World Cup 2015: Top 10 "Man of the Moment" in the history of World Cup finals

New Delhi: World Cup final itself makes a history of sort but some out standing performances do stand out as witnesses to that history. These performances have been weaved into the cricketing history and the moments that proved the difference between joy and sadness. These players now have a prominent and permanent place in the World Cup history.From the first World Cup in 1975 to Dhoni's six to seal the cup after 28 years for India in 2011, India TV looks at such match-winning performances in the finals by the players who etched their names in the 40 years of World Cup history: 1975: Clive Lloyd (West Indies)It was the first World Cup and the one-day format was relatively a new concept, with the final a 60-over a side affair.The world's two strongest teams – West Indies and Australia – advanced to the final at Lord's where the West Indies started as the heavy favourite after their seven-wicket win over the Australians during the group stage.In the final at Lord's, while batting first West Indies were struggling at 50 for 3 till the time Clive Lloyd arrived at the crease. Batting a No. 5, Lloyd gave an exhibition of explosive hitting; scoring 102 runs in an 85-ball knock that included 12 fours and two sixes, helping set Australia a target of 292.Australia fell 18 runs short of victory and the West Indies lifted the inaugural World Cup trophy.1979: Viv Richards (West Indies)It was another year of West Indies dominating the World Cup. In the second Cricket World Cup final, defending champions West Indies were up against England at Lord's.Batting first, Disaster quickly struck for the defending champions, who lost the wickets of Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Alvin Kallicharan and Clive Lloyd to be in serious trouble at 4-99. That was before Viv Richards steadied the ship, scoring 138 from 157 balls (11 fours and 3 sixes) and combining with Collis King (86 runs) to help their team to an imposing total of 286.Richards single-handedly carried the Windies to their total with the last five batsmen mustering just five runs between them. England started well in reply but it all fell apart with Joel Garner running through the host nation's middle order, collecting 5-38 as England lost eight wickets for just 11 runs.1983: Mohinder Amarnath (India)After two World Cup wins, The West Indies were heavily favoured to win a third consecutive crown when they took on India at Lord's in the 1983 final.Sent in to bat, India struggled against the powerful West Indies bowling attack and were dismissed for 183. Kris Srikkanth (38) blasted seven boundaries and one huge six while No.3 Mohinder Amarnath (26 off 80 balls) managed to put some runs on the board. Though the total that at first appeared inadequate but unexpectedly turned out to be match-winning.Clive Lloyd's men looked destined for victory, but the game turned on its head when the India bowling attack took advantage of the pitch and weather conditions.When Viv Richards smashed three consecutive boundaries from Madan Lal, India feared the worst. But after Kapil Dev took a stunning catch at mid-wicket, the Caribbean side were down to 76/6.Jeffrey Dujon had batted well to reach 25 and threatened to take the game away again. But Amarnath's double strike to dismiss him and Malcolm Marshall brought them back in the game.He finished with 3-12 from seven overs with last wicket of Michael Holding to earn the man-of-the-match award and India lifted their first World Cup.1987: David Boon (Australia)The defending champions India were knocked out earlier in the semi-final by England but still more than 70,000 people squeezed in the Eden Gardens of Calcutta for the final of 1987 World Cup.David Boon had headed into the match in good form having scored 372 runs in seven matches prior to the final.Opening the batting alongside Geoff Marsh, Boon scored 75 runs and combined in two significant partnerships with Marsh and Dean Jones to set the tone for the Australian innings.Australia finished at 5-253 and England, despite a good start, were unable to reach the total – Mike Gatting famously losing his wicket after an ill-judged attempt at a reverse sweep – and the English fell seven runs short.1992: Wasim Akram (Pakistan)England were through their second consecutive final when they met Pakistan in the 1992 World Cup final.They also headed in favourites, having bowled Pakistan out for 74 earlier in the tournament. The final started in a similar fashion when Derek Pringle dismissed both Pakistani openers at 24, but Pakistan recovered to score 6-249 and Imran Khan top-scored with 72. Javed Miandad scored 58, while Inzamam-ul-Haq (42) and Wasim Akram (33) also