Golden ducks by openers, and the fastest 150s
Plus, six centuries in a first-class innings, and using nine bowlers in an ODI innings
Steven Lynch
03-Mar-2015
AB de Villiers' stupendous effort at the SCG beat Shane Watson's record by 19 deliveries • Associated Press
Both Sri Lanka's openers were out for golden ducks in their World Cup match against Afghanistan. Has this ever happened before? asked Zaheer Ahmed from the UAE
Lahiru Thirimanne fell to the opening delivery of Sri Lanka's innings against Afghanistan last week, then Tillakaratne Dilshan was out to his first ball, during the second over. It turns out that this has happened only once before in more than 3600 one-day internationals: in Georgetown in May 2006, Zimbabwe's Piet Rinke was out to the first ball of the innings, and Terry Duffin followed to the first ball he faced, later in the same Fidel Edwards over. In all there have been 37 instances now of both openers falling for ducks in the same ODI innings.
Lahiru Thirimanne fell to the opening delivery of Sri Lanka's innings against Afghanistan last week, then Tillakaratne Dilshan was out to his first ball, during the second over. It turns out that this has happened only once before in more than 3600 one-day internationals: in Georgetown in May 2006, Zimbabwe's Piet Rinke was out to the first ball of the innings, and Terry Duffin followed to the first ball he faced, later in the same Fidel Edwards over. In all there have been 37 instances now of both openers falling for ducks in the same ODI innings.
Wahab Riaz scored a fifty then took four wickets against Zimbabwe. Has anyone done this in the World Cup before? asked Maneck Patel from India
Wahab Riaz's all-round achievement - he scored 54 and then took 4 for 45 against Zimbabwe in Brisbane - was the 54th occasion that someone had done this particular double in a one-day international. Only seven of those had come in the World Cup, though - including the first such instance overall, Duncan Fletcher's 69 not out and 4 for 42 for Zimbabwe v Australia at Trent Bridge in 1983. It has since been done in the World Cup by Ian Botham (1992), Neil Johnson (1999), Maurice Odumbe and Feiko Kloppenburg (both 2003), and Yuvraj Singh and Tillakaratne Dilshan in 2011. Shahid Afridi (three times), Abdul Razzaq (twice), Aamer Sohail and Shoaib Malik had previously achieved this particular double for Pakistan in all ODIs.
Wahab Riaz's all-round achievement - he scored 54 and then took 4 for 45 against Zimbabwe in Brisbane - was the 54th occasion that someone had done this particular double in a one-day international. Only seven of those had come in the World Cup, though - including the first such instance overall, Duncan Fletcher's 69 not out and 4 for 42 for Zimbabwe v Australia at Trent Bridge in 1983. It has since been done in the World Cup by Ian Botham (1992), Neil Johnson (1999), Maurice Odumbe and Feiko Kloppenburg (both 2003), and Yuvraj Singh and Tillakaratne Dilshan in 2011. Shahid Afridi (three times), Abdul Razzaq (twice), Aamer Sohail and Shoaib Malik had previously achieved this particular double for Pakistan in all ODIs.
AB de Villiers reached 150 in 64 balls the other day. Who are the four below him in the race for the fastest 150 in ODIs? asked Amit Kumar from India
After reaching three figures in 52 balls - the second-fastest World Cup hundred, after Kevin O'Brien's in 50 for Ireland against England in Bangalore in 2011 - AB de Villiers needed only 12 more deliveries to reach 150. His 64-ball effort smashed the record for the fastest 150 in one-day internationals, in 83 deliveries by Shane Watson for Australia against Bangladesh in Mirpur in April 2011. Earlier this year Luke Ronchi reached 150 in 92 balls for New Zealand against Sri Lanka in Dunedin, while Sanath Jayasuriya took 95 to get there for Sri Lanka against England at Headingley in July 2006. Fifth on the list at the moment is Ricky Ponting, who reached 150 in 99 deliveries for Australia v South Africa in Johannesburg in March 2006.
After reaching three figures in 52 balls - the second-fastest World Cup hundred, after Kevin O'Brien's in 50 for Ireland against England in Bangalore in 2011 - AB de Villiers needed only 12 more deliveries to reach 150. His 64-ball effort smashed the record for the fastest 150 in one-day internationals, in 83 deliveries by Shane Watson for Australia against Bangladesh in Mirpur in April 2011. Earlier this year Luke Ronchi reached 150 in 92 balls for New Zealand against Sri Lanka in Dunedin, while Sanath Jayasuriya took 95 to get there for Sri Lanka against England at Headingley in July 2006. Fifth on the list at the moment is Ricky Ponting, who reached 150 in 99 deliveries for Australia v South Africa in Johannesburg in March 2006.
