Six tops and flops at the Cricket World Cup

Australia beat India by six wickets to carry their sixth title in the Cricket World Cup in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

We have a look at the tops and flops at the thirteenth version of the event.

Tops

Afghanistan

The Afghans loved stellar performances beginning with their beautiful win over defending champions England.

In the first main upset of the event, Afghanistan posted 284 and then bowled out England for 215 with spin wizard Rashid Khan taking three wickets.

The efficiency was no flash in the pan as they stored up their giant-killing act and hammered neighbours Pakistan by eight wickets to set off wild celebrations.

They completed with 4 victories together with in opposition to Sri Lanka and the Netherlands, prompting coach Jonathan Trott to foretell a “bright future” for the staff.

Glenn Maxwell

Maxwell smashed the event’s quickest century in 40 balls in a match-winning 106 in opposition to the Netherlands in New Delhi.

But Maxwell had solely simply received began as he then defied cramp and again spasms in a knock for the ages when he lifted Australia from 91-7 to victory with an unbeaten 201 in opposition to Afghanistan in Mumbai.

Known as “The Big Show” for his swashbuckling batting, Maxwell destroyed the Afghan bowling assault with 21 fours and 10 sixes in his 128-ball blitz.

He was the dominant associate in a 202-run stand with skipper Pat Cummins, who referred to as Maxwell’s knock a “freak show” and the “greatest ODI innings”.

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli lived as much as his billing as one in all the modern-day greats, recording a fiftieth ODI century to go previous compatriot Sachin Tendulkar’s 49 tons.

He achieved the feat in India’s semi-final in opposition to New Zealand at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, the residence floor of Tendulkar.

Kohli, 35, amassed 765 runs together with three a whole bunch in 11 matches to finish up as the main batsman in the event.

Teammate and quick bowler Mohammed Shami additionally performed his function in getting the staff to the remaining. He sat out the first 4 video games however made a huge effect on his return with 24 wickets together with a 7-57 in the semi-final.

Flops

Pakistan

Babar Azam’s staff got here in with big expectations and began with two victories earlier than their marketing campaign hit a wall in the shadow of proper safety which director of cricket Mickey Arthur branded as “stifling”.

A loss to India and then Australia hit them onerous, but it surely was their defeat to Afghanistan that harm as tempo ace Shaheen Shah Afridi appeared out of types with 58 runs from his 10 overs and one wicket.

They slipped to their fourth loss in a heartbreaking one-wicket defeat to South Africa, a defeat Azam believed dented their semi-final hopes.

Fakhar Zaman’s match-winning 126 not out in opposition to New Zealand was a uncommon spotlight earlier than the 1992 champions crashed out and Azam resigned as captain from all codecs.

Buttler and England

Jos Buttler got here into the event as captain of one in all the fancied groups out to defend their title however their marketing campaign fizzled out early after only one win in the first seven matches.

Buttler failed to offer any inspiration as he flopped with the bat, managing simply 138 runs from 9 matches.

It was a uncommon failure for Buttler, who scored 269 in six matches when he led the staff to their maiden T20 World Cup victory in 2021.

Spirit of cricket

Sri Lanka batsman Angelo Mathews grew to become the first batsman in 146 years of worldwide cricket to be given “timed out” in an ill-tempered match in opposition to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan appealed after Mathews did not take strike inside the two-minute time restrict when he got here out to bat in New Delhi and was adjudged out.

Mathews branded Shakib “disgraceful” and the episode left the cricket world divided and the “spirit of cricket” debate reignited.

Ex-india batsman Gautam Gambhir referred to as the act “absolutely pathetic”.

India coach Rahul Dravid mentioned “we won’t do it” however “you can go and debate both the situations”.