On This Day: Three Epic memories from Three World Cups
World Cup 2019 is just two months away. The most prestigious cricket tournament returns on the English soil after a gap of 20 years. The 10-team event begins on 29th May and shall culminate with the final on 14th July. While England uses May-June window for the World Cup, other countries host the mega-event in February and March. 27th February remains a memorable day in the history of the World Cups. The day witnessed an excellent bowling performance, a thrilling tied game and a batting masterclass in three editions.
World Cup 2003: Glenn McGrath runs through Namibia to record the best WC spell
Australia’s bowling legend, Glenn McGrath, leads the tally of wickets taken by a bowler in the World Cups. The metronome featured four times in the mega event and was the Man of the series in the successful campaign of 2007. In 2003 edition, McGrath scaled a new peak by registering the best bowling figures in tournament’s history.
Namibia faced Australia in the group game of the 2003 World Cup at Potchefstroom, South Africa. Batting first, the Aussies piled up 301/6 in their 50 overs. In reply, Namibia folded up for only 45 runs in 14 overs as McGrath demolished them. The tall bowler bowled a dream spell of 7/15 in seven overs to own the best bowling figures of the World Cup.
7 overs.
4 maidens.
7 wickets for just 15 runs! 💪#OnThisDay in 2003, @glennmcgrath11 took a stunning 7/15 against Namibia in Potchefstroom – the best bowling figures in @cricketworldcup history! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/U9DtBeThuE— ICC (@ICC) February 27, 2019
World Cup 2011: India and England play out a high-scoring thriller
England needed 14 runs to win from the last over. At 281/2 in 42.3 overs, the English team was cruising towards the target of 339 runs at Bangalore against the home side, India. It was a double-strike from Zaheer Khan that brought the hosts back into the contest. With one over to go, it was anyone’s game. Munaf Patel bowled the last over and conceded only 13 runs, the match ended as a tie.
The 2011 World Cup group game between India and England was only the fourth tied match in tournament’s history. The crowd had earlier feasted on Sachin Tendulkar’s glorious knock of 120 from 115 balls which helped India rack up 338 runs in the first inning. Andrew Strauss rivalled him with a spectacular 158 but the batting collapse ended the chances of it being a winning knock.
One of the most exciting @cricketworldcup encounters ever? We think so!#OnThisDay in 2011, India and England tied a thriller in Bengaluru! 🇮🇳 🏴 pic.twitter.com/p1ndpaS6el
— ICC (@ICC) February 27, 2019
World Cup 2015: AB de Villiers launches an unstoppable assault
From 146/3 in 29.3 overs, South Africa best expected a score around 300 in their first inning against West Indies at Sydney. When 50 overs were completed, the scoreboard displayed the figures of 408/5. West Indian bowlers had fallen victim to AB de Villiers’ thirsty blade that day. The maverick finished with an unbeaten 162 from just 66 balls with 17 fours and eight sixes.
ABD already owned the record of the fastest fifty and the fastest hundred in ODIs but with this superlative knock, he grabbed the record of fastest 150 as well. De Villiers scored his 150 in just 64 balls. In reply, West Indies folded up for only 151 runs and lost the encounter by 257 runs.
Take a look at some of the shots in this! 😍#OnThisDay in 2015, @ABdeVilliers17 smashed the fastest ODI 150 of all time, off just 64 balls!
He made 162* off 66 as South Africa piled on 408/5 against West Indies at #CWC15 🔥 pic.twitter.com/R8xYzLHX4b
— ICC (@ICC) February 27, 2019
