Road to the Cricket World Cup 2023. Hall of Fame: Abraham (A.B.) de Villiers

 Priceless asset for the Proteas

 

ONE-DAY WORLD CUP BATTING: Matches 23, Innings 22, Not Out 3, Highest Score 162*, Runs 1207, Average 63.52, Strike-rate 117.29, 100s 4, 50s 6, Catches 12

That he is a natural sportsman is apparent from A.B. de Villiers’ batting and fielding, his fluid movements and innate elegance. Technically sound and naturally aggressive at the top or in the middle-order, keen of eye, agile behind the wickets and close to the bat, fleet-footed in the outfield, he has been a priceless asset for the Proteas. Dashing as well as reliable, in good times and in a crisis, de Villiers was a captain’s dream. His World Cup record is evidence of all these attributes.

The start, though, was not so brilliant in the 2007 World Cup against the weekenders from the Netherlands. Opening the batting with skipper Graeme Smith, de Villiers was caught behind off the second ball of the match for a duck. South Africa registered a 221-run win.

He set the record right in another stroll in Warner Park with the Scots, who raised a total of 186. Smith and de Villiers made short work of the target with a spate of boundaries, hoisting the fifty in 6.3 overs. Smith got to his half-century first, the hundred of the innings came up in 12.2 overs, and de Villiers raised his fifty in 41 balls. And then he hammered Glenn Rogers for two consecutive sixes over long-on, before holing out in the same direction. His 62 came off 45 deliveries, punctuated by 9 boundaries and the 2 sixes. The partnership was worth 134 in 15.5 overs. Smith missed his century by 9 runs, and South Africa raced to a seven-wicket win in 23.2 overs.

The Aussie run-machine churned out 377 runs for six wickets, Matthew Hayden slamming the then fastest World Cup hundred in 66 balls, and Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke losing their wickets in the nineties. All eight batsmen on show had a strike-rate of 100 or above. Smith and de Villiers made a tremendous effort against the formidable attack. De Villiers set the tone, stroking left-armer Nathan Bracken for a four and a six off consecutive deliveries in the first over. When the great Glenn McGrath came on, de Villiers hit him for three successive boundaries. This time de Villiers was first to his half-century in 47 balls. The hundred of the innings came up in 13.1 overs. Smith reached fifty from 41 deliveries. Soon de Villiers stepped on the pedal. Just as the Aussies might have been worried, and de Villiers was racing towards his hundred, came a turn in fortunes. A powerful direct hit from long-leg by Shane Watson had de Villiers run out for 92, the same unfortunate manner of dismissal and the same score as Clarke. His brilliant knock had occupied only 70 deliveries, studded with 2 sixes and 14 fours. The partnership had tallied 160 in just 21 overs and put the Proteas right on track. Soon Smith began cramping, de Villiers was back as runner, but both had to return after a while as the captain’s condition was too debilitating to continue. Then wickets began to crumble regularly, Smith was back but dismissed soon for 74, the procession continued and South Africa were bowled out for 294 in 48 overs. Watson’s throw and Smith’s cramps might have pre-empted a thriller in St. Kitts. 

The pendulum swung again as de Villiers was bowled by Chaminda Vaas for another duck in the super-eight clash with Sri Lanka. But South Africa pulled off a humdinger by one wicket even as Lasith Malinga scythed through the tail with four wickets off consecutive deliveries spanning two overs. 

There was a successive duck for de Villiers as the lanky Irish paceman Boyd Rankin had him caught, trying to square-cut one that bounced. An easy win was logged up, though, as expected.

Giant-killers Bangladesh upset South Africa too. Having strung together 251 for eight, the Bangladesh bowlers kept a stranglehold. Smith (12) and Jacques Kallis (32) departed after putting up an aggressive posture. At the other end of the scale, de Villiers tried to grit it out but was bowled by an armer from Abdur Razzak for 15, having been in for 39 deliveries. Wickets kept tumbling and South Africa were beaten by 67 runs.

Pitted opposite hosts West Indies, de Villiers atoned handsomely for his failures. He lost Smith early but aligned with Kallis in a huge partnership. Kallis was in a belligerent mood but de Villiers caught up with him, raising his fifty in 58 deliveries. The century partnership came in 15.4 overs. They went on merrily until Kallis was bowled for 81, the partnership worth 170 off 28.2 overs. As Herschelle Gibbs joined him, a delighted de Villiers ushered in his first hundred in One-day Internationals, having faced 114 balls. He soon strained his hamstring and Smith returned the favour by running for him. Having decided to wield the big stick while he could, de Villiers lashed out, clouting 4 sixes and 3 fours in a hurry. Now in considerable strife, Corey Collymore had him caught for 146, ending the mayhem of 130 deliveries in which he blasted 12 fours and 5 sixes. Gibbs’ contribution was 18 in a stand of 70 in 7.5 overs. South Africa went on to amass 356 for four. After a bit of rest, de Villiers was back on the field and took a fine diving catch at point. West Indies fought gamely right down the order but could not manage more than 289, having lost nine wickets. De Villiers took away the man-of-the-match prize for his heroic knock.

The Kiwis tripped the Proteas by five wickets, and astonishingly de Villiers bagged his fourth duck of the tournament. The pendulum was swinging wildly.

South Africa fought back, trouncing England by nine wickets in the last super-eight encounter. Chasing a target of 155, de Villiers was off to a blazing start. Smith joined in the boundary hitting mode and the fifty was up in 5.4 overs. The duo continued to find the pickets until de Villiers edged one to the wicketkeeper. His 42 comprised 8 boundaries spanning 35 deliveries. The opening stand had realized 85 runs in 9.5 overs overs. Smith (89 not out, 58 balls, 13 fours) and Kallis brought up victory in 19.2 overs.    

The Aussies were unstoppable in the semi-final, skittling the Proteas for 149 in less than 44 overs, Andrew Hall drawing first blood with a brilliant haul of five for 18 in his 10 overs. De Villiers was third out for 15, none of their batsmen got to fifty, and they were defeated by seven wickets.

 It was a strange kind of World Cup for de Villiers, being dismissed for four ducks and two 15s in 10 innings, still averaging 37.20 without a not out, and with the help of a century, a near-century, a half-century, and a near half-century. Indeed de Villiers and South Africa experienced a whole range of emotions in this tournament. The stylish strokemaker, though, entertained all the while, well illustrated by his strike-rate of 100.81 runs per hundred balls.       

With Hashim Amla now in the side, de Villiers batted down the order in the 2011 World Cup, and donning the big gauntlets when required, a mark of his talent and versatility. West Indies totalled 222 and then dismissed Amla and Kallis early. De Villiers joined Smith at 20 for two, and was soon into his stride. The half-century of the stand came up in 9.1 overs. Soon, de Villiers raised his fifty at a-run-a-ball. The century stand arrived in 19.4 overs. Smith departed with the partnership worth 119 in 23.3 overs. There was still some work to do as Jean-Paul Duminy joined in. A bit of rain halted play for a few minutes, and immediately after de Villiers raised his century off 97 deliveries, the quickest by a South African in the World Cup, and a successive one against the West Indies in the premier event. They brought up victory in 42.5 overs, de Villiers unbeaten on 107, having faced 105 balls and stroked 8 fours and 2 sixes. The partnership was worth 84 off 14.2 overs. Leg-spinner Imran Tahir with his bag of four for 41 on debut, was a contender for the man-of-the-match award, but de Villiers eventually got the nod. The campaign had begun on the right note.

Morne van Wyk was given the responsibility behind the sticks in the workout versus the Dutch, leaving de Villiers free to concentrate on his run-getting. And he did get the runs in glorious fashion after Smith and Kallis had departed just after the fifty had been posted. Amla was now de Villiers’ associate in a huge partnership. After a bit of a look-in, de Villiers was off the blocks. He brought up his fifty off 47 balls, as the pair cruised. The hundred of the stand came up in 16.1 overs. Amla sailed to his ton in 121 deliveries. They raised the tempo, de Villiers knocking up the fastest hundred by a South African in the World Cup, off 88 balls. He was now in overdrive, logging up the double-century partnership in 28 overs. Ryan ten Doeschate had Amla caught at point for 113, scored off 130 deliveries containing 8 fours. The stand was worth 221 in 29.2 overs. A cricketing cliché showed up once again as de Villiers was run out in the next over. Both partners were dismissed in quick succession after a big stand. His superb 134 spanned just 98 deliveries and was embellished with 13 glorious hits to the boundary and 4 sailing high above it. The later batsmen too enjoyed themselves and South Africa ended up with 351 for five. Holland were bowled out for 120. It was a successive hundred as well as man-of-the-match prize for de Villiers in their first two matches of this tournament.

A low-scoring thriller at Chepauk went England’s way by just 6 runs. Tahir (four for 38) and Robin Peterson (three for 22) spun out the English for 171 in 45.4 overs. South Africa began well, Amla and Smith raising 63 in 14.1 overs. Then the wheels began to come off with three wickets gone in just about 5 overs. De Villiers and Faf du Plessis gritted it out, adding 42 runs in 12.2 overs but England began striking back. Shouldering arms to James Anderson, de Villiers found to his dismay that the ball had grazed his off-stump. In an innings of 25 completely out of character, de Villiers had not hit a single boundary in a stay off 44 balls. Two more wickets fell at the same score, another after 3 runs. Van Wyk and Dale Steyn raised hopes only to be dashed as the last three wickets crashed for 5 runs.

