Fletcher downs Australia with bat and ball, 1983 England Zimbabwe’s first World Cup campaign in 1983 ended in the group stage, as they lost five of their six matches.
However, they threw a surprise against Australia. Batting first, Zimbabwe reached a total of 239-6 in the allotted 60 overs, with skipper Duncan Fletcher top-scoring with 69 not out.
Fletcher then produced career-best figures of 4-42 to restrict Australia to 226-7, thereby recording a stunning upset in cricket history.
Brandes brilliance floors England
Eddo Brandes enjoyed his own moment under the sun against England during the 1992 World Cup.
Brandes, a chicken farmer, tore apart the English, snaring 4 for 21 from his 10 overs to script one of the biggest upsets of the competition.
It was Zimbabwe’s first win after 18 defeats since beating Australia on World Cup debut in 1983. The victory also paved the way for Zimbabwe to gain Test status and become the ninth Test playing nation in the world.
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Brandes ended as Zimbabwe’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 14 scalps from eight matches.
As for England, it progressed through to the final, winning against South Africa in a rain-affected semi-final, but lost out on the title to an inspired Pakistan side.
All-round Niel Johnson stuns South Africa, 1999 England
A true all-round performance from Neil Johnson won the day against their more fancied neighbours South African at the 1999 World Cup in England.
A swashbuckling knock of 76 was quickly followed by a quality spell of bowling (3 for 27) won the day for Zimbabwe.
The win saw Zimbabwe progresse to the Super Six stage of a World Cup for the first time.
Olonga stuns India in final-over heist, 1999 England
It was his World Cup debut, and India needed only nine runs from two overs in the end and appeared to be on course for its first win of the tournament, but Olonga got three wickets in five balls to seal a remarkable victory.
The result made it two victories for Zimbabwe and two losses for India from as many games. India’s World Cup campaign had suffered an early setback, but it bounced back with three consecutive victories to qualify for the Super Six stage.
Zimbabwe too qualified for the Super Sixes after defeating South Africa in its last Group match.
Both sides, however, failed to qualify for the semi-finals after losing two of their three matches in the Super Six stage.
*Zimbabwe’s Worst World Cup moments Zimbabwe’s Super Six stage loss to Kenya – 2003, South Africa Zimbabwe had done well to advance to the Super Sixes stage but went to suffer one of their most embarrassing defeats to Kenya.
The East Africans, who went all the way to the semi-finals recorded then only their third win over a test playing nation in the tournament when they thrashed Zimbabwe by seven wickets in Bloemfontein.
Zimbabwe chose to bat first but were all out for 133, which Kenya chased down the target in just 26 overs, losing three wickets.
Zimbabwe choke to settle for a thrilling tie, 2007 West Indies
Asked to bat first, Ireland rode on Jeremy Bray’s 115 to put 221 on the board. Although Zimbabwe lost 4 quick wickets in the middle, Stuart Matsikenyeri (73*) steadied the ship with a 70-run stand for the 6th wicket.
After Taylor’s unfortunate run-out – a straight hit from Matsikenyeri deflected off the bowler’s arm onto the stumps – Zimbabwe pressed the panic button.
Despite having a lot of balls, Zimbabwe brought it down to 9 required off the last 6 balls, courtesy a wicket-maiden from Kevin O’Brien in the penultimate over.
Set batsman Matsikenyeri, who was deprived of strike for the last few overs, scored 5 runs off the first three balls of the last over.
Eventually, with one run needed off the last ball, Matsikenyeri, who was on strike, swung and missed and Ireland ran out Ed Rainsford, who tried to steal a bye, to tie the match. This was the only tied match of the World Cup and third overall in the history of the multi-nation event.
Chris Gayle blasts first ever World Cup double century, 2015 Australia
West Indies star Chris Gayle tormented Zimbabwe’s bowling attack with the highest individual innings in a World Cup match on Tuesday, his 215 helping West Indies to 372 for two in their Pool B clash against Zimbabwe.
The masterblaster opener slugged 16 sixes – equalling the ODI record – as well as 10 fours in the 147-ball innings, which formed the large part of an ODI record 372-run partnership with Marlon Samuels (133).
