9 October 1987, India vs Australia — Australia won by 1 run. On a hot sultry Chennai day, a year after the tied Test was played between these two countries, India yet again were at the receiving end of an agonising finish. Australia, eventual winners of the title, began the innings with a century opening partnership between David Boon (49) and Geoff Marsh (110). Despite the fact that no significant contribution came from any other batsman, but Dean Jones (39), Australia posted 270/6. Sunil Gavaskar, who was playing his last World Cup, began as if chasing this total was the easiest thing in the world. His 37 in 32 balls and Krishnamachari Srikkanth’s 70 in 83 balls gave the early impetus. Rookie Navjyot Singh Sidhu’s 73 in 79 balls put India on course to a comfortable win. With 4 overs remaining, India needed just 15 runs with 4 wickets still in hand. A couple of suicidal run outs and India were left with 6 runs to get in the last over with one wicket standing. The then 22-year-old Steve Waugh bowled the last over and Maninder Singh & Kiran More could only score 5 off it. Allan Border and his side were reportedly stung by a newspaper statement from Pakistan’s Zaheer Abbas calling them a “schoolboy side” and this win gave them the much needed early momentum in the tournament.

17 October 1987, Pakistan vs West Indies — Pakistan won by 1 wicket. In what may be called sweet revenge, Pakistan finally accomplished in Lahore what they could not do in 1975, 1979 and 1983 — to beat the West Indies. Electing to bat after winning the toss, the visitors had a 91-run opening stand (Haynes 37 & Simmons 50). Thereafter, wickets fell at regular intervals and the two-time champions could post only 216 in the allotted 50 overs. Chasing a modest total, Pakistan too lost wickets at regular intervals with only ’keeper Salim Yousuf (56) contributing in the middle order. Courtney Walsh was called on to bowl the last over of the innings with 14 runs needed for a win and numbers 9 & 11 at the crease. Soon it was 10 from 3 balls. Qadit hit a straight six off the 4th ball and took 2 off the 5th. Needing 2 to win off the last ball with Qadir on strike, Walsh’s one act of ultimate sportsmanship probably cost his side the match. Walsh stopped shot of running out non-striker Salim Jaffer as he ran into bowl the last ball. Instead, he chose to warn the number 11 batsman and this time Qadir sliced it behind point to give Pakistan the 2 winning runs.

5 November 1987, India vs England — England won by 35 runs. A day earlier, Australia had shattered Pakistan’s hopes of making their first Cup final. India fancied their chances against England and the Wankhede wicket in Mumbai looked like it would all but help the Indian spinners. India did not account for a determined Graham Gooch (115) who swept, paddled and pulled the spinners to a match-winning century. Maninder Singh, who until then had 11 wkts from 5 matches, conceded 54 runs. England posted 254/6 with contributions from Mike Gatting (56) & Alan Lamb (32). Sweep seemed to be the shot of the day and was used effectively by Mohammed Azharuddin (64). As wickets fell, panic set in and India lost the last 5 wickets for 15 runs in 33 balls. Off-spinner Eddie Hemings (4/21) had tamed the lion in its own spinning den.