Page 41 - The Indian EYE 100623

SPORTS OCTOBER 06, 2023 | The Indian Eye 41

Yuvraj Singh Chaminda Vaas

done away with, reducing Aussies to 125/2. But no of the innings, completing one of the most devas-
one had the idea of the mayhem that was to follow. tating hat-tricks in cricket’s history. He ended with
‘Punter’ walked down the pavillion and unleashed 6/25 in 9.1 overs, which helped bundle out Bangla-
a heavyweight assault on Indian bowlers, forming a desh for 124 runs, which SL chased down with 10
partnership with Damien Martyn (88*). wickets in hand.
Indian team could take no wickets further,
with Ponting walking back at 140* in 121 balls with Lasith Malinga (4/54)
four boundaries and eight towering sixes. Australia against South Africa (ICC Cricket World Cup 2007)
reached 359/2, a total which they defended easily
and gave India one of its toughest, hard-to-forget n the surface, Malinga’s spell looks like just
losses in sports’ history. So close, but yet so far and another four-wicket haul. But with this,
the cause was Ponting’s willow.
OMalinga became the first-ever bowler to
Martin Guptill (237) Sourav Ganguly take four wickets in four successive balls in inter-
national cricket. He caused Proteas to almost jus-
against West Indies (ICC Cricket World Cup 2015) tify their “chokers” tag by getting them nine wick-
Sourav Ganguly (183) ets down for 207 in a run-chase of 210 runs untill
hen Chris Gayle smashed 219 against Robin Peterson hit the winning runs. SA took a
Zimbabwe in the 2015 WC and became against Sri Lanka (ICC Cricket World Cup 1999) non-consequential Super Eight match, but Malin-
Wthe first non-Indian player to do so, it ga made history.
seemed that Gayle’s knock would not be chal- n India’s group stage against Sri Lanka, Gan-
lenged for years. Just days later, Kiwi opener Mar- guly played one of the best knocks played by an Eoin Morgan (148)
tin Guptill produced another masterclass against IIndian in World Cup history. His knock of 183 against Afghanistan (ICC Cricket World Cup 2019)
Gayle’s own team. in 158 balls with 17 fours and seven sixes and a part-
Guptill smacked every WI bowler mercilessly, nership with Rahul Dravid (145) of 318 runs pow-
scoring 237 in 163 balls with 24 fours and 11 six- ered India to a match-winning total of 373/6. This uring a group stage match between En-
gland and Afghans, skipper Eoin Morgan
es, to this day the highest score in WC history and knock led to an attacking approach slowly seeping Dunleashed a brutal assault on Afghanistan
second-highest score in ODI cricket. NZ reached into entire Indian batting, which was visible from bowlers, particularly spinner Rashid Khan.
a match-winning total of 393/6, bundling out Win- subsequent World Cups. No one was spared as Morgan left no corner of
dies for 250.
Gary Gilmour (28* and 6/14) the ground untouched, smashing 148* in 71 balls
with four boundaries and 17 sixes, the highest-ever
Yuvraj Singh (113 and 2/18) against England (Cricket World Cup 1975 semifinal) in an ODI innings. England reached a match-win-
ning total of 397 and T20 sensation Rashid was re-
against West Indies (ICC Cricket World Cup 2011)
laying at home, England was overwhelming- duced to a mere club bowler, conceding a massive
ly favourites against Australia in the semis of 110 runs in nine overs.
he group stage match between India and Pthe 1975 WC. But pacer Gary Gilmour un-
West Indies was like just another match un- leashed a carnage that reduced England to 37/7 at Honourable mention: AB de Villiers (162*)
Ttill Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh cough one point and bundled it out for 93. Later in the
up blood on pitch and throw up in the dressing chase of 94, Gilmour hit a patient 28* with five against West Indies (ICC Cricket World Cup 2015)
room. Yuvraj was unknowingly fighting the biggest fours after Australia had sunk to 39/6 to drive them
battle of life, against cancer, besides the conditions to the final. n this match against West Indies in the group
and equations that a cricket match throws on play- stage, West Indies bowlers were reduced to
ers. But despite that Yuvraj did not give up, scoring Chaminda Vaas (6/25) Imere spectators of AB’s superhuman shot-mak-
113 and taking 2/18 to help India win a must-win ing abilities and 360-degree strokes.
encounter. This match and performance defined against Bangladesh (ICC Cricket World Cup 2003) He smashed 162* in just 66 balls, with 17 fours
Yuvraj’s 2011 WC campaign, a superhuman effort and eight sixes. He reached his century in just 52
that saw him fight a life-threatening disease to help his group stage match between Bangladesh balls and made the rest of 66 runs in the next 14
India win the WC after 28 years, scoring 362 runs and Sri Lanka saw pacer Vaas reduce his balls. SA made a match-winning total of 408, bun-
and taking 15 wickets as his contribution. Topponents to 0/3 after the first three balls dling out WI for 151.

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