Five World Cup one-wicket heists

Pakistan v West Indies, Edgbaston, 1975

In what turned out to be the first real thriller in a World Cup, West Indies stumbled to 99 for 5, courtesy fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz. Clive Lloyd and No. 7 Bernard Julien added 44, but another collapse left West Indies on the precipice at 203 for 9. However, Deryck Murray and Andy Roberts batted sensibly, weathering Sarfraz's second spell. Murray then cranked up the tempo, reducing the equation to five off two overs. The game took another twist when Pervez Mir delivered a maiden in the penultimate over, but Murray and Roberts showed tremendous calmness, helping West Indies prevail with two balls to spare.

For more, read: Murray and Roberts stun Pakistan

Pakistan v West Indies, Lahore, 1987

Pakistan and West Indies in a wild see-saw battle. World Cup. 203 for 9. It was 1975 all over again, only with roles reversed. From 110 for 5, Imran Khan and Saleem Yousuf shared 73 for the sixth wicket but the fall of Imran started a collapse of 4 for 20. Pakistan needed 14 off the last over, to be bowled by Courtney Walsh. Abdul Qadir and Saleem Jaffar were in the hot seat.

Pakistan snuck four off the first three balls, before Qadir launched a six over long-off and followed it up with a couple. The equation was down to two off the final ball. Walsh ran in and aborted: Saleem Jaffar strayed out of the crease. Instead of tipping the bails off, Walsh, in one of the greatest moments of sportsmanship, let him go and went back to his mark. Qadir then squeezed a yorker to third man and started celebrating even before completing the second.

For more, read: The gracious Mr Walsh

South Africa v Sri Lanka, Guyana, 2007

This was a one-wicket win, but no heist for South Africa. They were four runs from victory, with five wickets in hand, and plenty of overs to go. Enter Lasith Malinga. His four-in-four, and nearly five-in-five, left last-wicket pair Robin Peterson and Charl Langeveldt three to get and fearing for their toes. Langeveldt, who had taken 5 for 39 to restrict Sri Lanka, played out nine balls before Peterson finished the job.

For more, read: Malinga slings four in four

West Indies v England, Bridgetown, 2007

The Kensington Oval was packed as the crowds came in droves to bid farewell to Brian Lara, but were disappointed on two counts. First Lara was run out cheaply, and then their team went down in a nailbiter. Kevin Pietersen's century set up the chase of 301, but his dismissal had England sliding from 269 for 6 to 271 for 8. When Paul Nixon was undone by Dwayne Bravo's slower ball, it was down to James Anderson and Stuart Broad to get three from four balls. A scampered leg-bye was followed by a dot, prompting Lara to bring his field in. Broad, though, carved the penultimate ball over covers to ruin Lara's farewell.

For more, read: Being there for Lara's goodbye

Afghanistan v Scotland, Dunedin, 2015

Samiullah Shenwari watched six batsmen depart for single-digit scores as Afghanistan tumbled to 97 for 7 against Scotland. An embarrassing defeat loomed as they chased 211. However, Shenwari made 96 before he was the ninth batsman to be dismissed, with Afghanistan still needing 19 in 19. Amid scenes of immense tension, Hamid Hassan and Shapoor Zadran, neither of whom are renowned for their batting, hauled Afghanistan to a landmark win in the final over - their first in World Cups.