Flashback 2019: Most outstanding batting performances of this year

2019 was a difficult year for the batsmen. It was the year when fast bowlers took precedence and dominated most pitches. The added difficulty, however, led to brilliant displays of batsmanship and provided plenty of contenders for the top batting performances of the year 2019.

David Warner’s 335 not out against Pakistan at Adelaide emerges as the top score of this year in Test cricket. Indian batsmen enjoyed Test matches at home as three batsmen celebrated double centuries. However, both the standout knocks of 2019 came in the fourth innings of the game.

Rohit Sharma registered unbelievable numbers in the ODI format this year. His best came during the World Cup 2019 where he notched up five centuries. Virat Kohli, Shai Hope and Babar Azam were the other exceptional batsmen. T20I cricket took a backseat this year but still, we witnessed a few spectacular knocks. Here are the best batting performances of 2019.

Tests

Ben Stokes 135* vs Australia

Ben Stokes high on adrenaline after his glorious 135*. (AFP)

Australia arrived in the third Test at Headingley, Leeds with a 1-0 lead. Jofra Archer’s six-for flattened the visitors for 179 all out. Aussie pace bowlers breathed fire by skittling the home side for just 67 runs. Tim Paine’s men batted better in the second essay and set a tall target of 359 runs.
From 15/2, England did recover to 245/4 but once again collapsed. At 286/9, Australia were just a ball away from regaining the Ashes. However, that ball never came. Ben Stokes harboured all the possible strike and shielded Jack Leach as much as possible. Stokes swept, reverse-swept, slogged and survived. The drama in the end overs was unbelievable but Stokes held his nerves. His roar after the winning boundary off Pat Cummins remains one of the greatest cricket moments of the Ashes.

Kusal Perera 153* vs South Africa

Kusal Perera’s 153* helped Sri Lanka secure a miraculous win. (AFP)

There was no chance of Sri Lanka winning this encounter. On a green-track at Durban, South Africa boasted of a bowling attack that consisted Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Duanne Olivier. They skittled Sri Lanka for 191 in the first innings. Sri Lankan bowlers struck back but they still needed an improbable 304 runs to win the Test match. While Kusal Perera secured one end, Proteas attacked the other. 110/5 later turned into 226/9 as Vishwa Fernando joined Perera. The batsman then began an outstanding counter-attack that took the South African bowlers by storm. Protecting his number 11, Perera took the team closer to a miraculous victory. He then clinched the triumph with a boundary and finished with 153 not out.

ODIs

Carlos Brathwaite 101 vs New Zealand

Carlos Brathwaite being consoled by New Zealand cricketers. (AFP)

New Zealand posted 291/8 at Manchester in the World Cup group game, largely due to Kane Williamson’s 148. In reply, West Indies lost two quick wickets but Chris Gayle and Shimron Hetmyer kept the side alive in the game. They then lost five wickets in five overs. At 164/7, a heavy defeat loomed over the Caribbean side. Carlos Brathwaite batted without fear and went after the Blackcaps bowling. Taking all his chances, Brathwaite tonked nine fours and five sixes. With the target six runs away, he had another big heave. The ball ended in Trent Boult’s hands thus lowering curtains on a spectacular batting performance.

Thisara Perera 140 vs New Zealand

Thisara Perera smashed four sixes in an over of Tim Southee. (AFP)

New Zealand raised a tall total of 319/7 while batting first at Mount Maunganui in the second of the three-match ODI series. In Sri Lanka’s chase, Danushka Gunathilaka’s 71 at the top remained a solo effort as the team tottered to 128/7. With the target 192 runs away, Sri Lankan hopes were floundering. However, Thisara Perera put on an exhibition of aggressive batting. His big hits cleared the ground comfortably. After losing two of his partners at the other end, Perera took full control of the innings. He smashed Tim Southee for four sixes in an over to bring the target down to 26 from 24 balls. However, he was caught by Trent Boult in the next over as Sri Lanka finished 21 runs short. Perera’s 140 from 74 balls with 8 fours and 13 sixes was one of the best knocks of the year.

T20Is

Hazratullah Zazai 162* vs Ireland

Hazratullah Zazai raises his bat to celebrate his record-breaking score. (AFP)

162 is usually a good total in T20I cricket, team total that is. But what if one batsman goes out and scores that many! On 23rd February, Afghanistan’s Hazratullah Zazai smacked 162 not out against Ireland at Dehradun. Riding on his smashing knock, the ‘home’ side posted 278/3 in their 20 overs, highest team total in T20I cricket. Zazai’s 162, second-highest individual score in T20Is, contained 16 sixes – a world-record tally. The mammoth individual score which came in just 62 balls was one to remember from the year 2019.

Virat Kohli 94* vs West Indies

Virat Kohli struck 94* against West Indies, his personal best in T20Is. (AFP)

India needed to chase 208 runs against West Indies in the first T20I of the three-match series at Hyderabad. The home side lost Rohit Sharma early but KL Rahul was batting splendidly. At number three, Virat Kohli did not bat with his usual ease. At 20 runs from 20 balls, the runs were not coming at the pace he liked. It was Jason Holder’s over that changed the game. The Indian captain changed gears at a frantic pace and finished with 94 not out from 50 balls that included six fours and six sixes. India won the game with eight balls remaining. Kohli recorded one of the best batting performances of 2019.