Greatest all-round performances in cricket World Cup: Cricket much like any team sport requires all the members to step up. But there have been instances where an individual brilliance has taken away the game from the opposition. The cricket World Cup has been no exception. Players have switched on their best in the most crucial stage to deliver from both fronts.
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We look at the greatest all-round performances in cricket World Cup:
#7 Lance Klusener – 52 runs and 3 wickets
It was the Lance Klusener show in the 1999 World Cup. He was touted to have a breakthrough tournament and he lived up to every inch of that promise. Klusener was thoroughly deserving of the MOS award.
One of his finest performances in the tournament came in the game against Sri Lanka. South Africa at one stage were 122-8 and it was Klusener’s 52 that took them to a respectable total. Klusener starred with the ball too picking up 3 wickets to help South Africa win comfortably.
#6 Andy Bichel – 7 wickets and 34 runs
The quality of Australia’s side in the 2003 World Cup was such that every player stepped up to win the game during the course of the tournament. In the game against England, it was Andy Bichel’s turn to deliver. Bichel broke the back of England’s batting with a seven-wicket haul (7-20). In reply, Australia was reduced to 135-8. Bichel stepped up with the bat this time and scored a handy 34 to take Australia home.
#5 Neil Johnson – 76 runs and 3 wickets
It was one of the biggest upsets of the 1999 ODI World Cup. Zimbabwe was the underdog against a formidable South African side. Neil Johnson had an unforgettable game with both the bat and the ball. Opening the batting he scored a fine 76 and picked up the wicket off the very first ball of South Africa’s innings. He picked up a total of 3 wickets to shock South Africa. This loss cost the Proteas a valuable 2 points and robbed them of a spot in the finals.
#4 Yuvraj Singh – 2 wickets and 57 runs
He was already having a great tournament. Yuvraj Singh wrote his name into record books with a memorable performance in the 2011 quarterfinals. Singh picked up 2 crucial wickets in the middle overs to restrict the Aussies from going big. He walked into bat with India in a tight spot losing 5 wickets at 180 odd runs. Singh brought all his talent and experience to the fore and smashed a brilliant 57 to shut the doors on Australia.
#3 Wasim Akram – 33 runs and 3 wickets
It was meant to be Pakistan’s night at the MCG in the 1992 World Cup final. Wasim Akram as he so often does hit a quick-fire cameo (33 off 21 balls) to take Pakistan to a formidable total of 249-6. The game was tantalizingly poised at the end of 34 overs.
Akram who had earlier picked the wicket of Ian Botham returned for another spell. In a terrific display of reverse swing, Akram got two wickets in a single over to help Pakistan lift their maiden ODI World Cup.
#2 Aravinda de Silva – 3 wickets and 107 runs
In terms of sheer numbers, there can’t be any performance bigger than this in a World Cup final. Aravinda de Silva though was meant for the big stage. His off-spin had a strangling effect on Aussie batsmen. He returned with figures of 3-42 in his 10 overs. Silva’s main act though came in the second innings. He smashed a terrific 107 to take Sri Lanka to glory in the 1996 World Cup final.
#1 Mohinder Amarnath – 26 runs and 3 wickets
He is one of the main reasons why the game is so big especially in the subcontinent today. Mohinder Amarnath delivered two greatest all-round performances in two of the biggest games successively. He scored a valuable 26 in India’s total of 183.
His gentlest of medium pacers then took over as he picked up 3 important wickets. It was only fitting that he picked the last wicket and did a celebratory run. Little did he know he has played a big part in the game’s transformation!
