On March 25, 1992, Pakistan beat England by 22 runs at the MCG to lift their first cricket World Cup. Imran Khan's 72 and Wasim Akram's match-defining all-round performance (33 with the bat, 3/49 with the ball, including the wickets of Lamb and Lewis with consecutive deliveries) sealed it. Imran retired immediately afterwards.
After the rain-out and a defining win against Australia in Perth following Imran's 'fight like cornered tigers' speech, Pakistan beat New Zealand twice — once in the league, once in the Auckland semi-final where Inzamam's 60 off 37 turned the chase. England, who had lost only one league game, were favourites.
Pakistan had been on the brink of elimination earlier in the tournament — they were saved against England in Adelaide by a rain-out, and Imran's pre-match 'cornered tigers' speech in Perth (against Australia) became part of the team's mythology. By the final at the MCG they were transformed. Imran (72) and Javed Miandad (58) anchored the innings against Phil DeFreitas, Chris Lewis and Ian Botham, before Wasim Akram and Inzamam played late cameos. Pakistan made 249 for 6 in 50 overs. England's reply began disastrously — Botham was lbw to Wasim for a duck. Stewart, Hick and Gooch all fell cheaply. Allan Lamb (31) and Neil Fairbrother (62) revived the chase to 141 for 4. Then came the over of the match: Wasim Akram returned for his second spell, bowled Allan Lamb with a reverse-swinging in-swinger and bowled Chris Lewis next ball with another. England 141 for 6, the chase effectively over. Wasim took 3/49 (Player of the Match); Mushtaq Ahmed 3/41. England all out 227. Pakistan won by 22 runs. Imran lifted the trophy and announced his retirement.
Pakistan 24/2 — Imran walks in himself at No. 3
Imran-Miandad partnership of 139 for the third wicket
Wasim Akram 33 off 18 closes the innings; Pakistan 249/6
Wasim bowls Botham for a duck
Wasim's second spell: Lamb bowled, Lewis bowled — back-to-back balls
Mushtaq finishes things off; Pakistan win by 22 runs
Imran lifts the trophy, announces retirement
March 25, 1992 — afternoon
Imran wins toss, bats. Pakistan 24/2.
Imran 72, Miandad 58
139-run third-wicket stand rescues innings.
Pakistan 249/6 in 50
Wasim Akram cameo of 33 off 18.
England chase
Wasim 3/49; Lamb and Lewis bowled in successive deliveries; England 227 a.o.
Evening
Imran lifts trophy; announces retirement.
“I told the boys to fight like cornered tigers. Nothing is more dangerous.”
“Two balls — Lamb and Lewis — that's the moment we knew we'd done it.”
Pakistan returned to a hero's welcome. Imran retired immediately and devoted himself to building the Shaukat Khanum cancer hospital in memory of his mother. Wasim and Waqar would dominate Test and ODI cricket for the next decade.
The greatest single Pakistan team performance, capping a tournament arc — five matches into the Cup they had won only one — that turned the 'cornered tigers' phrase into folklore.
The 1992 trophy remains Pakistan's only senior men's World Cup. Imran's 'cornered tigers' phrase became Pakistani sporting shorthand for any underdog comeback. The MCG triumph is regularly invoked decades later — by Imran himself during his political career, and by every Pakistani cricket captain who has gone into a tournament as the underdog.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
Days after the 1934 Oval Test, Bradman fell seriously ill with appendicitis that progressed to peritonitis. With antibiotics not yet available, he was given little chance of survival; his wife Jessie left Adelaide on a sea voyage to England prepared for the worst. He recovered after weeks of intensive nursing in a London nursing home and returned to first-class cricket the following Australian summer.