Cup facts
The 1979 World Cup contained eight teams: West Indies, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, Australia, and India from the Test nations, with Sri Lanka and Canada qualifying through a separate tournament involving the Associate nations.
The matches were 60 overs per side, with each bowler allowed a maximum of 12 overs.
Unlike the first edition in 1975, the weather was not fine throughout. No play was possible at The Oval on June 13,14, and 15, causing the match between Sri Lanka and West Indies to be abandoned without a ball bowled.
The ground at Old Trafford was also affected, but England managed to beat Canada over two days’ cricket.
In that match Canada was bowled out for 45 by England, the lowest score by a team in World Cups till they broke their own record against Sri Lanka in the 2003 World Cup when they were all out for 36.
England’s victory over Canada is still the biggest margin of victory in terms of balls remaining (277) in Limited-Overs Internationals.
West Indies and India played all their matches with just 11 players, feats that are unique in World Cups. India finished winless while West Indies won all their completed matches.
When Sri Lanka beat India at Old Trafford over three days between June 16 and 18, it was the first victory by a non-Test playing nation over a Test nation in an international match.
West Indies’ total of 293 for six against Pakistan in the semi-final at The Oval on June 20 was the highest for the 1979 World Cup.
Gordon Greenidge was the leading run scorer with 253 runs (one 100, two 50s) from four matches.
Viv Richards’s 138 not out in the final against England on June 23 was the highest individual score in the 1979 World Cup.
Mike Hendricks of England with 10 wickets, ended as the highest wicket-taker of the tournament.
Australian fast bowler Alan Hurst’s figures of 5 for 21 against Canada at Edgbaston on June 16 was the best bowling analysis of the tournament.
Prize money amounted to £25,900. West Indies, the winners, received the Prudential Cup and £10,000; England, runners-up, £4,000; Pakistan and New Zealand, losing semi-finalists, £2,000 each; and winners of group matches £500 each.
Man of the Match awards: £300 to Vivian Richards (West Indies) in the final, £200 each in the semi-finals, and £100 for the nominated player in each group match.
The total attendance in 1979 was 132,000 compared with 160,000 in the ’75 World Cup, the drop being almost entirely due to the bad weather.