Another nerve-wracking encounter took place with hosts India, but this time it was a high-scoring one that South Africa managed to pull off with just 2 balls to go. India were propelled by Sachin Tendulkar’s 99^th international hundred, but Steyn pulled it back for South Africa with a five-wicket haul. With the asking-rate hovering around 7.5 runs per over, de Villiers joined forces with Kallis at 127 for two. When Kallis was run out for 69 with the score reading 173 for three, the required-rate had climbed close to 9. Joined by Duminy, the boundaries started flowing. A hard sweep by de Villiers finished in the hands of square-leg. His 52 had come off 39 deliveries, and he had struck 6 fours and a six. Virtually every batsman contributed to the cause, South Africa managing to scrape through just in time with three wickets to spare.

Having been rested in the last two league games with Ireland and Bangladesh, de Villiers was back in the quarter-final face-off with New Zealand, and with the wicketkeeping gloves too. The Kiwis posted 221 for eight. After the early loss of Amla, Smith and Kallis put on 61 runs. Then the Jacob Oram magic started taking effect with the scalp of Smith. Things seemed on course with Kallis and de Villiers in charge but a brillant catch on the mid-wicket boundary by Oram sent Kallis on his way. Duminy did not last long, but another run out of de Villiers two balls later was a huge blow. The sight of de Villiers sprawled on the turf as he dived desperately for the crease might have been symbolic of what lay in store for his team. His 40-ball 35 was studded with 4 fours. Oram went on to bag four for 39, and South Africa crashed out, beaten by 49 runs.      

It was a superb tournament for de Villiers, having scored 353 runs in 5 matches with an average of 88.25. A strike-rate of 108.28 and 2 hundreds and a fifty were proof of his brilliant form. Unfortunately, his team had faltered once again in the final stages of a World Cup.

The opening encounter in 2015 did not stretch the Proteas much. Zimbabwe did grab a few early wickets, de Villiers at no. 4. and at the helm, falling for 25 off 36 deliveries. A huge unbroken partnership of 256 runs in 29.4 overs between David Miller and Jean-Paul Duminy carried South Africa to 339 for four. It was a record for the fifth wicket in the World Cup and in all One-Day Internationals. It was also South Africa’s highest partnership for any wicket. The Zimbabwe top-order battled hard but could only progress till 277.

India put up a challenging 307 for seven. Along with Faf du Plessis, de Villiers put on 68 in 12.3 overs. He was unfortunately run out for 30 off 38 deliveries. His side could not recover from this blow, losing wickets regularly, and folding up for 177.

After this reverse, South Africa needed to get their act together. They, and de Villiers, did and how! After Amla and du Plessis put on 127 runs for the second wicket in 23.4 overs, de Villiers was in irresistible form as the hapless West Indies looked on. He dashed to his fifty off 30 deliveries. His century off 52 balls was the second fastest in the World Cup after Irishman Kevin O’Brien’s ton from 50 deliveries in 2011. A few days later Australia’s Glenn Maxwell crashed a 51-ball hundred. De Villiers’ 150 in 64 deliveries was the fastest in the World Cup and One-day Internationals. He now had to his credit the fastest 50, 100 and 150 in One-day Internationals. In his blistering innings of 149 (44 balls, 16 sixes, 9 fours) against the West Indies at Johannesburg in January 2015, he blasted his fifty in a mere 16 deliveries and hundred off 31 balls. Having hammered 116 runs in boundaries (8 sixes and 17 fours), de Villiers was third in the list in the World Cup after Martin Guptill and Chris Gayle. Later Eoin Morgan hit 118 in 2019. There were no dot balls in South Africa’s batting powerplay from the 36^th to the 40^th over, with Rilee Rossouw and de Villiers hitting 72 runs without being separated. The fourth-wicket partnership of 134 between Rossouw and de Villiers came in only 12.3 overs. The unfinished sixth-wicket partnership of 80 between de Villiers and Farhaan Behardien came off just 3.2 overs. De Villiers blasted 68 of those.

West Indies skipper Jason Holder gave away 34 runs in an over (including two no-balls), which is the most after Holland’s Daan van Bunge who was hit for 6 sixes by the South African Herschelle Gibbs in 2007. All the runs off the bat in this Holder over were smashed by de Villiers. In another over, de Villiers hit Holder for 30 runs. De Villiers’ unbeaten 162 was the second-highest score for South Africa after Gary Kirsten’s 188 not out against United Arab Republic at Rawalpindi in 1996. The South African total of 408 for five was their best in the World Cup, and the highest by any team in One-day Internationals in Australia, until they logged up 411 for four in their very next match versus Ireland, and then hosts Australia piled up 417 for six off the Afghanistan bowling. Shell-shocked by this hammering, West Indies collapsed to 151 all out. South Africa’s winning margin of 257 runs was the joint highest in the World Cup until Australia defeated Afghanistan by 275 runs later. There was no other claimant to the man-of-the-match prize.

There was another massive second-wicket partnership of 247 runs in 36.1 overs between Amla and du Plessis off the Irish. Capitalising on it, de Villiers struck 24 off 9 deliveries with 2 sixes and a four, being caught at backward-point trying to reverse sweep. This time South Africa hoisted 411 for four. It was now a matter of playing out the 50 overs for Ireland. They lasted 45, putting together 210 runs.

In a match truncated by the weather, Pakistan were bowled out for 222 in 46.4 overs, two deliveries short of their allocated quota. According to the Duckworth-Lewis method, South Africa required 232 from 47 overs. De Villiers came in at 67 for three after 10.1 overs. He was at his belligerent best as wickets fell around him. He raised his half-century off 45 deliveries, and continued his carnage. With eight wickets already down for 200, it was up to de Villiers to drive his side home. He launched into a short one but could only nick it to the wicketkeeper. His 77 came off 58 balls, studded with 5 sixes and 7 fours. South Africa were bowled out for 202 in 33.3 overs.

After this reverse, it was a more relaxed outing with United Arab Emirates. Back at no. 4, his boundaries were interspersed with singles. He raised his fifty off 54 balls as he settled into a fourth-wicket stand of 108 runs with David Miller in 17.5 overs. De Villiers then changed gears with a flurry of sixes and fours. One short of his century, he slashed at one, to be taken at short third-man. His 4 sixes took his tally to 20 in the tournament at that stage, the most in any World Cup, leaping ahead of the Matthew Hayden, who had smashed 18 sixes in the 2007 event, while Chris Gayle had tonked 18 sixers till then in this 2015 competition. De Villiers, with 36 sixes, had the maximum in all World Cup tournaments, leaving behind Ricky Ponting who had hit 31. He hit 6 fours besides in his 82-ball knock. South Africa racked up 341 for six. UAE could manage just 195.

In the quarter-final, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 133. South Africa cruised to a nine-wicket win.

In contrast, the semi-final was an edge-of-the-seat thriller, disrupted by the weather and going down to the penultimate delivery. The fourth-wicket partnership of 103 in 12.1 overs between du Plessis (82 runs, 107 balls, 1 six, 7 fours) and de Villiers, and the pyrotechnics of David Miller (49 runs, 18 balls, 3 sixes, 6 fours) at the end took South Africa to 281 for five in their 43 overs. De Villiers again fired on all cylinders racing to his fifty off 32 deliveries. He was unbeaten on 65 from 45 balls. The crucial encounter was balanced on a razor’s edge right through the Kiwi innings. There were 12 runs required off the last over with the ball in the hands of the great Dale Steyn, then five runs off two balls. Steyn bowled full, and Grant Elliott swung. The ball sailed over long-on for a six. New Zealand advanced jubilantly to the final with one delivery to spare. It was heart-break for South Africa yet again.

It was once more a brilliant World Cup for de Villiers, 482 runs in 7 innings at an average of 96.40, and a strike-rate of 144 with a century and 3 fifties. His aggregate was second-highest for South Africa in a World Cup just behind Jacques Kallis’ tally of 485 in 2007.     

There are stories often circulating about de Villiers being champion at many sports. He clarified to The Indian Express: “Some of them are true, while others are not. I have played almost all sports growing up, but was not as good as mentioned. Like in the case of badminton, it is claimed that I was U-19 national champion. That is not true. Tennis was one of my strongest suits. Also rugby. But slowly, as the years went by, my priority became cricket.”

South Africa could not ask for more of de Villiers in the showpiece event. A tally of more than 1200 runs, average above 60, strike-rate close to 120, 4 hundreds, 6 fifties, versatile with the bat and in the field. In the elite list of 21 batsmen who have scored 1,000 runs, de Villiers has the best average as well as strike-rate, in fact the only one among them to strike at above 100. He has the second-highest number of sixes in the premier event, 37 to Gayle’s 49; and the third-highest sixes in a World Cup, 21 in 2015 to Gayle’s 26 in the same event, and Eoin Morgan’s 22 in 2019. Bowing out in endearing, spectacular fashion, de Villiers reserved a permanent place in the pantheon of the greats, one of the most scintillating strikers of the ball.

(Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s forthcoming book ‘World Cup Odyssey’).

Road to the Cricket World Cup 2023. Hall of Fame: Lasith Malinga

Slinging in the lethal yorkers

Lasith Malinga. Only one to snare two hat-tricks, including four wickets in four deliveries, in the World Cup.

