5 crucial batting knocks in the 2011 World Cup

Indian fans worldwide are in a mood for celebration as today is the 10-year anniversary of India’s triumph in the 2011 World Cup. Throughout the course of the tournament, we witnessed some spectacular batting performances.

Here is a list of 5 crucial batting performances in the 2011 World Cup:

5. Andrew Strauss (158 vs India)

On 27th February 2011, India and England battled it out in the group stage of the 2011 World Cup. Indian skipper MSD won the toss and elected to put England on to field first. Sachin’s ecstatic hundred helped India post a massive total of 338. In reply, Strauss and Pietersen took England off to a flying start. Strauss was unplayable that day, smashing 18 fours and 1 six in his innings. Unfortunately, he was dismissed by Zaheer Khan in the 43rd over, and the match resulted in a draw. 

4. Ross Taylor (131 vs Pakistan)

Ross Taylor played one of the innings of his life in an encounter against Pakistan in the group stage of the 2011 World Cup. Batting first, New Zealand got off to a decent start with Martin Guptill scoring a half-century. However, Taylor stole the limelight that day, with a magnificent inning of 131 runs in just 124 balls. NZ posted a total of 302 on the board. Pakistan simply had no answer, as they lost the match by 110 runs. 

3. Kevin O’Brien (113 vs England)

Ireland pulled a historic victory against England in the group stage of the 2011 World Cup. Batting first, England posted a mammoth total of 327 on the board. In reply, Ireland struggled in the first half of their innings. With Ireland down to 111/5, in stepped O’Brien. O’Brien registered the fastest World Cup century ever, in just 50 balls. Ireland somehow managed to chase the total with 5 balls left. O’Brien was awarded the Man of the Match award for his superb knock.

2. Mahela Jayawardene (103 vs India)

After Kumar Sangakkara won the toss in the World Cup final, he elected to bat first. Jayawardene was simply unplayable, smashing 103 runs in just 88 balls. Jayawardene’s sublime innings helped Sri Lanka a respectable 274 on the board. Unfortunately, they lost the final against India. Even though what happened, Jayawardene’s innings was one of the best knocks in a World Cup final.

1. MS Dhoni (91 vs Sri Lanka)

With India only 275 runs away from winning the world cup, everyone knew it would take a special inning to seal the deal for the Men in Blue. After Malinga dismissed India’s openers, it felt as if Indian hopes were shattered. Gautam Gambhir played superb innings of 97 but got out, unfortunately. India needed its skipper to deliver, and he did exactly that. Dhoni’s knock of 91 was the turning point of the game. Dhoni eventually finished things off with a six that has gone down in the history books. Dhoni’s innings was arguably one of the greatest World Cup innings of all time.

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