What's the record number of runs in a single World Cup? Strikes me that record could be smashed this time! asked Tim McAllister from New Zealand
The man at the top of the list at the moment is Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 673 runs in the 2003 World Cup. Tendulkar also scored 523 in the 1996 tournament. Four other batsmen have scored 500 runs or more in a single World Cup: Matthew Hayden hit 659, Mahela Jayawardene 548 and Ricky Ponting 539 in the 2007 competition, while Tillakaratne Dilshan made exactly 500 in 2011. Just to keep the hard-pressed bowlers happy, the record haul for one World Cup is Glenn McGrath's 26 in 2007. Muttiah Muralitharan and Shaun Tait took 23 in 2007, as did Chaminda Vaas in 2003, when Brett Lee claimed 22.
The man at the top of the list at the moment is Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 673 runs in the 2003 World Cup. Tendulkar also scored 523 in the 1996 tournament. Four other batsmen have scored 500 runs or more in a single World Cup: Matthew Hayden hit 659, Mahela Jayawardene 548 and Ricky Ponting 539 in the 2007 competition, while Tillakaratne Dilshan made exactly 500 in 2011. Just to keep the hard-pressed bowlers happy, the record haul for one World Cup is Glenn McGrath's 26 in 2007. Muttiah Muralitharan and Shaun Tait took 23 in 2007, as did Chaminda Vaas in 2003, when Brett Lee claimed 22.
Zimbabwe used eight bowlers in their win over the UAE. Is this the most bowlers in a World Cup innings? asked Stuart from South Africa
Zimbabwe's eight bowlers in their World Cup victory over the United Arab Emirates in Nelson turns out to be one short of the record. There have been 13 instances overall of nine bowlers in an ODI innings, and two of those were in the World Cup: by England in a convincing win over Sri Lanka in Peshawar in 1987, and by New Zealand as they sought a breakthrough in vain against Pakistan at Lancaster Park in Christchurch in 1992. For the full list, click here.
Zimbabwe's eight bowlers in their World Cup victory over the United Arab Emirates in Nelson turns out to be one short of the record. There have been 13 instances overall of nine bowlers in an ODI innings, and two of those were in the World Cup: by England in a convincing win over Sri Lanka in Peshawar in 1987, and by New Zealand as they sought a breakthrough in vain against Pakistan at Lancaster Park in Christchurch in 1992. For the full list, click here.
Six batsmen from the Holkar team each scored a century in the same innings in the 1946 Ranji Trophy semi-final. Is that still a national/world record? asked Dinar Gupte in India
Holkar's first effort in that Ranji Trophy semi-final in Indore in March 1946 remains the only first-class innings to contain six individual centuries. Kamal Bhandarkar made 172, Chandra Sarwate 101, Madhavsinh Jagdale 164, CK Nayudu 101, Bhausaheb Nimbalkar 172 and Pratap Singh 100 as Holkar piled up 912 for 8 before declaring. Mysore were then bowled out for 190, and then made 509 for 6. There have been only three other first-class innings which included five hundreds, two of them in Tests: by Australia against West Indies in Kingston in 1954-55, and Pakistan against Bangladesh in Multan in 2001-02. The other instance was in the Sheffield Shield in 1900-01, when New South Wales' 918 against South Australia in Sydney included centuries from Frank Iredale, Monty Noble, Syd Gregory, Reggie Duff and Les Poidevin.
Holkar's first effort in that Ranji Trophy semi-final in Indore in March 1946 remains the only first-class innings to contain six individual centuries. Kamal Bhandarkar made 172, Chandra Sarwate 101, Madhavsinh Jagdale 164, CK Nayudu 101, Bhausaheb Nimbalkar 172 and Pratap Singh 100 as Holkar piled up 912 for 8 before declaring. Mysore were then bowled out for 190, and then made 509 for 6. There have been only three other first-class innings which included five hundreds, two of them in Tests: by Australia against West Indies in Kingston in 1954-55, and Pakistan against Bangladesh in Multan in 2001-02. The other instance was in the Sheffield Shield in 1900-01, when New South Wales' 918 against South Australia in Sydney included centuries from Frank Iredale, Monty Noble, Syd Gregory, Reggie Duff and Les Poidevin.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Wisden Guide to International Cricket 2014. Ask Steven is now on Facebook