Biggest upsets in history of Cricket World Cup

1979: Sri Lanka stuns India

Sri Lanka became the first Associate side to win a game in ICC Cricket World Cup when they beat India by 47 runs in the 1979 World Cup.
Thanks to the half centuries by Sunil Wettimuny, Roy Dias and Duleep Mendis, Sri Lanka collected 238 runs for the loss of five wickets in 60 overs. In reply, India were restricted to 191 runs. Dilip Vengsarkar was the main contributor for India who scored 36 runs. Leg-break bowler Somachandra de Silva was the most successful Sri Lankan bowler who claimed 3 wickets for just 29 runs. It was the first instance when an Associate member had beaten a full-member in the World Cup.

1983: Zimbabwe shocks Australia on debut

Playing their first ever official one-day international, Zimbabwe caused a major upset in 1983 World Cup when they beat mighty Australia by 13 runs.
Put into bat first, Zimbabwe lost their first five wickets with just 95 runs on the board. Zimbabwe captain Duncan Fletcher and Kevin Curren consolidated the innings with a 70-run stand for the sixth wicket and then Fletcher and Butchart added 75 runs for the seventh wicket stand enabling Zimbabwe to reach 239 for 6 in 60 overs.
Chasing 240 to win, Australia were off to a good start as their openers put on 61 runs for the first wicket. Wood was first man to go after scoring 31 runs. The Australian innings collapsed soon after as Hughes (0), Hookes (20), Yallop (2) and Border (17) fell cheaply. Wessels (76) and Marsh (50*) batted well but could not save their side from defeat as Australia were restricted to 226 for the loss of 7 wickets.

1992: Zimbabwe beat England by 9 runs

Zimbabwe pulled off a shocking upset in 1992 World Cup when they defeated one of tournament’s favorites England by mere nine runs in a low scoring encounter at Albury.
England captain Graham Gooch won the toss and asked Zimbabwe to bat first. Zimbabwe made a paltry 134 and got out.
England in reply made a painfully slow 125 as bowlers bowled a tight line throughout and picked wickets at regular intervals. England lost by 9 runs.

1996: Kenya register upset win over West Indies

Kenya registered an upset win over two-time World Cup winners, West Indies, in the 1996 ICC World Cup when they beat the mighty Caribbeans by 73 runs. Kenya scored a mere 166 when it got out but it was the Windies reply that shocked everybody-93 all out courtesy RW Ali and Odumbe.

1999: Bangladesh beat Pakistan

Bangladesh pulled off a shocking upset in 1999 World Cup when they beat one of the tournament’s favorites, Pakistan by 62 runs. Put in to bat first Bangladesh put up a reasonable total of 223 for nine wickets in 50 overs. Akram Khan was the top scorer with 42 while opener Shahriar Hoosain got 39. Forty extras including 28 wides also helped in boosting the total.
As Pakistan began their run chase, five wickets fell in the opening 13 overs and with the top order back in the pavilion it was left to the tail to conduct a salvage operation.
The late order fought hard with Azhar Mahmood and skipper Wasim Akram added 55 runs for the sixth-wicket and Moin Khan and Saqlain Mushtaq also offered resistance but Pakistan’s innings folded up for 161 in the 45th over giving Bangladesh well-deserved 62-run victory.

2003: Kenya crushs Sri Lanka by 53 runs

Kenya crushed Sri Lanka by 53 runs as they went on to reach the semi-finals of the quadrennial event for the first time.
Sri Lankan captain Jayasuriya won the toss and invited the Kenya to bat. Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan wrecked Kenya’s batting line-up as they shared seven wickets between them. Kennedy Otieno showed some fight with a courageous 60 from 88 balls. Kenya finished with 210 in their quota of 50 overs.
In reply, leg-spinning Collins Obuya destroyed the Lankans batting line up with a superb five-wicket haul, dismissing Jayawardene, Aravinda de Silva, Sangakkara and Hashan Tillakaratne, as Kenya restricted the Lankans to 157, with de Silva top-scoring with 41. Obuya was declared Man of the Match.

2007: Ireland send Pakistan packing

Ireland knocked Pakistan out of 2007 World Cup when they beat the Green Shirts by 3 wickets at the Sabina Park ground in Jamaica.
Put to bat first, Pakistan was bowled out for 132, with extras toping the list as Ireland offered 23 wides.
In reply, O brein made a 72 that batted Pakistan out of contention for the next round.

2007: Bangladesh shock India

Bangladesh caused a major upset in 2007 World Cup when they beat India by 5 wickets in their Group B encounter.
Bowled out at 192 by the Bangladeshi bowlers, the batsmen made 3 half centuries to reach the requisite target with five wickets to spare. India crashed out later in the tournament.

2011: Ireland stun England in biggest run chaise in WC history

Ireland registered the highest successful chase in the tournament’s history when they defeated England by 3 wickets in the 2011 World Cup.
Ireland looked to be down and out after England posted an imposing total of 327 on a slowing Bangalore wicket.
England batted first with Jonathan Trott making 92 from 92 balls. England finished on 327/8 from their 50 overs. In reply, Ireland lost their captain, Will Porterfield on the very first ball, and were struggling at 111/5. Kevin O'Brien then made 100 in just 50 balls, the fastest century in World Cup history. Ireland chased down the 327 set by neighbors England, winning by 3 wickets.