In cricket, a single batter can change the course of a match with a brilliant innings. Nowhere is the pressure greater than in World Cup knockouts, and over the years, we’ve witnessed several players rise to the occasion with world-class performances.
Below, we break down some of the most unforgettable innings in ODI World Cup history, paying tribute to the batters who delivered when it mattered most. We will revisit the top five highest individual scores recorded in a single innings during a World Cup knockout match.
Martin Guptill 237*(163) vs West Indies, Wellington, 21 March 2015 (New Zealand vs West Indies, 2015 World Cup Quarter-Finals)
Double centuries in ODIs are not as rare these days as they used to be. Sachin Tendulkar scored the first double century in ODIs nearly 40 years after the format was introduced. But in the last 15 years, the number of double centuries has climbed into double digits.
With ODI double centuries becoming increasingly common, some bookmakers now even offer odds on the feat. But a double ton in a World Cup quarter-final? That is still a special achievement.
For this reason, this Martin Guptill knock remains one of the greatest in ODI history. After being dropped by Marlon Samuels in the first over, Guptill went on to score 237 runs off just 163 deliveries.
Powered by Guptill’s colossal knock, New Zealand racked up a healthy 393 for 6. West Indies, in response, could only reach 250, with Chris Gayle entertaining the crowd through a quickfire 61 off 33 balls.
Adam Gilchrist 149 (106) vs Sri Lanka, Bridgetown, 28 April 2007 (Australia vs Sri Lanka, 2007 World Cup Final)
How’s this for a trivia nugget: Adam Gilchrist put a squash ball inside his left glove before opening for Australia in the World Cup final. He wasn’t in his usual destructive form ahead of the match, so his batting coach Bob Meuleman suggested he use the technique. It turned out to be a resounding success.
All concerns over Gilchrist’s form heading into the final disappeared in an instant as the left-hander started to smash Sri Lankan bowlers all over the park. The punishment was especially brutal for Dilhara Fernando, who missed a tough return catch when Gilchrist was on 31.
Gilchrist hit eight fours and 13 sixes on his way to the highest individual score in a World Cup final. Australia were already the favourites across cricket betting sites to win the trophy, and his blistering innings made their victory a mere formality.
Viv Richards 138* (157) vs England, Lord’s, 23 June 1979, (West Indies vs England, 1979 World Cup Final)
They say Lord’s brings out the best in great players, and Sir Viv Richards proved it in 1979 with a brilliant 138 not out against England in the World Cup final. His innings powered the West Indies to a 92-run victory and prolonged the hosts’ wait for international glory.
England won the toss and opted to field first, hoping the tricky conditions would help them restrict West Indies to a manageable total. At one stage, with the Caribbeans reeling at 99 for 4, it seemed their decision had paid off.
But Richards stood firm, crafting a magnificent 138 off 157 balls to guide West Indies to 286 for 9 in their allotted 60 overs. He walked across his stumps and whipped Mike Hendrick over deep square leg for a stunning six to wrap up the innings in style.
Travis Head 137 (120) vs India, Ahmedabad, 19 November 2023, (Australia vs India, 2023 World Cup Final)
India was so dominant heading into the 2023 World Cup final that even the record-holding champions, Australia, were considered underdogs by most betting trends. The men in blue were playing in front of their home crowd and had a squad packed with limited-overs specialists. But all that didn’t intimidate Travis Head.
The Australian bowlers did a commendable job and limited India to a modest 240. But the match was far from over as David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, and Steven Smith went back to the pavilion early.
Head, however, did not let the pressure get to him and played a cool-headed innings that never let the match slip away from the Australians. By the time he got dismissed, Head had 137 runs to his name, and his team was only two runs away from their sixth World Cup title.
Ricky Ponting 140 (121) vs India, Johannesburg, 23 March 2003, (Australia vs India, 2003 World Cup Final)
Before Gilchrist made the record his own, his teammate Ricky Ponting was the highest scorer in a World Cup final. Ponting’s 140 off 121 balls helped Australia see off a well-drilled India side in the 2003 World Cup final in Johannesburg.
The Aussies were sent to bat after India won the toss, but Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden gave them a perfect start. Ponting came in at No. 3 and built on the foundation. After a cautious 50 off 74 balls, he started to switch gears, and it was carnage from that point on.
Ponting ruthlessly punished Indian bowlers for their lack of variety. The Australian skipper scored a whopping 116 runs on the leg side, which shows the Indians did little to change their approach after Ponting started his onslaught.