ONE-DAY WORLD CUP BOWLING: Balls 1394, Maidens 11, Runs 1281, Wickets 56, Average 22.87, Best Bowling 6/38, Runs/Over 5.51 

A quaint action somewhere between the underarm and the overarm, facilitating the slipping in of lethal yorkers beneath the willow, putting at risk batsmen’s toes as much as the base of stumps, a thick mop of streaked curly locks bouncing in his spirited run-up, have made the little pace dynamo unique as well as an unforgettable character of the game. Lasith Malinga is as original as one can find, a strike bowler like no other.

The bemused batsmen from Bermuda would have seen nothing like him. Like the other bowlers he enjoyed the easy picking, returning with an analysis of 5-2-10-3. The newcomers collapsed to 78 all out.

Having upset India, Bangladesh could not offer much resistance to the Lankan attack. Malinga had Tamim Iqbal caught behind by Kumar Sangakkara. He then got Aftab Ahmed to top-edge a short ball, for Sanath Jayasuriya to take the skier at square-leg. Malinga had tailender Abdur Razzak snapped up by Sangakkara again as the delivery took off from a length just outside off. Bangladesh were bowled out for 112 in 37 overs. Malinga’s booty this time was three for 27 off 6 overs. 

A desperate India could not mount a challenge and packed up for 185. Malinga picked up a late wicket. Sri Lanka had won all their Group B matches with ease, their bowling outfit having cleaned up all 30 wickets.

It was in the super-eight clash with South Africa that Malinga created a sensation towards the end. After 7 overs he had taken no wicket, having conceded 43 runs. Chasing a target of 210, the Proteas were sailing at 206 for five in the 45^th over. Malinga’s fifth delivery was a slower one that foxed Shaun Pollock and hit his leg-stick. Next ball, Andrew Hall spooned a yorker into the hands of Upul Tharanga in the covers. One run came off the next over. Jacques Kallis, batting on 86, tried to finish off the match by square-driving the first delivery of Malinga’s next over, but to his chagrin only edged it into the gloves of Sangakkara. Malinga had grabbed the fifth hat-trick of the World Cup as the nervous South Africans searched for those winning runs. Makhaya Ntini could barely get his bat down before the lethal yorker smashed into his middle stump. Malinga had created a sensation around the Providence Stadium with his four-in-four devastation. He conceded just one run in his last four deliveries as the batsmen fiddled around, barely surviving. A maiden followed, and then Malinga’s first delivery missed the outside edge by a whisker. Amid mounting tension, Robin Peterson edged the next to the boundary, just managing to pull off a win by one wicket. Malinga returned with four wickets for 54, nearly sneaking a highly improbable win. It is drama like this that Malinga was always likely to conjure. He shared the man-of-the-match award with Charl Langeveldt who had a five-wicket haul to his name.       

Once Sri Lanka had posted 303 for five, hosts West Indies were subdued easily. Chris Gayle was sucked into Malinga’s delivery way outside off, hitting a steepler that was taken at long-on, the first wicket to fall at 20. Shivnaraine Chanderpaul, playing a strange kind of innings having scored 17 off 53 balls without a boundary, suddenly decided to alter his plans. He hit an off-side four and then used the long handle against Muttiah Muralitharan, periodically launching the great off-spinner for 4 sixes. As Malinga bowled the first ball of the 42^nd over, Chanderpaul sent it sailing over square-leg for his 5^th six. Predictably, Malinga yorked him off-stump next ball. Sri Lanka went on to register a 113-run win. This time Malinga bagged two for 34 off 5 overs.

There was another cliff-hanger with England. After Sri Lanka had put up 235, Chaminda Vaas dismissed captain Michael Vaughan for a duck. Malinga then trapped Ed Joyce leg-before, and suddenly England were 11 for two after 5.2 overs. The following batsmen battled hard, but England were in trouble at 133 for six with 33.3 overs having been bowled. Ravi Bopara and wicketkeeper Paul Nixon staged a rearguard act, carrying the score to 220. Off the fifth ball of the penultimate over, Malinga had Nixon holing out in the covers. Bopara drove the last delivery through the covers to the ropes. There were now 12 runs required off the final over and 3 off the very last ball. Dilhara Fernando bowled a beauty that knocked the top of Bopara’s off-stump. Sri Lanka pulled off a two-run victory. Malinga’s share was two wickets for 50 in his quota of 10 overs.

He missed the last three super-eight matches with an ankle injury but was back for the semi-final. With Sri Lanka having piled up 289 for five, Malinga struck straightaway, his third delivery screaming into skipper Stephen Fleming’s pad in front of the stumps. That was his solitary wicket at an expense of 21 runs with two maidens in 7 overs. New Zealand folded up for 208.  

Adam Gilchrist made the final his own with his hurricane hundred but Malinga broke his huge opening stand of 172 with Matthew Hayden. The big left-hander was playing a remarkably subdued supporting role to the marauding wicketkeeper when he tried to loft Malinga over the covers, for Mahela Jayawardene to take a fine catch springing up just at the right moment. Later he castled Shane Watson but Australia hoisted a mammoth 281 for four in the truncated 38-overs-a-side match. Malinga’s two wickets cost 49 runs in 8 overs, and he bowled the only maiden of the innings. Sri Lanka faded along with the light and had to be content with the runners-up prize.

Malinga took wickets in each of the eight matches that he played, logging a tally of 18 at a brilliant average of 15.77, evidence of his striking ability. He bowled with fire right through, an ideal foil to the experienced Vaas.

Once again he had to sit out the first two matches of the 2011 World Cup. Having recuperated, he was back and how! The first ball of his second over was a venomous trademark inswinging yorker that made a mess of the hapless Kenyan opener Seren Waters, and sent him packing leg-before. Another perfect indipping yorker in his second spell disturbed the furniture behind Collins Obuya. The last ball of his seventh over was once again the toe-crusher that found Tanmay Mishra in front of the sticks. He churned out another lethal yorker first up in his next over that crashed into Peter Ongondo’s middle stump. Malinga was once again on a hat-trick as Shem Ngoche took guard. Predictably, it was another of those under-the-bat thunderbolts which was too good for the no. 10 and darted into the stumps. Malinga had become the first to rip out two hat-tricks in the World Cup. After a wide that ran away to the fine-leg boundary and a dot ball, the fourth legitimate delivery of the over was an action replay of his earlier yorkers, which the mesmerized Elijah Otieno could do nothing about and the leg-stick took the brunt. Kenya were all out for 142; Malinga had a bounty of six wickets, having expended 38 runs in 7.4 overs. Sri Lanka took only 18.4 overs to speed to a nine-wicket triumph. Malinga was man-of-the-match.     

The game versus Australia was washed out after less than 33 overs in the Lankan innings. Malinga went wicketless as Zimbabwe were trounced easily. There was one wicket for him at the end as the Kiwis wilted. The thrashing of England in the quarter-final also had him pick up a sole wicket.

After this lean phase, he bowled the first over in the semi-final, and then returned only in the 22^nd over. That vicious inswinging yorker, for the umpteenth time, went right through Martin Guptill and crashed into the timber. As Scott Stryis went after Malinga, Kane Williamson too tried to emulate his senior but was another victim of the Malinga patent, the pad in the way right in front. In his next over, Nathan McCullum tried a mighty swing to leg off one that came on slowly and merely nicked it to Sangakkara. Malinga’s haul was three for 55 in 9 overs, with New Zealand being bowled out for 217. The Lankan batsmen ensured a five-wicket win.

Jayawardene gave the side a great opportunity in the final with a magnificent century, and Malinga provided a tremendous opening with two monumental early strikes. Virender Sehwag was rapped on the pad trying to turn the second delivery of the innings and was gone for a duck. He then stunned the boisterous Wankhede Stadium crowd and indeed all of India, moving the first delivery of his fourth over away from a good length. Sachin Tendulkar tried to square-drive, only to get a thickish edge for Sangakkara to fling himself and cling on to the huge prize. Suddenly, India were 31 for two with doubts creeping into the minds of millions of fans. Gradually they extricated themselves from the tangle, built up momentum and brought up victory with a flourish. Young Virat Kohli recalled, “I was afraid of facing Lasith Malinga’s yorker. Already I was nervous. But after two or three balls balls, I settled down.” Sri Lanka were worthy runners-up again, and Malinga finished with two for 42 in 9 overs.

The little powerhouse had played his role, bagging 13 wickets on pitches that were unkind to pacemen for the most part. Once again he had a top-class average of 20.14.      

Hosts New Zealand ran away with the opening encounter in 2015, hitting up 331 for six. Malinga had one of his worst outings, being wicketless while conceding 84 runs in his 10 overs. Sri Lanka packed up for 233.

There was an easier face-off next, but the spirited Afghans stretched the Lankans. Malinga was close to his best, though not initially. As Afghanistan built up their innings, Malinga ran through the lower order. He went past Mohammad Nab’s swinging willow, to strike the timber behind. He had Mirwais Ashraf edging into the hands of long-leg. Finally, he grabbed the last wicket, having Afsar Zazai snapped up at slip. Malinga returned with a bag of three for 41 in 9.4 overs as Afghanistan totalled 232. Sri Lanka had to dig deep to pull off a four-wicket win.

