The opening week of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 has been a thrilling one, with some scintillating batting performances on display. Here are the five best batting performances from the first week of the tournament:
5. Aiden Markram (106 off 54 balls vs England)
South African batter Aiden Markram started the tournament with a bang, smashing a sensational century against England in the opening match. Markram’s innings was a display of clean hitting and power, as he scored his runs at a strike rate of 196.29. His knock helped South Africa post a mammoth total of 343 runs, which proved to be too much for England.
4. KL Rahul (97 off 115 balls vs Australia)
Indian opener KL Rahul played a pivotal role in India’s thrilling victory over Australia. Chasing a target of 200 runs, India were in a spot of bother at 2/3 when Rahul walked out to bat. However, he kept his composure and played a brilliant innings to guide his team to victory. Rahul scored 97 runs off 115 balls, striking 10 fours and a six. His innings was a perfect example of patience and class.
3. Mohammad Rizwan (131 off 121 balls vs Sri Lanka)
Pakistani wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan produced a match-winning performance against Sri Lanka. Chasing a mammoth target of 345 runs, Rizwan anchored Pakistan’s innings with a brilliant unbeaten century. He scored 131 runs off 121 balls, striking 11 fours and a six. Rizwan’s knock was a masterclass in batting under pressure, as he helped Pakistan register a historic victory.
2. Kusal Mendis (122 off 81 balls vs Pakistan)
Sri Lankan batter Kusal Mendis played a blinder of an innings against Pakistan. He scored 122 runs off just 81 balls, striking 15 fours and 4 sixes. Mendis’s innings was a display of pure timing and power, as he took the Pakistani bowlers to the cleaners. His knock helped Sri Lanka post a huge total of 344 runs, which eventually proved to be too much for Pakistan.
1. Rohit Sharma (131 off 84 balls vs Afghanistan)
Indian captain Rohit Sharma produced the best batting performance of the opening week of the World Cup against Afghanistan. He smashed a blistering century to help India register a comprehensive victory. Sharma scored 131 runs off just 84 balls, striking 19 fours and 2 sixes. His innings was a perfect example of aggression and timing, as he took the Afghan bowlers to the cleaners. Sharma’s knock also helped him break Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the fastest century by an Indian in the World Cup.
These are just a few of the many outstanding batting performances that have been witnessed in the opening week of the 2023 ODI World Cup. With the tournament still in its early stages, it is safe to say that there are many more exciting batting displays to come.
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