Dunya Exclusive: Let's hark back to top scorers of World Cup 2019
Cricket
Old records will be broken and new highs will be achieved
By Saleem Mubarak
Today is the big day for cricket lovers around the world. The opening match of the long-awaited World Cup 2023 is just hours away.
Old records will be broken and new highs will be achieved.
This time round players will make their mark as top scorers… This reminds one of the best scorers in the last World Cup held in England and Wales in 2019. The host country clinched the trophy and it is now defending the title. England right now are on fifth position on the ICC ODI ranking.
If you are finding it difficult to recall the players who made it big with fours and sixes, Dunya News is here to help you jog memory.
So, let’s dive into the cricket chronicles and enjoy the smashing innings displayed amid the presence of thousands of cricket fans.
2019 World Cup
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The 2019 World Cup - 12th edition of the mega cricket event – had performances which had the spectators on edge of their seats in cricket stadia as well as at their homes.
The race to be the highest run-scorer kept the fans excited throughout the event as every player was keenly struggling to have his name into the World Cup saga.
Rohit Sharma
The first player who mesmerised the audience with his thrilling knocks is Rohit Sharma, a prolific Indian opener. Although India couldn't make a big impact in the event, it was an exhilarating display of talent by Sharma.
Sharma cracked an overwhelming 648 runs in the 2019 World Cup engraving his stature as one of the finest ODI players globally. He succeeded to score five centuries peppered with 67 fours and 14 sixes in the mega event. His performance showed that Sharma could change the destiny of any match with his magic bat. He inspired every corner of the stadium with his imposing strokes posting his highest score of 140 runs.
David Warner
Close behind Sharma was David Warner, the Australian dynamo, ensuring his glorious reappearance in international cricket after a year-long break. Warner's resolute run growth produced a total of 647 runs in the 2019 World Cup. The batting consistency of Warner was vital for the Aussie batting order and successful campaign. He smashed 66 fours and 8 sixes in his 10 innings with a striking rate of 89.36.
Warner faced 724 balls and succeeded to gain his highest score of 166.
Shakib Al Hasan
Believe it or not, Shakib Al Hasan, a Bangladeshi whizz, clinched third position among players who knocked most runs - 606, sprinkled with 60 fours and 2 sixes in eight innings of the 2019 World Cup tournament. His strike rate was 96.03 with the highest score of 124.
He carried his bat in this innings against the West Indies at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.
He also claimed two wickets in this match and a total of 10 in a single tournament.
Kane Stuart Williamson
The black caps calm and unruffled skipper, Kane Stuart Williamson, exhibited his batting skills by depositing 578 runs in the last World Cup. He smashed 50 fours, 3 sixes with a strike rate of 74.96, posted his highest score of the tournament -148 runs.
His stylish blows and capability to adore the matches were the foundation of New Zealand's expedition to the final. New Zealand remained runner-up in the final match of the 12th edition of the mega cricket event as England outclassed it.
Joseph Edward Root
Joseph Edward Root, the Englishman, scored 556 runs with a combination of splendid shots, emerging as the bedrock of England's magnificent victory in the event.
Root had decorated his performance in the event with 2 centuries, 3 fifties engraved with 48 fours, 2 sixes posting a striking rate of 89.53. His highest score was 107 runs.
When we recall cricket's grandest stage - ICC World Cup - performance of these top run-scorers stands as an evidence of their ability, resolve and skills. Their smashes, contributions, tricks, smiles and hops not only enchanted cricket enthusiasts but also supplemented the tournament's importance.
The World Cup annals suggest that records will be broken this year, too, but the memories imprinted by such batting geniuses will remain fresh in the memories for a long time.
