The World T20 ended in stunning fashion after Carlos Brathwaite pulled off a miraculous victory with four massive sixes in the final over of the tournament. That is the stuff of legends and that is how heroes are born.
However, that tremendous high apart, there were quite a few classy performances with the bat right through the tournament. Some came under tough circumstances and high pressure situations. Some were pure delight to watch. Some were laced with the burden of responsibility. Some were about coming of age of young batsmen.
Although it would be a tough job to pick just 5 performances that don't fade away, quite like the Axe Signature line of body perfumes, we take a look at some of the most scintillating batting performances at this 2016 T20 World Cup. These 5 innings are not going to fade away from our collective memory any time soon:
Chris Gayle – 100* v England, Mumbai
Gayle played just one defining knock in the T20 World Cup, but that was a knock for the gods. He clubbed England to all parts of the batting paradise at the Wankhede. England were shell-shocked with the onslaught that comprised of just five fours and a whopping 11 sixes.
As a result, West Indies were able to chase down 183 in just 18.1 overs with Gayle ending on exactly 100 not out, scoring more than half the runs. Gayle was quiet early on when Marlon Samuels scored 37 off the 55 run partnership between them for the second wicket, but he saved his best for the last. The most amazing part of his take-off was the fact that he added 70 runs for the fifth wicket with Andre Russell who scored just 16* in that partnership.
Virat Kohli – 82* v Australia, Mohali
This was not just one of the best knocks in this year’s World T20; it was one of the best T20 knocks of all-time. Virat Kohli single-handedly dragged India to the Semi-Final and helped in ousting Australia.
In a must-win match, India were chasing 160 and were up against it, when they needed 67 runs in the last 6 overs against a high class bowling attack. However, Virat played a sublime innings full of proper cricketing shots to remain unbeaten on 82* off just 51 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes.
By doing so, he created the record for most 50+ scores in T20 cricket, enjoying an average of above 122 in second innings successful chases. Virat’s hand could be judged from the fact that the second highest score of the Indian innings was Yuvraj Singh’s 18-ball-21.
Marlon Samuels - 85* v England, Kolkata
Samuels had a very quiet World T20. But he is regarded highly in his team for being a big match player. Samuels didn’t disappoint.
Like he did in West Indies’ victorious campaign of 2012, Samuels steered the chase when West Indies were down 11 for 3. Samuels, in a big match under pressure, added 75 for the fourth wicket with Dwayne Bravo to anchor the chase.
He ended up on 85 off 66 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes, always keeping West Indies in the hunt. While Carlos Brathwaite ended it with four sensational sixes, Samuels deserves a lot of credit for being the bedrock of the innings having walked in, in the second over.
Joe Root – 83 v South Africa, Mumbai
This was an extremely pivotal chase as it led to South Africa crashing out of the World T20 and sending England to the semi-final. England had been thrashed by West Indies and were thrashed again by South Africa in the first innings when the latter made a whopping 229 in their 20 overs.
However, England went out all guns blazing thanks to Jason Roy who got them off to a flyer with a 16-ball-43. It was Joe Root from then on, who shouldered the responsibility. While wickets kept tumbling, Root made sure England kept abreast of a stiff target. He managed a 44-ball-83, falling at the doorstep of victory.
However, by the time he departed England needed just 11 more runs in 10 balls. Root smashed 6 fours and 4 sixes on a very good batting strip, but the runs came under pressure against an impressive bowling line-up, whilst chasing a mountain.
Jason Roy – 78 v New Zealand, Delhi
Roy had played a crucial part in England’s record chase of South Africa’s 229 in the league stage. However, he made sure he didn’t leave the business unfinished in a big match a second time in a row.
Batting second against New Zealand in the semi-final in Delhi, Roy made sure England never had any pressure due to the required run rate. New Zealand had won four out of four in the league stage, but didn’t have answers to Roy’s 78 off just 44 balls studded with 11 fours and 2 sixes.
He got England off to a flyer, adding 82 in just 50 balls with Alex Hales, of which Hales scored just 20 at nearly run a ball. However, by the time Roy departed on 110, England needed just 44 in 8 overs, which they achieved easily, thanks to Jos Buttler’s quick flourish. Roy has been one of the defining gladiators of England’s new brand of cricket playing a fearless, clean and an aggressive game at the top.
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