The Cricket World Cup kicks off in eight days in Australia; Sport360 takes a look at the magic behind the number ‘8’, with Zimbabwe’s record-breaking stand. 

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The significance of the number ‘8’ take us back to the 1987 World Cup, when New Zealand were favourites to win their Group A match against Zimbabwe, the Black Caps having  a number of top players in their ranks.

Batting first, New Zealand posted a match-winning total of 242 in their 50 overs — as the two Martins, Snedden and Crowe, made fifties – and the target looked enough to win the match easily.

Aside from Dave Houghton, Zimbabwe’s top-seven batsman could only accumulate 30 runs between them, leaving the African side reeling on 104 for seven.

It should have been a formality for Kiwis to finish off the match, but Houghton kept on hitting boundaries and sixes, and found some unexpected support in the former of No. 9 Iain Butchart.

Together they put on a 117-run eighth-wicket stand – which remains World Cup record – to leave the Kiwis sweating as they faced an embarrassing defeat.

Houghton made 142 off 137 balls, clubbing six maximums and 13 boundaries while Butchart fought his way to 54.

However, there was no fairytale finish as Zimbabwe just fell short – losing by three runs; nonetheless, the match and the fightback still lives on.

SPORT360’s CRICKET WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN

– 9 days to go: Crazy nines from World Cup minnows
– 10 days to go: Chris Old’s record still new 
– 11 days to go: Viv Richards wins it for West Indies
– 12 days to go: The support from outside the rope
– 13 days to go: O’Brien storm blows England away
– 14 days to go: Arvinda de Silva in world of his own
– 15 days to go: Australia bamboozle the Namibians
– 16 days to go: New format catches out India, Pakistan
– 17 days to go: Madan Lal’s 17 wickets help India to triumph
– 18 days to go: Dennis delight at first World Cup century
– 19 days to go: Economical Imran Khan of Pakistan
– 20 days to go: Bichel cleans up against England
– 21 days to go: Sachin Tendulkar the runs machine
– 22 days to go: The unwanted record of Nathan Astle
– 23 days to go: Nehra rattles England in South Africa
– 24 days to go: The great Kapil Dev’s strike rate for India
– 25 days to go: Australia’s Invincibles dominate for eight
– 26 days to go: Glenn McGrath’s wicket-taking exploits
– 27 days to go: Zaheer Khan’s striking ability
– 28 days to go: Herschelle Gibbs just loves sixes
– 29 days to go: Australia’s 29-ball haul destroys India