As the top three Sri Lankan batsmen began their run-spree in the tournament, Sri Lanka hoisted 332 for one off the Bangla attack. Malinga stunned them immediately, bringing the second delivery in sharply to Tamim Iqbal, and whizzing between bat and pad to rock his furniture. As the middle-order tried to put up a semblance of a fight, Malinga bowled a nasty short one, taking Sabbir Rahman’s glove and flying into the bigger gloves of wicketkeeper Sangakkara. His inexorable yorker slipped under the bat of the bemused last man Taskin Ahmed as Bangladesh folded up for 240. Malinga finished with three for 35 off 9 overs.

England logged up 309 for six, Malinga taking his lone wicket of James Taylor, having him caught at point, conceding 63 runs in his 10 overs. Sri Lanka heaped humiliation with a nine-wicket triumph.

Malinga caused an early setback to Australia, David Warner mistiming a slower one into the hands of cover. He returned to castle Michael Clarke, finishing with two for 59. Australia hoisted 376 for nine. Sri Lanka put up a game fight but could advance only till 312.

Scotland were easy prey. Sri Lanka hammered 363 for nine. Off the second delivery, Kyle Coetzer looped a simple catch back to Malinga. Later in the innings he had Rob Taylor holing out to mid-on. His two wickets cost him 29 runs in 9 overs.

The quarter-final was a one-sided event with Sri Lanka collapsing to 133 all out. South Africa sauntered to a nine-wicket win, Malinga getting the lone wicket of Hashim Amla.

Though Malinga picked up wickets regularly, it was least productive of his four World Cup stints. His 12 wickets in 7 matches cost 29.50 each at an economy-rate of 5.56. It was the only World Cup in which he did not bag at least a four-wicket haul.                

Sri Lanka were not the same force in 2019, mainly due to the retirement of the stalwarts Jayawardene, Sangakkara and Dilshan. They were skittled out for 136 in the opening face-off with New Zealand. Malinga battled on but the Kiwis brought up a facile ten-wicket victory.

Restricted to 201 by the Afghans, Malinga had Mohammad Shahzad caught at mid-wicket to trigger a slide. He came back to terminate the innings, yorking Dawlat Zadran and Hamid Hassan. Afghanistan folded up for 152, Malinga returning with three for 39 in 6.4 overs. The fixtures with Pakistan and Bangladesh were washed out.

As the Australians went about buildings their innings, Malinga castled Steve Smith who was associated in a huge 173-run third-wicket partnership with Aaron Finch. The lone wicket cost 61 runs in his 10 overs in a total of 334 for seven. Sri Lanka were only able to score 247.

It was Malinga of yore in the encounter with the favourites England. Sri Lanka put up 232 for nine. A Malinga special trapped Jonny Bairstow leg-before off the second delivery of the innings for a duck. Soon he had the other opener James Vince taken at slip. Joe Root was battling through but Malinga had him caught behind down the leg-side. Not much later, his typically full delivery trapped Jos Buttler leg-before. The lower order could not provide much resistance, and England were bowled out for 212. Malinga bagged a rich harvest of four for 43 off his 10 overs. It was a special victory for Sri Lanka. Malinga was man-of-the-match for breaking the English back, as he captured his 50^th World Cup wicket, the quickest to do so.

The Proteas were too much of a handful. Sri Lanka were able to post only 203. Malinga’s in-swinging yorker crashed into the stumps of Quinton de Kock. That was the only breakthrough that the Lankans were able to make. South Africa sailed to a nine-wicket win. The solitary wicket cost Malinga 47 runs in his 10 overs.

There was course correction when Sri Lanka came up against the West Indies. The batsmen logged up 338 for six. Malinga was back at his best. His short one took Sunil Ambris’ top-edge on the way to the wicketkeeper. Soon, Shai Hope played on to his slower one. West Indies were in trouble at 22 for two. Despite a fightback the West Indies fell short. Malinga returned towards end of the innings, pitching it up and trapping Oshane Thomas leg-before. West Indies finished at 315 for nine. Malinga bagged three for 55.

In their last league match, Sri Lanka posted 264 for seven. The Indian top-order took the game away. Malinga could only take one wicket for 82 as Sri Lanka bowed out of the tournament.

It was a fine effort by the veteran. Picking up 13 wickets in 7 matches at an average of 28.69 and strike-rate of 6.04, Malinga played a vital part in each of Sri Lanka’s three victories. Ever a threat with his full-pitched deliveries, mixed with the odd short one, he remained a talisman for Sri Lanka even at nearly 36 years of age.                      

With 56 wickets to his name, Malinga is third in the list of World Cup wicket-takers behind Glenn McGrath and his great compatriot Muttiah Muralitharan. His strike-rate of 24.8 and average of 22.87 are further evidence of his incisive bowling. This bundle of energy has been an invaluable asset for Sri Lanka. Sadly, injuries prevented the full blooming of his Test career but he carried on in the shorter formats, electrifying crowds around the world with his stunning strikes.

(Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s forthcoming book ‘World Cup Odyssey’).

Road to the Cricket World Cup 2023. Hall of Fame: Michael Clarke

Joyride in an Aussie see-saw

Michael Clarke led Australia back to the pinnacle in 2015.

ONE-DAY WORLD CUP BATTING: Matches 25, Innings 21, Not Out 7, Highest Score 93*, Runs 888, Average 63.42, Strike-rate 94.16, 100s -, 50s 8, Catches 12 

It is not easy to bat no.4 in a line-up when the preceding batsmen are Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting, which is what Michael Clarke did for the most part in the 2007 World Cup. Nor is it easy to fill the void left behind by the elegant Mark Waugh. Yet this is what Clarke had to live up to. He was hailed as the next great batsman from Australia, successor to Ponting as captain and leading batsman. Clarke had it all: abundant natural talent, technique, poise, elegance, strokes, temperament. It was almost as if the cricketing world was waiting for him to emerge from the shadows of his great senior and express himself on a stage all his own, and he did. 

Clarke did all that was asked of him in the 2007 World Cup. In his 9 innings he hit up two nineties, two other half-centuries and two forties, was never dismissed in single digit, and had a brilliant average of 87.20 and strike-rate of 94.98. 

He shared a World Cup record fourth-wicket partnership of 204 with Brad Hodge against Holland at Basseterre, St. Kitts, as he logged his top score of 93 not out in the tournament. 

Coming up against a major side for the first time in the tournament, Clarke registered his second successive ninety. Gilchrist and Hayden had already smashed the South African bowlers all over Warner Park, racing to 106 inside 15 overs. Hayden and Ponting then added 61 in 8.4 overs. When Clarke walked in at 167 for two only 23.3 overs had been bowled, and Hayden had blazed to the fastest World Cup century in 66 balls. Along with the skipper, Clarke put on 161 runs in just 21.4 overs. Ponting departed for a run-a-ball 91, and shortly afterwards Clarke was run out for 92. He had played 75 deliveries and hammered 7 fours and 4 sixes. Australia zoomed to their highest total of 377 for six in the premier event. Try as they might, it was a bridge too far for the Proteas, though Graeme Smith and Abraham de Villiers raised 160 first up in a mere 20.6 overs, and the latter was dismissed for the third ninety of the match, also tragically run out. 

Australia lost two wickets relatively early against the West Indies in the first super-eight match. Clarke joined Hayden at 76 for two in the 15th over. They put on 98 in 16.1 overs before Dwayne Bravo trapped Clarke lbw for 41, having faced 47 deliveries and struck 4 boundaries. Hayden went on to hit up Australia’s highest score of 158 in the World Cup, paving the way for another easy win. 

England set a target of 248, and Clarke combined with Ponting again in a 112-run third-wicket stand in 21 overs. The captain was run out for 86 but Clarke saw Australia home with his unbeaten 55 off 63 balls with the help of 2 fours. 

Hardly any team was able to challenge Australia for the second consecutive World Cup. Sri Lanka could only post a total of 226. Clarke put on 47 this time with Ponting, but failed to keep a drive off leg-spinner Malinga Bandara on the ground and was taken in the covers for 23. Australia sailed to another seven-wicket victory. 

As Hayden came up with his third hundred of the tournament, off the Kiwi bowling, Clarke featured in a 72-run partnership with the burly opener in just 9.4 overs. In a rare misjudgement, he shouldered arms to a slower one from left-armer James Franklin and was bowled middle-stump for 49 after negotiating 46 deliveries and carving out 7 boundaries. Australia went on to amass 348 for six, coasting to an easy 215-run triumph. 

The Aussies were hardly tested in the tournament. Would the Proteas stretch them in the semi-final? The answer came very quickly as South Africa were bowled out for 149. They did get Gilchrist early, and then Ponting too, but Clarke linked up with Hayden in a 66-run stand. He brought up a facile seven-wicket win in the company of Andrew Symonds, top-scoring with an unbeaten 60 from 86 balls, having struck 8 fours. 

Clarke’s job was more or less over as Gilchrist turned the truncated final into a no-contest with his blitzkrieg. But he did get the opportunity to bowl his slow left-arm spin, and knocked over the stumps of top-scorer Sanath Jayasuriya and Chamara Silva. 

The talented Clarke was always at hand to back up the scintillating deeds of the big three in the Australian line-up in the hugely successful 2007 World Cup campaign. Invariably, his brief was to complete the work of the seniors and he did so with panache and style. He had already built up a formidable international record. The future beckoned Michael Clarke. 

