A good score in a knockout match, tends to be cherished more than the ones in other matches in a World Cup. The reason is that, not only do the opponents tend to be strong, but also the match itself is a high-pressure situation, being a must-win game. We will now have a look at the highest individual scores in ODI World Cup matches.
10. Sourav Ganguly vs Kenya (2003)
Sourav Ganguly was the captain of India in this World Cup. India had a good run, up to the semifinals. Here they faced Kenya. Ganguly produced a captain’s knock, and scored a century. India scored 270 and won the match by 91 runs. Ganguly was the man of the match. Sourav Ganguly scored 111 not out in this match.
9. Saeed Anwar vs New Zealand (1999)
Pakistan reached the semifinals and had New Zealand as their opponents. They bowled first, and New Zealand scored 241. The openers from Pakistan put up a 194-run stand, with Saeed Anwar scoring a century. Pakistan won the match by nine wickets. Saeed Anwar scored 113 not out in this match.
8. Graham Gooch vs India (1987)
Graham Gooch was one of the biggest names to play cricket for England. This game was the semifinals, and England was facing the defending champions, India. Gooch scored a century as England scored 254, which proved enough, as England won the match by 35 runs. Graham Gooch scored 115 runs in this match.
7. Mahela Jayawardene vs New Zealand (2007)
Sri Lanka had a decent run in this World Cup, coming second in the Super 8. They faced New Zealand in the semifinals. Sri Lanka batted first. Jayawardene came in at No.4, with Sri Lanka’s score being 67-2. From there, he played accumulator, accelerating gradually. Jayawardene scored a century, and Sri Lanka won the match comfortably by 81 runs. Mahela Jayawardene scored 115 not out in this match.
6. Chris Harris vs Australia (1996)
New Zealand faced Australia in the quarterfinal match, and New Zealand batted first. Chris Harris came in, at a precarious situation, with the score being just 44-3. However, he scored a magnificent century, to push New Zealand’s score to 286. However, it was in vain, as Australia chased the target successfully and knocked New Zealand, out of the tournament. Chris Harris scored 130 runs in this match.
5. Rohit Sharma vs Bangladesh (2015)
India qualified for the quarterfinals of the World Cup by winning all six matches in the group stage. Here, they faced Bangladesh. Rohit Sharma was India’s opener, and he started scoring high in the game. There was a controversial no-ball call, when his shot got caught when he was at 98. However, Rohit scored more than 130, leading India to 302. India won the match comfortably by 109 runs. Rohit Sharma scored 137 runs in this match.
4. Vivian Richards vs England (1979)
West Indies was the defending champions in this World Cup. They reached the finals and had England as opponents. West Indies batted first. Vivian Richards, displayed his class once more, with him making a partnership of 139 runs with Collins King, and also scoring a century himself. His knock made West Indies score 286, after which, they dismissed England for 194, and won the game by 92 runs. Vivian Richards scored 138 not out in this match.
3. Ricky Ponting vs India (2003)
Ricky Ponting was the captain of this Australian side. The team was undefeated in the entire World Cup, leading up to the finals. They faced India in the finals, and continued displaying their dominance, with Ponting putting up a huge century, and leading Australia’s score to a mammoth 359. India could never recover, as they succumbed to just 234. Ricky Ponting scored 140 not out in this match.
2. Adam Gilchrist vs Sri Lanka (2007)
Australia had yet another World Cup in which they didn’t lose a match. They reached the final undefeated, and had Sri Lanka as opponents. The game was curtailed to 38 overs, a side, due to rain. Gilchrist, who had a poor tournament so far, rose up to the occasion, putting up a magnificent century. Australia won the match, and hence, the Cup. Adam Gilchrist scored 149 runs in this match.
1. Martin Guptill vs West Indies (2015)
New Zealand had won all the matches in the group stage, and they now faced West Indies in the quarterfinals. The New Zealand opener, Martin Guptill, started scoring big, and he scoring a double century, making it the second one in World Cups, and the first one in a World Cup knockout match. New Zealand eventually won the game by 143 runs, and progressed to the semifinals. Martin Guptill scored 237 not out in this match.
