The second time around England was chosen as the venue for cricket's greatest showpiece. The matches were to take place over two weeks from the 9th to the 23rd, almost four years to the day that it was played last time around. While the last time around the World Cup was bathed in glorious weather, there were three days of rain, which washed out the West Indies Vs Sri Lanka game. Other than that the weather stayed true and the longness of the days helped with completing 60 overs per side. At their meeting, which followed the World Cup, the International Cricket Conference agreed to make the competition a four-yearly event with the 1983 tournament again being staged in England. 1975 was the birth of the World Cup, and 1979 was its adolescence.

Following the same format as the last World Cup, the eight teams were divided into two groups with everyone facing each other once. This time around every match day consisted of four simultaneous games. At Birmingham on June 9 West Indies took on India. This was an easy victory for the Prudential World Cup holders. Everything went right for them from the moment Clive Lloyd won an important toss which gave his battery of fast bowlers the benefit of any early morning as the first five Indian wickets for 77 and only Viswanath dealt effectively with the hostile bowling. India eventually fell for 191 and the West Indies over came the score rather easily as Greenidge and Haynes put on 138 for the first wicket. Viv Richards finished the onslaught as Greenidge scored an unbeaten 106. It is said revenge is a dish best served cold, and India took that to heart, as they would famously turn the tables on the Champions in four years time.

New Zealand faced Sri Lanka and beat them by nine wickets at Nottingham. Though they lost heavily, Sri Lanka put up a brave exhibition with the bat as they notched up 189 with Tennekoon making a fifty. It was their bowling that really let down Sri Lanka, as they posed no threat to New Zealand batsman who ambled home by nine wickets. Turner continued his fantastic World Cup form with an unbeaten 83. At Leeds, Pakistan won by eight wickets as they disposed of Canada. Canada passed the hundred with only two wickets down. Then they collapsed against Majid's off-spin and Asif's accurate medium in-swing. Pakistan made light work of getting 140 to win, Sadiq and Zaheer produced some splendid strokes before the latter was run out. From mid-off, surprised the latter by throwing down the wicket at the bowler's end. Then Haroon engaged with Sadiq in an unbroken partnership of 79 to see Pakistan safely home.

Lord's played host to the big game as England and Australia faced each other that the host won by six wickets. Brearley won the toss on a dull grey morning and put Australia in to bat in conditions that were not easy for them. However, after initial resistance from Hilditch and Darling who played out the first ten overs for 14 runs, Australia collapsed completely, with four run outs contributing to their downfall, and England needed only 160 to win. They did it in style with Gooch, at the top of his form, first steadying the ship before Gower and Botham providing finishing touches to an absorbing day's cricket.

The second match day proved the trickiest of the lot with rain playing foul. West Indies were to take on Sri Lanka at Kennington Oval, but after trying to play for three days the game was called off with the points shared. On June 13 At Leeds New Zealand won by eight wickets as they overcame India. There was a heavy atmosphere and some dampness in the pitch which made batting difficult. Gavaskar batted with great care, but Gaekwad, Vengsarkar and Viswanath all went cheaply. Patel, appreciating the need for enterprise, hit boldly, and this encouraged Gavaskar to come out of his shell as did Kapil Dev and Ghavri. Hadlee bowled impeccably, even though he took only two wickets. A comfortable opening partnership of 100 by the left-handers, Wright and Edgar gave New Zealand a platform for success. Without much fuss they went past India's 182 with three overs to spare.

On June 13, 14 Australia took on Pakistan at Nottingham and lost by 89 runs. Interruptions through rain divided the match into two days. Pakistan got off to a flying start. Majid punished anything loose with much severity and the opening stand realised 99 runs. Cosier put in some good spells, but there was some fine hitting and running by Asif and Miandad who put on 87 in fourteen overs. This was followed by Asif, Wasim Raja and Imran scoring 47 from the last five overs. The next day, Hilditch gave an impressive display for Australia which eventually went in vain. Sikander accounted for Border and Hughes before the left-handed Yallop joined Hilditch in a stand of 71 in 21 overs, but the scoring-rate was not fast enough to worry Pakistan. They won by 89 runs.

Manchester played host to England and Canada on June 13, 14 as England romped home by eight wickets on the second day after heavy rain played foul on the first day.

The third match day would decide the semi finalists and the West Indies still had not booked their ticket as they had to share points with Sri Lanka in a rain affected match. At Manchester on June 16 and 18 Sri Lanka faced India. The Sri Lankan batsmen enjoyed themselves on a docile pitch that was of little help to a rather harmless Indian attack, a second wicket stand of 96 by Wettimuny and Dias off 25 overs was a joy to watch. Mendis followed with a powerful display in which he struck Ghavri, Kapil Dev and Amarnath each for 6. Owing to a late start on Saturday, India had to wait until Monday before starting their task of 239 to win. Gavaskar and Gaekwad began with a stand of 60. The turning point came when Viswanath ran himself out for 22. Afterwards, Somachandra de Silva varied his leg-breaks with such skill that he dismissed Vengsarkar, Patel and Amarnath, whereupon Opatha, who had done nothing with the new ball, returned with additional pace and swept through the tail. Sri Lanka ran out winners by 47 runs, it was the only win by an associate member of the ICC in the competition and was richly deserved.

West Indies overcame New Zealand by 32 runs a result, which enabled both teams to qualify for the semis. At Nottingham on June 16 the World Cup holders did not have matters all their own way as they lost the toss. However, the batting of their stars, Greenidge and the captain, Clive Lloyd, turned the scales. Greenidge stayed through the first 33 overs and Lloyd the remaining 27, with the result that New Zealand were never really free. In his first spell, Hadlee proved erratic, but later, to the delight of his local Trent Bridge admirers, became quite hostile. Although only three batsmen failed to reach double figures New Zealand never looked like making the 245 runs they required for victory.

At Birmingham Australia won by seven wickets against Canada, who could manage only 106 runs on the board.

At Leeds England won by 14 runs. This was an extraordinary match during which the bowlers held the upper hand for most of the time. That England, who set Pakistan to make only 166 to win, finally succeeded was due to a wonderful performance by Hendrick, who took four wickets in a spell of eight balls for only 3 runs. Finally, he held a tremendous leaping catch at mid-off from Sikander to seal England's victory.