By 2011, the team was already in decline but they began the tournament well. They faced Zimbabwe, a team fighting hard to find its feet back in international cricket. Shane Watson and Brad Haddin raised an opening partnership of 61, then skipper Ponting helped Watson add another 79, but both were out in quick succession. Clarke then built another partnership steadily with Cameron White. He hit his first boundary off his 25th delivery. Still, the runs came mainly in singles. The pair added 63 before White departed. He returned unbeaten with 58 off 55 balls, having struck 4 boundaries. Australia totalled 262 for six. It seemed a measured performance by a team short on self-belief, and determined to ease into the campaign on the right note against one of the weaker teams. Zimbabwe were dismissed for 171 with all the bowlers getting a good workout. 

The Australian bowlers did well to bowl out the Kiwis for 206 in 45.1 overs. This time Watson and Haddin put up 133. Clarke batted steadily, once again remaining not out, having scored 24 in 37 deliveries and picking up 4 fours along the way, helping bring up victory by 7 wickets in 34 overs.

There was a long wait of eight days before the next game, made longer by rain in Colombo after less than 33 overs in the Sri Lankan innings, resulting in abandonment. 

Another eight days later they took on Kenya but most of the batsmen were in good nick. Clarke allied with Michael Hussey in a brilliant fifth-wicket stand of 114 in a bit more than 16 overs. Hussey departed after scoring a rapid half-century. Clarke now got into belligerent mode. He was approaching his first century in the World Cup, having already equalled his highest score of 93, and averaging a Bradmanesque 122.20 in 12 innings at this point. But it was not to be, as he holed out at long-on. Clarke had finally got an average in this World Cup, another Bradman-like 175 in his three innings. He had struck 7 boundaries and a six in 80 balls. Australia finished on 324 for six. The Kenyan batsmen, particularly Collins Obuya and Tanmay Mishra, did well to respond with 264 for six. 

Canada were bowled out for 211. Clarke was unbeaten with 16 as his side rung in an easy seven-wicket victory. 

Now came a challenging final group match against Pakistan, the last team to beat Australia in the World Cup way back on 23rd May 1999 at Headingley by a mere 10 runs in a high-scoring match. Clarke came to the crease at 75 for two in the 19th over. He battled through as wickets fell at regular intervals on a wicket of variable bounce, aiding lateral movement. Abdul Razzaq bowled him as he attempted a pull. His 34 had taken 48 balls and contained 2 boundaries. Australia collapsed to 176 all out in 46.4 overs. A Herculean bowling effort by Brett Lee could not prevent the 34-match unbeaten World Cup spell of the Australians from being broken. 

This set up a high pressure quarter-final with home favourites India at Ahmedabad. As Ponting scored a vintage century, Clarke top-edged a sweep off player-of-the-tournament Yuvraj Singh, and holed out at mid-wicket for just 8, his first failure of the tournament at a crucial juncture. Australia did put up 260 for six but the inspired Indians won with relative ease. The days of glory in the World Cup were over for the time being. 

Clarke had built up an impressive record in the World Cup, 669 runs in 15 innings at a brilliant average of 83.62, albeit with 7 not outs, and a top strike-rate of 93.56. These were mainly performances when Australia were riding high. When the going got tough, Clarke did not dazzle so bright. Nevertheless, the polished batsman that he was, he carried out his duties magnificently most of the time. Back trouble begun affecting his career. That was the challenge he had to deal with in his quest to be ranked among the true greats of batsmanship. 

Captain in 2015, Clarke missed the opening fixture, while the second was washed out. In a match dominated by left-arm pacemen, Australia were dismissed for 151 by the Kiwis, with Trent Boult capturing five wickets. Clarke was caught in the covers for 12. Australia hit back, Mitchell Starc snaring six victims of his own. But in a nail-biting finish, New Zealand eked out a one-wicket win.

Australia recorded the biggest win in the World Cup, trouncing Afghanistan by 275 runs. Clarke did not bat. 

After the early dismissal of the openers to the Sri Lankan attack, Clarke settled into a fine partnership with Steve Smith. He gradually opened up and began scoring at a-run-a-ball. They put on 134 runs in 23.1 overs before Clarke was yorked by Lasith Malinga for 68, having struck 6 fours. Smith was out soon for 72. They had set up the platform for a fierce assault by Glenn Maxwell. He raced to his fifty in only 26 balls, and blasted his century off a mere 51 balls, second fastest in the World Cup after Irishman Kevin O’Brien’s whirlwind hundred in 50 deliveries in 2011. This was Australia’s fastest hundred in One-day Internationals. Australia totalled 376 for nine. There was a spirited chase by the Lankans, led by a fine hundred from Kumar Sangakkara. But the task was too great, and they folded up for 312 in 46.2 overs. The match aggregate of 688 runs was the highest in a World Cup game, surpassing the 676 for 18 wickets in 99.5 overs in the India-England tied match in 2011. 

Scotland were bowled out for 130. Clarke opened the batting, and again scored a polished run-a-ball 47, finding the boundary regularly. He smacked 2 sixes and 7 fours before being caught at square-leg. Australia brought up a seven-wicket win. 

Pakistan could put up just 213 in the quarter-final. Clarke was dismissed for 8, as the Aussies ran away victors by six wickets. 

In the semi-final, Australia logged up 328 for seven. Clarke fell for 10. India packed up for 233. Australia entered their 7th final in 11 World Cup tournaments. 

As the Aussie juggernaut rolled on, the final too turned into a one-sided affair. New Zealand were skittled out for 183. Clarke joined Smith at 63 for two, and looked in good nick. After taking his time to settle down, ensuring that there was no hiccup at the last post, he cut loose. Having posted his fifty off 56 balls, he slammed Tim Southee for four consecutive boundaries. With just 9 more runs to get, Clarke played on to Matt Henry. It was an innings befitting a final, 74 from 72 balls, embellished with a six and 10 fours. The partnership with Smith realised 112 runs in 18.5 overs. Australia won by 7 wickets, lifting the Cup for the fifth time. The home team won the title for the second time running. 

This was the least productive World Cup with the bat for Clarke, scoring 219 runs in his six innings at an average of 36.50, but with a high strike-rate of 96.50. In each of his three World Cup tournaments, his strike-rate was well above 90. That coupled with his average of 63.42 makes him one of the top performers with the willow for Australia. He could not hit a World Cup century, though, his top score being 93 not out. Ironically, he once said, “I've never scored an easy hundred, it's always been tough, especially against a very good attack.” 

He was a most attractive batsman to watch, smooth-stroking and playing close to the body. Clarke will be remembered as the man who scored a triple century and double century in the same Test series, joining the ranks of Wally Hammond and Don Bradman, two consecutive Test double centuries, and one who won the World Cup back for Australia. 

(Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s forthcoming book ‘World Cup Odyssey’).

Road to the Cricket World Cup 2023. Hall of Fame: Chris Gayle

It’s a storm, it’s a hurricane, no it’s Gayle

Chris Gayle, great entertainer with the mighty cudgel and an unforgettable character of the willow game.

ONE-DAY WORLD CUP BATTING: Matches 35, Innings 34, Not Out 1, Highest Score 215, Runs 1186, Average 35.93, Strike-rate 90.53, 100s 2, 50s 6, Catches 17

ONE-DAY WORLD CUP BOWLING: Balls 793, Maidens 3, Runs 652, Wickets 16, Average 40.75, Best Bowling 2/21, Runs/Over 4.93

It might seem an oxymoron, but Chris Gayle has been the elder statesman as well as rock star of world cricket. He went on and on, a much sought after acquisition in Twenty20 leagues around the world, having blazed a scorching trail in Test matches and One-day Internationals over two decades. In many ways he is a wonder of cricket in the 2000s. Remarkably consistent, Gayle over the years turned into a scintillating hitter, while at the same time shown a propensity to play long innings. He is one of four to hit up two triple-centuries in Test cricket, the others being the immortal Sir Donald Bradman, Brian Lara and Virender Sehwag. With 7,214 runs in 103 Tests at an average of 42.18 and 15 hundreds, he is one of the best openers produced by the West Indies. A tally of 10,480 runs in 301 One-day Internationals at an average of 37.83 and strike-rate of 87.19 with 25 centuries make his achievements monumental. His quickish off-spin has often been more than useful, particularly in One-dayers in which he captured 167 wickets at 35.48 each with an economy-rate of 4.78. Gayle is indeed a colossus.

Gayle has been a top performer in the World Cup as well. He had an impact in almost all his five World Cup tournaments even though the West Indies struggled to keep up with the best. When he began his stint in the showpiece event, it would have been hard to imagine that he would become the kind of striker that he did. He and his partner Wavell Hinds were scoreless after four overs against Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini, the only two runs on the board being extras. Gayle’s first run came off his 15^th delivery, while Hinds was caught behind by Mark Boucher off Pollock for a duck, having faced 16 balls. Gayle was bowled by Pollock for 2 from 21 deliveries. Brian Lara then scored a brilliant century and the West Indies totalled 278 for five. Gayle took two vital wickets. He had Pollock brilliantly caught by Carl Hooper and then castled Boucher one short of his fifty, sending the Proteas into a tail-spin at 204 for seven. These wickets cost Gayle 60 runs. There was some big hitting by Lance Klusener, supported by Nicky Boje. But West Indies won by 3 runs after South Africa received a penalty of one over for exceeding the time allowed to bowl their quota.

Things were more normal as they faced New Zealand. Set a target of 242, Gayle and Hinds raised 34 off 9.2 overs before Gayle departed for 22 off 29 balls. West Indies, though, lost by 20 runs.

