The recent ICC World Cup witnessed many heroic batting performances. Onmanorama picks the top five knocks from the quadrennial showpiece.
1. Rohit Sharma 140 vs Pakistan
In the absence of his regular opening partner Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma had a huge responsibility on his shoulders in this marquee game against the arch-rivals. Rohit rose to the occasion and scored 140 off just 113 balls, powering India to a total of 336/5. He also made the highest score in Indo-Pak World Cup matches.
2. Eoin Morgan 148 vs Afghanistan
This innings was simply superb not just because it was the fastest World Cup ton scored by an English batsman (off 57 balls), but Eoin Morgan started feasting on the Afghan bowlers from the very first ball. The England captain smashed a total of 17 sixes - that is 102 of his total of 148 came in sixes. The innings was special because it literally rained sixes once Morgan came into the middle.
3. Carlos Brathwaite 101 vs New Zealand
Carlos Brathwaite walked in with the Windies struggling at 142/4. He scored a scintillating century, almost taking his team home. Chasing a total of 292, with little help from his teammates, Brathwaite launched a blistering counter-attack scoring 101. His team fell five runs short of the target when he was caught by Trent Boult while trying to hit one out of the ground off Jimmy Neesham. Nevertheless, this was a stand-out innings with five sixes and nine fours.
4. Kane Williamson 106 not out vs South Africa
Chasing a target of 242 in 49 overs, the Kiwis were in a spot of bother at 80/4. However, Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson patiently saw through the innings by forming partnerships with all-rounders Jimmy Neesham (23) and Colin de Grandhomme (60). Williamson stood unbeaten, calmly finishing the match with a six in the last over of this nail-biting contest.
5. Shakib Al Hasan 124 not out vs West Indies
Chasing a stiff target of 322, Shakib Al Hasan scored a splendid unbeaten 124 to guide Bangladesh to victory. The left-hander took no risks at all and scored 16 boundaries as he took his team to their highest successful World Cup run chase. Shakib added 189 runs in the company of Liton Das (91 not out) for the unfinished fourth wicket.
