New Delhi:
The stage is set for the top eight teams to flex their muscles in all-important quarterfinals in the ICC cricket World cup. Top 14 teams in the World fight it out over 42 games in the league stage to qualify for the knockouts.
The world has witnessed some good cricket is last one and half months. New records are created, some are rewritten. We have seen heart-breaks, tight games and amazing cricket. There were players who have left foot prints in the ongoing World Cup which the cricketing fraternity will never forget. Let’s look into the top 10 performances in the group stages.
The veteran Sri Lankan scored four centuries on the trot to create history in the game. Chasing a mammoth 377 to win against might Aussies, Sangakkara scored a brilliant 104 of 107 balls in the losing course. After that he went to score another century against minnows Scotland also. Earlier, he had hit tons against Bangladesh and England respectively.
The Indian opener had a bad Test and ODI series in Australia. But came back to hit two centuries and one fifty in six matches. The best innings was his century against might South Africa, where he scored 137 runs off 146 balls comprising of 16 fours and 2 sixes.
The giant West Indian became the fourth player to hit a double ton in ODI format and first in World Cup. He also scored the highest individual in World Cup surpassing Gary Kristen’s 188. Gayle scored 215 of 147 balls against Zimbabwe, comprising of 10 fours and 16 sixes.
The South African captain led the team from the front and scored in most of the matches. He continued his devastating form against West Indies, he scored 166 runs of 66 balls. He also scored the fastest 150 in the format.
Zimbabwe’s best batsman in World Cup scored more than 400 runs in the event. His 138 of 110 balls against India was special, as the right hander was playing his last match for Zimbabwe. He did everything to be remembered in his last match.
The Kiwi fast bowler tore England apart at Wellington, dismissing 7 wickets for 33 runs in his 9 overs. He also bowled the third best spell in World Cup after Andy Bichel and Glenn McGrath.
The Australian fast bowler rattled the Kiwis batting line-up with his pace and bounce and took 6 wicket for 28 runs in 9 overs. He almost stole the match from New Zealand in a low scoring match.
The Kiwi fast bowler was instrumental for New Zealand to main its unbeaten streak in the World Cup. He took 5 wickets for 27 runs to shatter the Aussies at Auckland.
The Scottish fast bowler was revolution in the World Cup. The right hand fast bowler took 15 wickets and came close to win their first match World Cup match against Afghanistan.
The Indian pace spear head is the second highest wicket -taker with 15 wickets, one short of Australian Mitchell Starc in the ongoing World Cup. He took three wickets by giving just 35 runs against West Indies on the pitch which is called as “Fast bowlers’ paradiseâ€.
