ICC World T20: Best Partnership by an Opener, Middle Order Batsmen and Nation Wise

ICC World T20: Best Partnership by an Opener

They came, they smashed and made the best first wicket partnership total of 145 runs, but all went in drain for West Indies against Proteas bowling attack. Chris Gayle and Devon Smith are the best opening pair to date in the history of ICC World T20, where they both gave a sound base to the West Indies batting line by scoring 145 runs. As the Windies lost Devon’s early wicket who went to the pavilion at 35 of 34 balls, none of the players except Chris Gayle stood firm on the crease. Chris Gayle’s individual score was 117 runs of 57 balls with 10 sixes and 7 fours, which is still unbeaten. West Indies were all out on 205 runs.

South Africa achieved the target with a loss of 2 wickets and won the match by 8 wickets. Although South Africa won the first ever match of the 2007 ICC World T20, player of the match award went to Chris Gayle on is phenomenal performance with the bat.

ICC World T20: Best Partnership by a Middle Order Batsman

Pakistan’s performance in the T20 Cricket has remained brilliant where Pakistan team holds many records in batting as well as bowling. Pakistan’s middle order batting holds the record of best 5th wicket partnership of 119 runs which were scored by  Shoaib Malik in conjunction with Misbah ul Haq batting second against Australia during 2007 ICC World T20.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first. Australia scored165 runs with the loss of 7 wickets. Batting second, Pakistani openers gave a shaky start as 4 wickets fell on 46 runs. Shoaib Malik’s 52 run and Misbah ul Haq’s 66 runs brought the team back into the match and Pakistan won the match by 6 wickets. Misbah ul Haq was declared as player of the match. This 5^th wicket partnership turned to be a winning combination for Pakistan and still none of players from any nation has broken this record to date.

ICC World T20: Best Partnerships Nation Wise

A good partnerships at the crease in cricket is simply an attempt to spin out as many runs as possible, or to stay on the pitch as long as possible when it comes to save the game for own side. Following is a Nation wise list of best runs partnerships which were made during 2007-2010 ICC World T20 matches:

Players	Team	Partnership	Wicket
Mahela Jayawardene, Sangakkara	Sri Lanka	166	2nd
Chris Gayle, DS Smith	West Indies	145	1st
Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt	Pakistan	142	1st
Gautam Gambhir, Sehwag	India	136	1st
Herschelle Gibbs, JM Kemp	South Africa	120	3rd
C Kieswetter, KP Pietersen	England	111	2nd
Aftab Ahmed,Ashraful	Bangladesh	109	3rd
Adam Gilchrist, Mathew Hayden	Australia	104	1st
V Sibanda, Ross Taylor	Zimbabwe	74	1st
CD McMillan, JDP Oram	New Zealand	73	6th

ICC World T20: Most Centuries by Middle Order Batsmen

As there are only three centuries scored in ICC World T20 i.e. by Chris Gayle (West Indies), Suresh Raina (India) and Mahela Jayawardene (Srilanka), the only middle order batsman amongst the three who demonstrated his skill consummately is Suresh Raina of India. Suresh Raina made 101 runs of 60 balls against South Africa in 2010 ICC World T20 played at Gros Islet, West Indies. Playing on a Middle Order position in the discussed match, Suresh Raina was instrumental in facilitating strength to Indian batting with a swashbuckling flourish. Indian scorecard was glittered with his outstanding 100 runs where his 6 other mates overall contributed 80 runs to the Indian score of 186 runs against South Africa.

India which was in troubled waters due to the fall of 2 early wickets won the match by 14 runs, where Suresh Raina was awarded as Player of the Match.

It is of utmost importance in Cricket to understand the value of Middle batting order. Middle order batting in cricket and especially T20 is very important. In the fast and short format of T20 Cricket, middle order can get exposed to the opponents when the ball is almost fully new and the main pace attack is still their. Centuries by middle Order batsmen thus can change the result of any cricket match.

ICC World T20: Best Partnerships World Cup Wise

The importance of partnerships in a cricket match cannot be ruled out. The best example in this regard is 1992 Cricket World Cup final where Pakistan batting first was in troubled waters due to the fall of early wickets but an outstanding partnership between skipper Imran Khan and sweep shot King Javed Miandad led Pakistan to win the World Cup against England.

Partnerships at the crease have their own significance not only in Test cricket and ODIs but even in T20 game. Looking at the best partnerships at the 2007 ICC World T20, Chris Gayle and DS Smith’s match winning first wicket partnership of 145 runs for West Indies did not do any wonders for them. With the fall of first wicket, West Indies batting line fell like a pack of cards against South Africa at Johannesburg.

During 2009 ICC World T20, most runs partnership record is held by Tilikaratne Dilshan and Sanath Jayasurya of Srilanka who made first wicket partnership record of 124 runs against West Indies.

Mahela jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara holds the second wicket partnership record of 166 runs against West Indies during 2010 ICC World T20.

T20 Cricket is fun and thrill. People enjoy it a lot as T20 is the shortest version of this sport.

Best Fielding/Catches in ICC World T20: Nation Wise and World Cup Wise

Best Fielding/Catches in ICC World T20: Nation Wise

Fore mentioned list is based on catches per inning ratio. The list contains two exclusive inductions who are ADS Fletcher and JF Mooney so that they can represent their respective cricket nations. These two fielders have not played 2007-08 ICC World T20; however, the remaining fielders have played all the ICC World T20 and their catches to inning ratio are compiled according to their appearance in the discussed tournaments. Fletcher and Mooney’s catches to inning ratio is compiled on the basis of their appearance in last two T20 World Cups. The top best fielding/catches in 2007-2010 ICC World T20 are:

• ADS Fletcher  (7 catches)
• AB de Villiers (16 catches)
• Michael Hussey (11 catches)
• JF Mooney (5 catches)
• Ross Taylor (9 catches)
• Mohammad Hafeez  (7 catches)
• Yousuf Pathan (6 catches)
• Luke Wright (8 catches)
• Lasith Malinga (8 catches)

Five Wickets Taken by Fast Bowler/ Medium Pacer and Spinners in ICC World T20

Five Wickets Taken by Fast Bowler/ Medium Pacer in ICC World T20

With an exception of Umar Gul of Pakistan who took 5 wickets against New Zealand at the Oval in 2009 ICC World T20, none of the bowlers from any nation has taken 5 wickets in ICC World T20 to date. Following are the bowling figures of fast bowlers/ medium pacers who to 4 or more wickets during 2007-2010 ICC World T20.

• Umar Gul took 5 wickets in 3 overs
• MR Gillespie  took four wickets in 2.5 overs.
• RP Singh took 4 wickets in 4 overs
• WD Parnell  took 4 wickets in 4 overs
• M Morkel took 4 wickets in 4 overs
• Mohammad Asif  took 4 wickets in 4 overs
• DP Nannes took 4 wickets in 4 overs
• CK Langeveld took 4 wickets in 4 overs
• SR Clark took 4 wickets in 4 overs
• AR Cusack took 4 wickets in 3 overs

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