1992 Australia and New Zealand

Captain Imran Khan famously urged Pakistan to fight like cornered tigers after they appeared down and out in the fifth World Cup. They responded by surging to the final against England where the great all rounder produced his final match-winning performance for his country.

Imran promoted himself to number three and his measured 72, coupled with 58 from Javed Miandad, in a third-wicket partnership of 139 took Pakistan to 249 for six.

Wasim Akram, moving the ball fiendishly late, took key wickets as England steadily fell behind the asking rate while Imran took the final wicket in a farewell to international cricket he could have scripted himself.

Scores: Pakistan 249 for six off 50 overs (Imran Khan 72, Javed Miandad 58); England 227 off 49.2 overs (N.Fairbrother 62). Pakistan won by 22 runs.

1996 India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

Asia had proved the natural home for One-Day cricket and appropriately it was Sri Lanka who took an increasingly sophisticated game into a new dimension.

Pugnacious left-handed opener Sanath Jayasuriya had set the tone throughout the tournament as Sri Lanka flailed the ball mercilessly in the first 15 overs when fielding restrictions were in place.

The Sri Lankans also defied conventional wisdom by embracing rather than avoiding run chases and, even though no side had won the World Cup batting second, Arjuna Rantunga asked Australia to bat in the final.

His confidence was justified when Australia managed only 241 for seven. Jayasuriya failed for once but Aravinda de Silva stroked a serenely untroubled unbeaten century to guide Sri Lanka to victory.

Scores: Australia 241 for seven off 50 overs (M.Taylor 74); Sri Lanka 245 for three off 46.2 overs (A.Gurusinha, A.de Silva 107 not out). Sri Lanka won by seven wickets.

1999 England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales

Steve Waugh at his steeliest had rescued Australia when they faced elimination in their final super six match against South Africa. The two teams had then met in the semi-finals where a tie put Australia into the final against Pakistan.

By now Australia were unstoppable and they ran through a volatile Pakistan side with Shane Warne taking four wickets in a miserably inadequate 132 all out. Australia romped to victory by eight wickets after only 20.1 overs.

Scores: Pakistan 132 off 39 overs (S.Warne 4-33); Australia 133 for two off 20.1 overs (A.Gilchrist 55). Australia won by eight wickets.

2003 South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya

Even without Warne, who failed a drugs test for a slimming tablet shortly before the tournament, Australia scaled new heights when they went through the tournament unbeaten in 10 matches.

In the final against India captain Ricky Ponting struck a chanceless, unbeaten 140 with eight sixes to propel Australia to a daunting 359 for two.

India's remote victory chances disappeared when Glenn McGrath caught and bowled Sachin Tendulkar for four and Virender Sehwag's fighting 82 only delayed the inevitable.

Scores: Australia 359 for two (A.Gilchrist 57, R.Ponting 140 not out, D.Martyn 88 not out); India 234 off 39.2 overs (V.Sehwag 82). Australia won by 125 runs.