Biggest partnerships in World Cup history
One of the most important things in a team sport is partnership and cricket is no different. Individual performances can bail out teams once in a while but partnerships can help them assert their dominance on a consistent basis. In this article, we will take a look at three of the biggest partnerships in the history of the ODI World Cup.
3) 282 – Tilakaratne Dilshan & Upul Tharanga vs Zimbabwe in 2011
Sri Lanka played Zimbabwe in match 26 of the 2011 ODI World Cup in Pallekele. The Sri Lankan opening pair of Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan slammed solid centuries en route to a mammoth partnership of 282 runs off 268 balls.
Tharanga scored a 141-ball 133, hitting 17 fours in his innings. Dilshan was a bit more flamboyant, scoring 144 runs off 131 deliveries, with the help of 16 fours and a solitary six.
After the solid platform, the middle order flattered to deceive as the Lankan Lions finished on 327/6 in their 50 overs. However, their bowlers were excellent as they dismissed Zimbabwe for just 188. Dilshan finished with jaw-dropping figures of 4/4 in three overs.
2) 318 – Rahul Dravid & Sourav Ganguly vs Sri Lanka in 1999
Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly formed some memorable partnerships during their careers. However, their 318-run partnership off 269 balls against Sri Lanka in Taunton in the 1999 ODI World Cup is the first one of the most remarkable.
Sri Lanka, who were the defending champions, had a formidable bowling attack. Left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas dismissed Sadagoppan Ramesh in the first over itself. However, this just helped India’s two bright young talents join forces and forge something special.
Ganguly scored a career-best 183 off 158 balls, hitting 17 fours and seven sixes. Dravid, on the other hand, was dismissed for 145 off 129 balls and his knock comprised 17 fours and one six. India scored 373/6 before dismissing their opponents for 216.
1) 372 – Chris Gayle & Marlon Samuels vs Zimbabwe in 2015
The West Indies and Zimbabwe locked horns in the 15th match of the 2015 ODI World Cup. Tinashe Panyangara gave Zimbabwe an ideal start as he dismissed Dwayne Smith off his second ball.
Marlon Samuels joined Chris Gayle in the middle. The two went on to break the 16-year-old record set by Dravid and Ganguly as they amassed 372 runs off 298 deliveries. The destructive southpaw became the first double centurion in the ODI World Cup.
He was dismissed off the last ball of the innings for a 147-ball 215, hitting 10 fours and 16 sixes. Samuels remained unbeaten for a 156-ball 133, and his knock was studded with 11 fours and three sixes.
