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Ten best batting performances in ICC WT20 history

Kevin Pietersen was typically brazen in his unbeaten 73 against Pakistan in ICC World Twenty20 2010. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Ten best batting performances in ICC WT20 history

From Chris Gayle to Claire Taylor, here's a look at the 10 best innings seen at the ICC World Twenty20

10 September 2012 - 06:44pm IST R Kaushik

There have been a number of memorable batting performances at the ICC World Twenty20. We look back at ten of the best:

1. Chris Gayle (WI, 117 v SA, Sept 11, 2007)

Chris Gayle, the destructive West Indian opening batsman, got the ICC World Twenty20 2007 off to the perfect start, with an extraordinary century in the inaugural match against South Africa in Johannesburg. It rained sixes at the New Wanderers Stadium as Gayle pummeled the South Africans, smashing 10 sixes and seven fours on his way to a 75-ball 117. It wasn’t enough to ensure victory, however, as Herschelle Gibbs’ unbeaten 90 helped South Africa overhaul the West Indies’ 205 for 6.

2. Herschelle Gibbs (SA, 90* vs WI, Sept 11, 2007)

Lightning struck twice on the same day at the New Wanderers Stadium as Herschelle Gibbs led South Africa’s response to the West Indies’ 205 for 6. Gibbs launched a stunning assault on Ravi Rampaul and Dwayne Smith with a succession of boundaries, eventually finishing unbeaten on 90 off just 55 deliveries with 14 fours and two sixes. South Africa was home and dry, with 14 balls to spare.

3. Brendan Taylor (Zim, 60* v Aus, Sept 12, 2007)

It was this innings that announced Brendan Taylor’s arrival on the world stage, and facilitated the first upset of the inaugural ICC World Twenty20. Australia had been restricted to 138 for 9 in the Group B clash at a nippy Newlands in Cape Town, and Zimbabwe needed someone to shepherd the chase. Taylor took it upon himself to bring the team home, with a polished unbeaten 60, off 45 deliveries with four fours and two sixes. What made the knock special was the calmness and poise with which he approached the task, pushing his team past the line with one delivery remaining.

4. Yuvraj Singh (Ind, 58 v Eng, Sept 19, 2007)

When Yuvraj Singh walked out to bat in a must-win Group E game for India, only 20 deliveries were left in the innings. Yuvraj faced 16 of those in making 58, with three fours and seven sixes, reaching his half-century in a record 12 deliveries. He smashed Stuart Broad for six sixes in the 19th over of the innings, the first such instance in Twenty20 Internationals, to propel India to an insurmountable total.

5. Claire Taylor (Eng, 76 not out v Aus, Jun 10, 2009)

Chasing an imposing target of 164 to win against Australia in the semi-final, England looked to be up against it after losing two early wickets. However, in one of the greatest women’s matches ever seen, Taylor hit 76 not out off just 53 balls, as she added an undefeated 122 with Beth Morgan to clinch a memorable victory and help England on the way to the inaugural women’s title.

6. Aaron Redmond (NZ, 63 v Ire, Jun 11, 2009)

Aaron Redmond uncorked one of the most explosive innings in Twenty20 history in a Group F clash in the ICC World Twenty 2009 at Trent Bridge, against an Ireland attack that was battered into submission. Completely dominating an opening stand of 51 with Brendon McCullum, whose contribution was just 10, Redmond hammered 13 fours during a 30-ball 63 that knocked the stuffing out of Ireland and effectively sealed the issue.

7. Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL, 96* v WI, Jun 19, 2009)

It was the semi-final of the ICC World Twenty20 2009, and Tillakaratne Dilshan chose the perfect occasion to leave his imprint on the tournament. He carried his bat through the innings, finishing four short of a maiden Twenty20 International hundred. The innings came off a mere 57 deliveries and contained 12 fours and two sixes. Dilshan’s dominance can be gauged from the fact that the next highest score of the innings was Sanath Jayasuriya’s 24.

8. Kevin Pietersen (Eng, 73* v Pak, May 6, 2010)

Pakistan had hoped to defend a competitive 147 for 9 at Kensington Oval in Barbados through its assortment of incisive pacers and crafty spinners, but Kevin Pietersen had other ideas. With a characteristically brazen assault, Pietersen kept England in the hunt almost single-handedly. Pietersen finished 73 not out, off 52 balls with eight fours and two sixes, as England cruised home midway through the final over with six wickets in hand.

9. Mike Hussey (Aus, 60* v Pak, May 14, 2010):

Pakistan had one foot in the final of the ICC World Twenty20 2010 when Mike Hussey grabbed the spotlight. Australia required 34 off the last two overs with just three wickets remaining at Beausejour Stadium, but Hussey made it all look all too easy. After 16 came off the penultimate over from Mohammad Amir, Australia still needed 18 from Saeed Ajmal’s final one. After Mitchell Johnson took a single, Hussey uncorked a sequence that read 6, 6, 4, 6. Game over, leaving Hussey unbeaten on 60 off only 24 balls with three fours and six giant sixes.

10. Deandra Dottin (WI Women, 112* v SA Women, May 5, 2010)

Deandra Dottin walked in at 52 for 4 in the 10th over of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2010 match against South Africa, and resuscitated the West Indian innings all by herself with an stunning display of power-hitting. Dottin’s unbeaten 112, which came off only 45 deliveries, included seven fours and nine sixes as she fired the host nation to a commanding 175 for 5, and a convincing 17-run victory.

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