Gayle was dismissed for nought before rain washed out most of the Bangladesh innings. John Davison blasted the then fastest hundred in the World Cup and well over half of Canada’s runs. Though Gayle could score only 8, West Indies sped to a seven-wicket win, hitting up 206 for three in 20.3 overs.

Thus far Gayle had a lean trot, but no longer. Sri Lanka posted 228 for six. Gayle had Sanath Jayasuriya caught at mid-wicket for 66, finishing with one for 42. He played a fine innings, even as Hinds and Lara left early. He did most of the scoring; Sarwan was hit on the ear by Dilhara Fernando, and immediately Carl Hooper was trapped leg-before by the same bowler. With Shivnaraine Chanderpaul settling down, Gayle brought up his half-century off 59 balls. He was lbw to Chaminda Vaas for 55, having faced 76 balls and struck 8 fours. Despite Chanderpaul’s 65 and a courageous unbeaten 47 by Sarwan, West Indies lost by 6 runs.

With no chance to qualify for the super-six, their last Pool B match was against Kenya who were having a dream run. This time Chanderpaul opened with Gayle, the pair hoisting 122 runs in 28.1 overs. They were dealing in boundaries, the fifty coming in 10.3 overs. Chanderpaul was first to his half-century off 46 deliveries. The hundred of the innings was raised in 21.4 overs. Gayle brought up his fifty in 88 balls. Chanderpaul holed out for 66, having faced 72 deliveries studded with 2 sixes and 7 fours. It might now seem surreal that the generally pedestrian Chanderpaul outscored the swashbuckling Gayle by a long way; it was the canny old warhorse outpacing the young colt still finding his feet in the big Derby. With wickets tumbling at the other end, Gayle hoisted his maiden World Cup century in 143 balls. Then he provided glimpses of what Gayle was to become in the years to come. After sweeping Maurice Odumbe for two off the first delivery, he smashed the last three balls for 6.4.6. He was caught by Collins Obuya in the covers off Angara for 119, his stay at the crease spanning 151 deliveries studded with 2 sixes and 8 fours. It was a splendid innings, a harbinger of things to come.

Personally, it would have been a satisfying first World Cup for Gayle, scoring a century and a fifty, averaging 34.33 in his six matches. His four wickets at under 5 runs an over were a bonus.

The 2007 tournament at home did not go as well as the charmers from the Caribbean Isles would have liked. The opening game, though, was heartening as they trounced Pakistan by 54 runs. Gayle was dismissed early, caught behind for 2.

Zimbabwe could only put up 202 for five. Gayle and Chanderpaul put on 73 in 17.3 overs, this time the younger man being the more belligerent. The highlight of Gayle’s knock was three consecutive sixes off seamer Tawanda Mupariwa, two over long-on and one above mid-wicket. Both fell at the same score, Gayle caught at slip for 40, having faced 48 balls and hit 3 sixes and 3 fours. West Indies sailed to a six-wicket win.

It was an easy eight-wicket triumph over Ireland, who had shocked Pakistan earlier. The Irish could manage only 183 for eight in their allotted 48 overs. Gayle had Andre Botha caught behind, and Kevin O’Brien taken at mid-wicket. He bagged two for 23 off his 10 overs. In attacking mode with the bat, he slammed 3 fours in his 18 off 14 balls before being caught at mid-off. Chanderpaul scored an unbeaten century and the West Indies ran away with the match. They had won all three of their Group D matches but there were sterner tests ahead.

There was a heavy defeat at the hands of the invincible Aussies in the first super-eight match, with Matthew Hayden hitting up a tremendous 158. Having got bogged down, Gayle tried to pull the relentless Glenn McGrath, only to top-edge it into the hands of mid-on, having scored just 2 off 23 balls.

Gayle battled at the top even as the side collapsed to the Kiwi attack. He featured in a 52-run second-wicket stand with Ramnaresh Sarwan in 8.3 overs but the West Indies kept losing wickets. Gayle broke the shackles with a flurry of boundaries. He scored 44 from 56 deliveries, having struck 8 fours. New Zealand easily overhauled the West Indies total of 177.

West Indies were next at the receiving end of Sanath Jayasuriya’s bludgeon as he and Mahela Jayawardene put Sri Lanka on top. Despite resistance from Chanderpaul and Sarwan a target of 304 was a bridge too far. Gayle skied Lasith Malinga, to be caught at long-on for 10.

A.B. de Villiers was in awesome touch as the South Africans piled up 356 for four. Gayle shared a 60-run second-wicket stand with Devon Smith. Unfortunately, he was run out by a superb direct hit by Ashwell Prince. He scored 32, having faced 35 balls and struck 3 fours. Despite a brilliant 92 by Sarwan, West Indies could manage just 289 for nine.

After all these reverses in the super-eight, there was some respite as Bangladesh could not put up much resistance. Gayle, though, was leg-before for 1. Sarwan was once again in wonderful touch, hitting up an unbeaten 91 as the West Indies notched up 230 for five in their 50 overs. Bangladesh were never in the hunt. Gayle wiped out the tail, picking up two for 28 in 8.5 overs as the West Indies won by 99 runs. 

With neither the West Indies nor England in a position to qualify for the semi-finals, the last super-eight fixture became the legend Brian Lara’s farewell. Fittingly, Gayle and Devon Smith gave a flying start. Gayle bludgeoned the bowlers all around. He hoisted his half-century off just 29 balls. The hundred of the innings came up in 14.3 overs. Gayle was caught at third-man for 79, a typically belligerent knock spanning 58 deliveries and comprising 3 sixes and 10 fours. The partnership was worth 131 in 23.5 overs. Gayle crossed Lara who was on the way in for his final international innings. The maestro was shaping well but was sadly run out for 18. West Indies were all out for 300 in 49.5 overs. A typically aggressive 100 from Kevin Pietersen put England on course but they kept losing wickets. With the last pair in, they scampered to victory with just one ball to spare. It was a poignant end to Lara’s great career. 

There were modest returns for Gayle. His 228 runs came at an average of 25.33, and his five wickets cost 56.20 each. It was his most disappointing World Cup.

It was not a happy start in 2011 either. Gayle was dismissed early for 2, and the West Indies could put up just 222 in 47.3 overs. Courtesy a brilliant unbeaten century by A.B. de Villiers, South Africa cantered to a seven-wicket win. 

In contrast, Holland did not provide much resistance. Gayle and Devon Smith were again in harness. Smith did most of the scoring till the fifty was posted in 9.2 overs. Then Gayle revved up his engine. Two deliveries after the 100 had come up in 16.1 overs, Smith was caught behind for 53. Gayle’s half-century came off 63 balls. He shifted gears, crashing two sixes atop long-off in the next over. The stand with Darren Bravo was worth 68 in 15.1 overs. Gayle holed out at long-off for 80. He had negotiated 110 deliveries, and hammered 2 sixes and 7 fours. Kieron Pollard crashed 60 in 27 balls, and the West Indies logged up 330 for eight. Holland scored exactly half of that in 31.3 overs.

Bangladesh packed up for 58 in 18.5 overs. Gayle scored an unbeaten 37 in 36 balls with 6 fours as the West Indies coasted to a nine-wicket win in 12.2 overs. There was an easy triumph over Ireland which Gayle missed due to an abdominal strain.

Gayle was back for the face-off with England who were bowled out for 243. He was in a belligerent mood, blasting Tim Bresnan for four boundaries in the third over. He took to Chris Tremlett in the fifth over, thumping him for 4.6.4.4. Gayle was leg-before to James Tredwell for 43 off a mere 21 deliveries studded with a six and 8 fours. This was in a partnership of 58 in 6.5 overs with Devon Smith. West Indies kept losing wickets to the spinners and were dismissed for 225.

Once again, Gayle missed the game against India that the hosts wrapped up easily. Pakistan shot out the West Indies for 112 in the quarter-final. Gayle was caught at mid-off for 8, trying to belt the cover off the ball. Pakistan cruised to a ten-wicket win.

Though dogged by injury and having to skip a couple of games, it was a more productive World Cup for Gayle. His 170 runs came at an average of 42.50 with a strike-rate of 94.97.

There was a shock defeat at the hands of Ireland in 2015. Gayle played a sedate innings of 36, holing out to wide long-on after negotiating 65 deliveries. Lendl Simmons scored a superb 102 off 84 balls on World Cup debut. West Indies logged up 304 for seven. But splendid batting by the Irish top-order took them to a comfortable four-wicket win.

West Indies quickly corrected course, putting up 310 for six off the Pakistani attack. Gayle, though, perished for 4. They then dismissed Pakistan for 160.

