabwe stunned the world with shock victory over Australia

47: Graham Gooch sweeps England to the final in 1987
Fans eagerly anticipated an India-Pakistan final at Eden Gardens, but Australia had already crushed Pakistani hopes in the first semi-final by the time England took on India in the second. Graham Gooch used the sweep shot to great effect against India's two left-armers, Maninder Singh and Ravi Shastri, going on to make a splendid hundred. England ended up with 254 and they were spun to victory by Eddie Hemmings, who took four wickets.

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Graham Gooch, 1987 Cricket World Cup
Image: Graham Gooch swept England to a semi-final victory over India at the 1987 World Cup

46: Eddo Brandes routs England in 1992
Zimbabwe had been skittled for just 134 in the town of Albury in 1992, and the chase seemed a formality for England - one of the pre-tournament favourites. However, Zimbabwe's captain David Houghton bowled chicken farmer Eddo Brandes through and he responded by taking 4-21. England needed 10 runs from the last over, but Malcolm Jarvis dismissed Gladstone Small to seal a remarkable victory.

Eddo Brandes' 4-21 helped Zimbabwe triumph over England in a low-scoring thriller
Image: Eddo Brandes' 4-21 helped Zimbabwe triumph over England in a low-scoring thriller

45: Herschelle Gibbs' six sixes in an over in 2007
South Africa were already on course for a big total against the Netherlands at St Kitts in 2007 when Daan van Bunge started his fourth over to Herschelle Gibbs - then on 32. Gibbs decided to ignite the fireworks, hitting all six deliveries over the boundary to become the first batsman to hit six sixes in an over in ODI cricket. Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher joined in the fun, and South Africa ran out winners by 221 runs.

Herschelle Gibbs
Image: Herschelle Gibbs became the first player to strike six sixes in an over in an ODI

44: Bangladesh knock England out in 2015
After an uninspiring campaign in 2015, England were knocked out of the World Cup as Bangladesh claimed a stunning 15-run win at Adelaide. Set 276 to win, England were bowled out for 260 despite Jos Buttler's 52-ball 65, while Rubel Hossain claimed 4-53. Bangladesh had earlier posted 275-7 in Adelaide thanks to 103 from Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim's 89.

Bangladesh beat England at 2015 Cricket World Cup
Image: England's miserable 2015 World Cup campaign came to a crashing end when they were beaten by Bangladesh

43: McDermott rips through Pakistan in the 1987 semi-final
Australia posted 267-8 batting first in the 1987 semi-final at Lahore, but when Javed Miandad and Imran Khan took Pakistan to 150-3 the game was in the balance. Craig McDermott dismissed Wasim Akram, and after Bruce Reid had bowled Miandad, it was left to McDermott to clean up the tail to finish with figures of 5-44 and dash Imran's dreams of a World Cup triumph in Asia.

Craig McDermott
Image: Craig McDermott's 5-44 crushed Pakistan's hopes of winning a World Cup in Asia

42: Mark Greatbatch pinch-hitting against South Africa in 1992
When John Wright pulled a muscle, captain Martin Crowe turned to Mark Greatbatch to open the batting in the 1992 match against South Africa at Auckland. The rest was history. He neutered South Africa's four-pronged pace attack, hitting 68 off 60 balls and putting on 103 with Rod Latham in the first 15 overs. New Zealand cantered to victory and Greatbatch had established himself as the first of many ODI pinch-hitting openers.

Mark Greatbatch impressed at the top of the order for New Zealand after a late call-up
Image: Mark Greatbatch impressed at the top of the order for New Zealand after a late call-up

41: Kane Williamson wins a thriller with a six against Australia in 2015
In the Trans-Tasman group game of 2015, Trent Boult ripped through Australia's middle-order and it was only a gutsy innings of 43 from Brad Haddin that lifted them to 151 all out. However, New Zealand also collapsed as Mitchell Starc took six wickets. It was left to Kane Williamson to hold his nerve to hit a match-winning six to soothe the frayed nerves of Eden Park's partisan crowd and clinch a one-wicket victory.

Kane Williamson
Image: Kane Williamson was required to strike the final ball of the match for six to seal victory over Australia

Watch the opening match of the 2019 Cricket World Cup - featuring England and South Africa - live on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event from 9.30am on Thursday, May 30.

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