The 1979 Cricket World Cup final was the concluding match of the second edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup, a One Day International (ODI) cricket tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The final was played on 23 June 1979 at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, England.
Teams
- West Indies (captain: Clive Lloyd)
- England (captain: Mike Brearley)
Match Summary
- Toss: West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first.
- West Indies innings: 286 runs for 9 wickets in 60 overs.
- Key batsmen: Viv Richards 138 runs (off 157 balls), Collis King 86 runs (off 101 balls).
- Bowling figures for England: Ian Botham 2/50, Bob Willis 2/43, Derek Randall 0/30.
- England innings: 194 runs all out in 51 overs.
- Top scorer: Mike Brearley 7 runs; Alan Lamb 31 runs; Geoff Boycott 57 runs (off 103 balls).
- Bowling figures for West Indies: Vivian Richards 1/48, Andy Roberts 3/33, Michael Holding 2/28.
Result
West Indies won by 92 runs, securing their second consecutive Cricket World Cup title.
Significance
- The victory affirmed West Indies' dominance in 1970s international limited‑overs cricket, following their inaugural World Cup win in 1975.
- Viv Richards' century (138) was the first World Cup final century and remains a landmark performance in ODI finals.
- The 1979 final marked the last World Cup match played under the 60‑over per side format; the tournament switched to 50 overs per side from the 1983 edition onward.
Officials
- Umpires: Dickie Bird (England) and Barrie Meyer (England)
- Match referee: Not applicable; match referees were introduced in later World Cups.
Attendance
Approximately 26,000 spectators attended the final at Lord's.
Aftermath
The West Indies team retained their champion status until their defeat in the 1983 World Cup final. England's performance highlighted the need for stronger batting consistency in high‑pressure matches, influencing subsequent team selections and strategies.