And then came the celebrated encounter with Zimbabwe. Gayle smashed the first double century of the World Cup, and the first double century by a non-Indian in One-day Internationals. Earlier, in chronological order, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Rohit Sharma (two) had hit double tons in One-dayers. New Zealander Martin Guptill joined the club later in this World Cup. Amazingly, Rohit Sharma smashed a third double hundred in 2017, Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman joined the league in 2018, and yet another Indian Ishan Kishan made his entry in 2022. After Dwayne Smith was dismissed off the second delivery of the match, Gayle and Marlon Samuels batted through the rest of the innings, putting on 372 runs for the 2^nd wicket, the highest-ever partnership in the World Cup and in all One-day Internationals. Gayle was out off the last ball of the innings, his 215 obviously being the highest score in the World Cup at that stage until Guptill knocked up an unbeaten 237 in the quarter-finals. Gayle’s monumental knock spanned 147 deliveries. Samuels was unbeaten with 133 from 156 balls with 3 sixes and 11 fours. The 16 sixes rocketed by Gayle were the maximum in a World Cup innings, equalling the feats of Rohit Sharma and A.B. de Villiers in all One-day Internationals. Gayle’s 136 runs in boundaries (16 sixes, 10 fours) were the highest in an innings in the World Cup until Guptill hit up 162 (11 sixes, 24 fours) in his epic knock. Gayle brought up his 9,000 runs in One-day Internationals, emulating Brian Lara’s feat. West Indies piled up 372 for two, their highest in the World Cup and in all One-day Internationals. Despite spirited resistance by the middle-order, Zimbabwe were all out for 289. Gayle bagged two wickets for 35 runs off his 6 overs and pouched a catch. He was, obviously, the man-of-the-match.

After the highs of this match, came the blitzkrieg from A.B. de Villiers. He blasted the then second-fastest hundred and fastest 150 in the World Cup on the way to his unbeaten 162 off a mere 66 balls. South Africa hoisted 408 for five. Gayle was bowled for 3, and all that the West Indies managed was 151 in 33.1 overs. 

Gayle got a start against India but holed out at square-leg for 21. West Indies could only put together 182 runs. India overhauled this score with relative ease, losing six wickets in the process. A back strain kept Gayle out of the game against United Arab Emirates.

The quarter-final was a Guptill show. He smashed an astonishing double century, second in the World Cup after Gayle. His unbeaten 237 was the highest score in the World Cup, surpassing Gayle’s 215 less than a month earlier. New Zealand’s 393 for six was their highest total in the World Cup. Gayle too was in a belligerent mood. A rollicking stand of 53 in 3.4 overs with Marlon Samuels set the tone for the West Indies innings. Tim Southee came in for special treatment, and then Gayle clouted Daniel Vettori for three consecutive sixes on the on-side. Gayle smashed his fifty off just 26 deliveries. He had 8 sixes and 2 fours in his 33-ball pyrotechnics, 56 runs in boundaries in his knock of 61, an overwhelming percentage of 91.80. West Indies were bowled out for 250 in 30.3 overs.

This was, by far, Gayle’s best World Cup. An aggregate of 340 in 6 matches with an average of 56.66 and strike-rate of 117.24 would have provided him much satisfaction.

At almost 40 years of age, Gayle was back for his fifth World Cup in 2019. Pakistan could only put up 105 runs in 21.4 overs. Gayle was at his aggressive best. After two consecutive boundaries there were two sixes in a row, in successive overs from Hasan Ali, and another two fours in his next over. Then it was Wahab Riaz’s turn. Gayle hammered him for 6.4.4 to long-off, cover and square-leg. He got his fifty off 33 balls but was out in the same over, having smacked 3 sixes and 6 fours. He now had the highest number of 40 sixes in the World Cup, going past A.B. de Villiers. West Indies cantered to a seven-wicket win. 

In a closely-contested match, Australia put up 288 runs. Gayle was looking good, cracking Pat Cummins for three boundaries in an over, joining the World Cup 1000-run club. But Mitchell Starc trapped him leg-before for 21. Despite the efforts of the middle-order, West Indies could only total 273 for nine as Starc ran through the tail with a five-wicket haul. 

The faceoff with South Africa was disrupted by rain. After a pensive start against England, Gayle reeled off a string of five boundaries and a straight six in quick succession. But he was caught on the hook for 36 off 41 deliveries. West Indies could only put up 212. A superb unbeaten 100 by Joe Root carried England to an eight-wicket win.

Gayle was unusually subdued in the match-up with Bangladesh and was caught behind for a duck, having faced 13 deliveries. Splendid batting by the top-order took the West Indies to 321 for eight. But a brilliant hundred by Shakib Al Hasan and his unbroken 189-run stand with Liton Das earned Bangladesh a remarkably easy seven-wicket victory.

A classy 148 by Kane Williamson helped the Kiwis to a total of 291 for eight. Gayle was in great nick. Having settled down, he slammed Matt Henry for 3 sixes and 2 fours in a couple of overs. He found an able ally in Shimron Hetmyer. Gayle raised his half-century in 51 balls. Mitchell Santner faced the fury of his punishing blade, being hit for 3 sixes and a boundary in two overs. The duo put on 122 runs in 15.5 overs for the third wicket. Gayle was caught at long-on for 87, having taken on 84 deliveries and hammered 6 sixes and 8 fours. Carlos Brathwaite hit a brilliant century; the match went right down to the wire. Adding vital runs with the tail, Brathwaite was caught on the long-on boundary for 101, just five short of the New Zealand total. A few inches, and it would have been the opposite result. That is the distance between agony and ecstasy in cricket! 

India were too strong, posting 268 for seven and then bowling out the West Indies for 143. Gayle was caught at mid-on for 6.

There was a better performance against Sri Lanka, but still a defeat. The Lankans logged up 338 for six. Gayle played a sedate cameo bereft of histrionics for the most part. His first boundary came off the 32^nd delivery he faced. He broke free twice, tonking Kasun Rajitha for sixes on the on-side. The bowler, though, got reprisal immediately, having Gayle caught off a steepler. His 35 spanned 48 deliveries. Nicholas Pooran hit up a fine century, and Fabian Allen knocked up a belligerent fifty but the West Indies fell 23 runs short of the Lankan score. 

There was just the proverbial pride to play for when the two bottom-placed outfits met in their last league fixture. Gayle was caught behind for 7 and he trudged back slowly, probably for the last time in the showpiece event. West Indies batted well through the order to log up 311 for six. Afghanistan fought hard but were beaten by 23 runs.

There were modest returns for Gayle, 242 runs at an average of 30.25, a strike-rate of 88.32 and two fifties. But he provided yeomen service to the West Indies through the best part of two decades. In an interview to The Telegraph, he provided an insight into his mindset, “If you watch my career it’s a lot of failures more than success over the 20 years. As a cricketer you have to understand you’ll fail more than you succeed. It’s tough man. That’s why I’m saying if you’re not mentally strong you’ll walk away from the game. Especially if you’re not performing well it’s even tougher. But you have to embrace it - accept it and tell yourself you will bounce back and come back stronger. You’ve got to know how to pull through these moments.”

A colourful figure on the field with his twirling locks and big, ever-ready smile, he is the sixth-highest scorer in the World Cup with 1186 runs at 35.93 per innings, a strike-rate of 90.53, two hundreds and 6 half-centuries, one of 21 players to notch up 1,000 runs, and one of only two to hit up a double-century. The records don’t end there. He has by far the most sixes in the World Cup (49), most sixes in a World Cup (26 in 2015), second-highest number of sixes in an innings (16 to Eoin Morgan’s 17), and second in terms of runs in boundaries in an innings (136 to Martin Guptill’s 162). His bowling has been handy, 16 wickets at 40.75 apiece at 4.93 runs an over, not forgetting his reliability in the field with 17 catches. But the mountain of statistics scarcely tell the full tale of Chris Gayle. He has been one of the greatest entertainers with the mighty cudgel, one of the unforgettable characters of the willow game.

(Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s forthcoming book ‘World Cup Odyssey’).

Road to the Cricket World Cup 2023. Hall of Fame: Daniel Vettori

 Wheeling away the left-armers relentlessly

 

ONE-DAY WORLD CUP BOWLING: Matches 32, Balls 1689, Maidens 12, Runs 1168. Wickets 36, Average 32.44, Best Bowling 4/18, Runs/Over 4.14, 4 Wkts/Inn 2, Catches 9

One of the finest left-arm spinners to emerge from New Zealand, Daniel Vettori was a useful lower middle-order batsman who could open when required. The youngest to represent New Zealand in Tests at just 18 years, he had a long and durable career. With over 4,500 runs in his 113 Tests at an average of 30 and 6 centuries, in addition to his 362 wickets at 34.36 apiece, he could definitely be considered an underrated allrounder, unsung and unheralded. This was supplemented by 2,253 runs and 305 wickets in One-day Internationals. He had accuracy as well as all the nuances of a world-class left-armer, his longevity a testimony to his class and fitness. It was his bowling that was to the fore in the World Cup, particularly in 2007 and 2015.

Vettori first appeared in the 2003 event, but was able to make a mark only for his accurate bowling, conceding less than 4 runs an over in his 7 matches. He took just two wickets in 65 overs as the Kiwis reached the super-six stage. Opening the batting in two of his three innings, he was barely able to get past single figures in each.

There was regular success with the ball for Vettori in the 2007 World Cup. After going wicketless in the victory over England, he had a good stint in the faceoff with Kenya. He took a brilliant return catch to dismiss top-scorer Ravindu Shah for 71. He deceived Jimmy Kamande with an armer and bowled him. His return was two for 45 in an easy win.

The Canadians found him difficult to decipher after New Zealand had posted 363 for five. With John Davison going on the rampage as was his wont, Vettori dismissed his partner Geoff Barnett who scored a fine 40. He edged a quicker one into the gloves of Brendon McCullum. Asish Bagai had played himself in but came too far forward, played all over the ball and was bowled. Ashif Mulla had no idea about one that struck his pad right in front. Vettori finished with three for 57 as New Zealand won all three of their Group C fixtures.

