Five highest individual scores in World Cups
After the emergence of ODI cricket in 1971, ICC decided to trial a championship format in the limited-overs game. The first match of the 1975 World Cup in England witnessed a century by Dennis Amiss. On the same day, New Zealand’s Glenn Turner piled a score of 171 against East Africa. This remained the highest score in the World Cup until Kapil Dev smashed 175* in the 1983 tournament. In 1987, Sir Viv Richards broke went past the record to establish a new high. Following are the five highest individual score in the World Cup.
5. Sir Viv Richards – 181 against Sri Lanka, World Cup 1987
Sir Viv Richards (Photo: AFP)
Viv Richards is considered as one of the greatest ODI batsmen of all-time. He played in four World Cups and left his impression on each of them. Richards effected three run-outs in the 1975 WC final. In 1979 final, he scored a match-winning 138. He threatened to take the game away in 1983 final but Kapil Dev spoiled his plans.
In the 1987 World Cup, Richards wrote his name in the record books with a spectacular 181. This was the second highest individual score in ODIs that time after his own 189 at first place. This 181 versus Sri Lanka at Karachi came up in just 125 balls with 16 fours and seven sixes. West Indies posted 360/4. In reply, the Asian team could muster only 169/4 in their 50 overs.
4. Sourav Ganguly – 183 against Sri Lanka, World Cup 1999
India did not have the best of times in the 1999 World Cup as they bowed out in the Super Six stage as last-placed. However, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid provided an ever-lasting memory for the Indian fans. This happened in the group-stage match between India and Sri Lanka at Taunton.
Batting first, India lost the opener, S Ramesh, early. Dravid joined Ganguly at the crease and the duo batted together for the next 269 balls. Carting the Sri Lankan bowling attack to all corners, the Indian pair raised a partnership of 318 runs. Sourav Ganguly broke plenty of records with his belligerent knock of 183(158). India coasted to a 157-run victory.
3. Gary Kirsten – 188* against UAE, World Cup 1996
South Africa returned to the world stage in 1992 and proved their pedigree by reaching the semifinals of that World Cup. Their first encounter in the 1996 World Cup was against UAE at Rawalpindi, Pakistan. South Africa made the most of the opportunity by defeating novices by 169 runs.
Opener Gary Kirsten was the major contributor with the unbeaten innings of 188. He scored those many runs in 159 deliveries and struck 13 fours and four sixes while reaching there. This still remains the highest individual score by a South African in ODIs.
2. Chris Gayle – 215 against Zimbabwe, World Cup 2015
Chris Gayle (Photo: AFP)
By 2015, West Indian opener Chris Gayle had turned himself into a T0 cricket legend. The Universe Boss made occasional appearances for his national cricket team but he ensured his entries in the record books when he batted. In the 11th World Cup, he became the first double-centurion of the quadrennial tournament.
Against Zimbabwe at the Manuka Oval, Canberra, West Indies chose to bat first. They lost Dwayne Smith on the second ball of the match. This was the only time in the innings where Zimbabwean bowlers could afford to smile. Gayle punished them for 215 runs in 147 balls with 10 fours and 16 sixes. He was out on the last ball of the innings. He also stitched a world-record 372-run partnership with Marlon Samuels.
1. Martin Guptill – 237* against West Indies, World Cup 2015
Within 30 days of Gayle’s double-ton, Martin Guptill offered the same dose of medicine to Windies bowlers at Wellington. He completed the second double century of the World Cup and went on to notch the highest individual score in the tournament. When the 50 overs were completed, Guptill has 237 runs on his name in 163 balls with 24 fours and 11 sixes.
New Zealand posted 393/6 in the quarterfinal which allowed them a 143-run triumph. Guptill’s 237 is also the second-highest individual score in the ODI cricket and the highest for a New Zealander.