chipped in.While defending the total, Wasim Akram dimissed Ian Botham for a duck to put the wobbles into the English. He returned to uproot two wickets in two balls in the middle order.Wasim finished with 3-49 to earn his man of the match and Pakistan lifted the Benson and Hedges World Cup.1996: Aravinda de Silva (Sri Lanka)Australia playing their second WC final, made a solid start to the World Cup final against Sri Lanka in front of some 62,000 screaming fans at Pakistan's Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.A middle order collapse sparked by the wickets of captain Mark Taylor and Ricky Ponting saw Australia slump to 5-170 before recovering to post 7-241 from their 50 overs. Aravinda scalped three Aussie wickets for 42 runs in 9 overs.During the chase after Sri Lanka lost their two openers for just 23 runs, in came de Silva to turn the match around with a blast of unbeaten 107 runs with 13 boundaries and took Sri Lanka home.He put on big partnerships with Asanka Gurusingha (65) and Ranatunga (47 not out) as the Sri Lankans claimed their first – and so far only – World Cup triumph by seven wickets.1999: Shane Warne (Australia)Another World Cup final, another appearance by the Australians. After a shaky start to the tournament, the Australian campaign had picked up the momentum, culminating in thrilling back-to-back matches with South Africa.After guiding Australia in a tied semifinal with 4 wickets, Warne's wizardry was too much for Pakistan to handle in the final in front of a packed Lord's, tearing through the Pakistanis with a match-winning 4-33 as no Pakistan batsman scored above 25.Pakistan were all out for 132 and Australia won the match on the first ball of the 21st over after Adam Gilchrist blasted his way to a half-century.2003: Ricky Ponting (Australia)A second straight World Cup win for Australia when they met the former champions India in the final of 2003 final.India sent Australia in to bat and the defending champions got off to a flying start, with Adam Gilchrist scoring 57 from 48 balls. Captain Ricky Ponting played one of his great knocks. India had no answer as Australia's No.3 who scored an unbeaten 140 from 121 balls and he was supported Damien Martyn (88 not out) for a long 234 runs stand.Australia posted a huge total of 359-2 on the board off to which India's run chase faltered in the first over when Sachin Tendulkar was caught and bowled by Glenn McGrath, and they never recovered from the loss of their best batsman.McGrath's 3-52 lead the way as India were bowled out for 234, giving Australia an emphatic 125-run victory.2007: Adam Gilchrist (Australia)It was the 4th back to back World Cup final and third straight title win. Australia had cruised through this World Cup in unstoppable form, overcoming everyone in their path to the final, and Sri Lanka proved no different.The final was reduced to 38 overs per side due to rain and Australia were quickly out of the blocks thanks to Gilchrist and fellow opener Matthew Hayden. The left hand opener Gilchrist smashed a memorable 149 off 104 balls in a 172-run partnership with Hayden for first wicket.Gilchrist rained down eight sixes as he took just 72 balls to reach his century as Australia posted 4-281 on the board.That target was reduced to 269 off 36 overs after further rain, and Sri Lanka legends Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene put on a 116-run stand for the second wicket but they were torn apart by the Aussie bowlers and nobody could stand between the Australians and the World Cup trophy.2011: MS Dhoni (India)India went into the 2011 final on home soil looking to break a 28-year World Cup drought, while Sri Lanka hoped to make amends for losing the 2007 final.In front of a packed Wankhede Stadium with billions more watching their heroes on televisions, Sri Lanka lost two quick wickets after opting to bat first. Thereafter with the help of Jayawardene's unbeaten 103, Sri Lanka managed to score 274/6 in their 50 overs.India were in trouble right from the start after losing Sehwag for a duck and Tendulkar for 18. Their position was not much better at 4-113 after Virat Kohli was caught, but that was before a determined Indian skipper MS Dhoni promoted himself up in the order ahead of man in form Yuvraj Singh.After a slow start to his innings, he started to play his strokes with Yuvraj Singh at other end and brings down the equation to 27 runs required of 24 balls. Thereafter three Dhoni boundaries slashed the deficit to five runs from 12 balls and in a fairy-tale finish, the captain smashed a six to seal the championship.Indian coach Gary Kirsten had a perfect farewell before his exit and Sachin's long dream of lifting the World Cup trophy became a reality.