Vettori ran through the lower-order as hosts West Indies folded up for 177 in the super-eight. Denesh Ramdin holed out at point. In his next over, Dwayne Smith was bowled trying to sweep, and immediately after Daren Powell was trapped leg-before. Vettori bagged three for 39 in 9 overs, comprising a maiden, as the Kiwis continued on their winning spree.

As Bangladesh were brushed aside, Vettori was wicketless but conceded just 34 runs in his 10 overs. It was a facile nine-wicket win, skipper Stephen Fleming scoring a superb hundred.

Giant-killers, and surprise super-eight qualifiers, Ireland could not stretch the New Zealanders who were on a roll. Chasing a target of 264, the Irish lost five wickets for just 125. Vettori was wicketless so far in his six overs, having conceded 21 runs. He trapped then Andrew White leg-before for a duck as he tried to sweep a straight one. In his next over, Peter Gillespie played all over one and was also plumb leg-before. He put the Irish out of their misery in the succeeding over, clean bowling Kyle McCallan and hitting Boyd Rankin on the front boot right in front, both for ducks. These were four of Vettori’s easiest wickets, having conceded 23 runs in 8.4 overs as Ireland plummeted to 134 all out.

Despite a fine century by Scott Styris, the New Zealand winning run came to an end as the Sri Lankans continued to surge forward. Having posted a modest 219 for seven, their bowling was dominated by a century stand by the stalwarts Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara. Vettori had Mahela Jayawardene caught at mid-wicket. Later, he beat Chamara Silva in the air and had him taken at long-off. Sangakkara stayed on to usher in victory by six wickets. Vettori finished with two for 35.

New Zealand were back to winning ways as South Africa were able to muster only 193 for seven. After both the openers had fallen cheaply, Vettori broke an ominous stand between Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs, having the former caught in the covers for 22. He finished with one for 50. New Zealand won by five wickets.

The Aussies were irresistible in this tournament. They thrashed the Kiwis by 215 runs in their last super-eight encounter. Vettori was wicketless, having conceded 60 runs.

Facing Sri Lanka again in the semi-final, New Zealand could not avenge their previous defeat. Vettori could only bag the wicket of opener Upul Tharanga, giving away 51 runs.

This was the most productive World Cup of Vettori’s career. He snapped up 16 wickets at 27.93 each, with a best of four for 43, though he was a bit expensive by his standards with an economy rate of 4.57. He completed his quota of 10 overs in almost every match underlining his worth to his side which performed creditably in this tournament.

Captain in 2011, Vettori missed two matches due to injury and struggled to get wickets, but was nagging with his accuracy. Kenya were trounced but Australia took the Kiwis to task. They slumped to 66 for six, and then 121 for seven when Vettori joined Nathan McCullum at the end of 29 overs. They put on 54 runs in 12.2 overs before McCullum departed for a well-complied half-century. Vettori now had to push the score along. Brett Lee had him caught behind. He had played a fine hand of 44 off 43 deliveries, having hit 5 boundaries. Off the next ball, New Zealand were dismissed for 206. Australia breezed to a seven-wicket win. Vettori opened the bowling but without success.

There was not much resistance from Zimbabwe. Vettori had his most productive outing with the ball. In his first over, he trapped his opposite number Elton Chigumbura leg-before, and two balls later had Regis Chakabva caught at slip. It was a double-wicket maiden. Zimbabwe were skittled for 162, Vettori finishing with two for 25 in his 10 overs. The Kiwi openers knocked off the runs in 33.3 overs. Vettori injured his knee while fielding against Pakistan. He had to miss the next two matches, Ross Taylor deputizing for him.

He returned for the face-off with South Africa in the quarter-final. The Proteas batting let them down and were overcome easily. Vettori opened the bowling but was wicketless, giving away 39 runs in his quota of 10 overs.

Once again Sri Lanka defeated the Kiwis in the semi-final. Vettori trapped Mahela Jayawardene for 1, this time conceding 36 runs.  

Vettori had just three wickets to show for his efforts in the tournament, though he was thrifty with just 3.60 runs per over taken off him. He may well have rued his missed chances on the sub-continental tracks.           

In contrast, it was a fine World Cup for Vettori on home turf in 2015. Brendon McCullum had taken over the captaincy. In the opening encounter New Zealand put it across Sri Lanka, avenging defeats in the semi-finals of the previous two World Cup tournaments. Consistent batting through the order enabled the hosts to amass 331 for six. Sri Lanka began well but lost their way. Vettori had a hand in this in more ways than one. Openers Lahiru Thirimanne and Tillakaratne Dilshan gave a fine start of 67 before the latter hit back a catch to Vettori. Another stand of 57 followed between Thirimanne and Kumar Sangakkara before the latter departed for 65. Immediately, Vettori struck a huge blow, having Jayawardene caught behind by Luke Ronchi for a duck. Sangakkara was out in the next over, and Sri Lanka were in trouble at 129 for four in 23.5 overs. Angelo Mathews fought hard, but having scored 46, top-edged a short one from Tim Southee, and Vettori at mid-on took a brilliant catch diving forward. Sri Lanka folded up for 233. Vettori bagged two for 34.

Southee and Boult struck early blows to reduce Scotland to 12 for four. Matt Machan 56 (79 balls) and Richie Berrington 50 (80 balls) put up a fine 97-run partnership in 23.3 overs. But wickets began tumbling again. It was left to Vettori to wipe out the tail. He had Rob Taylor stumped by Ronchi, got Majid Haq caught by Taylor at slip, and trapped Iain Wardlaw leg-before, snapping up three of the easiest wickets of his career. He had an analysis of 8.2-1-24-3 as the Scots tumbled for 142. There were four golden ducks in Scotland’s innings. New Zealand made heavy weather of the chase, losing seven wickets before romping home, with Vettori not out on 8.      

England capsized for 123. Vettori dismissed the captain Eoin Morgan for 17, which really began the slide. He ended up with one for 19 off 7 overs. New Zealand knocked off the runs for the loss of two wickets, with McCullum setting a blistering pace, as was his wont.

The face-off between the co-hosts was a humdinger, with the Kiwis pipping the Trans-Tasman rivals by one wicket. It was a low-scoring encounter in which left-arm bowlers dominated, grabbing 14 out of the 19 wickets that fell. Shane Watson pulled Vettori to be caught at mid-wicket. He then got Steve Smith to edge into the gloves of Ronchi. These were two vital wickets. Vettori completed his quota of 10 overs, giving away 41 runs. Australia slumped to 151 all out. New Zealand seemed well on course but lost wickets in bunches, eventually pulling off a nail-biting win.

The Afghans were mystified by Vettori’s guile. He came on for the third over, and with his first delivery bowled Usman Ghani through the gate with an armer. Nawroz Mangal tried to cut Vettori but was castled. It was Vettori’s 300^th wicket in One-day Internationals, the 12^th bowler to achieve the feat. Mohammad Nabi edged Vettori, and Ross Taylor snapped up a fine catch at slip. Next ball, he trapped Afsar Zazai plumb in front of the stumps. Afghanistan were 59 for six. Samiullah Shenwari 54 (110 balls) and Najibullah Zadran 56 (56 balls) put up a fight and helped post 186 on the board. Vettori bagged four for 18 off his 10 overs, four of which were maidens, his best World Cup figures. This time New Zealand’s left-armers prised out nine of the ten Afghan wickets. New Zealand brought up a six-wicket win. Vettori was man-of-the-match. 

In a keenly-contested match, New Zealand beat Bangladesh by three wickets. Vettori had Soumya Sarkar caught at long-on, ending a 90-run stand with Mahmudullah who scored a brilliant unbeaten century. Vettori finished with one for 42. Guptill’s hundred helped chase down a target of 289, Vettori remaining unbeaten with 16.

Guptill’s monumental unbeaten 237 dominated the quarter-final with the West Indies. But there was a magical moment from Vettori as he held a stupendous one-handed catch on the third-man boundary, leaping up in the air. “I was lucky enough to take the catch of Marlon Samuels,” he recounted. “I was at third man, and you don't expect that sort of catch, but it was a pretty crucial moment in the game because Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels had just started to take off and were obviously chasing a huge score, as Martin Guptill had got a double hundred.” Later, a quicker one from Vettori had Jonathan Carter playing on to the stumps. Vettori wrapped up the match by having the belligerent Jason Holder caught at long-off. Vettori bagged two for 58 off 6.3 overs. It was a huge win by 143 runs.

It was a tremendous semi-final that went to the penultimate delivery, with rain and the Duckworth-Lewis method coming into play. Vettori was wicketless but was there at the crease with 7 runs when man-of-the-match Grant Elliott slammed Dale Steyn for that winning six. There were 11 runs needed in the final over, and Vettori’s boundary off the third ball was a huge relief to the team’s cause.

New Zealand were in their first World Cup final. Maybe they were overawed by the occasion, being bowled out for 183. The Aussies ran away victors by seven wickets.

With 15 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 20.46 and economy-rate of 4.04, it was a laudable effort by Vettori and a vital element in the Kiwis’ march to their first World Cup final. With 36 scalps overall, he was the third-highest wicket-taker among spinners in the premier event behind the great Muralitharan and Imran Tahir. He was relentless as ever, accurate if not incisive, as his average of 32.44 and economy-rate of 4.14 testify, a steadfast soldier of New Zealand cricket.

(Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s forthcoming book ‘World Cup Odyssey’).