5 memorable batting performances at the ICC T20 World Cup that don't fade away

The ICC T20 World Cup is in its sixth edition and there have been five different winners so far, demonstrating the nature of the tournament and how tough it is to be consistent in it. T20 is exciting because things change really fast, and this list of top 5 memorable batting performances in the tournament over the years is ample proof of that.Sample this more than 175 half-centuries have been scored so far in the T20 World Cup, all the editions put together. The fastest has been scored at a whopping strike-rate of 362.50 and the 50th fastest has still been scored at a scintillating 165.71. If that doesnt prove the flamboyancy of the batsmen, what does?Picking just five memorable performances from a huge list of game-changing, highly impactful innings is an extremely arduous job, and there will always be a few that will sit on the fringe. Joe Roots signature 44-ball knock of 83 was certainly one of the most memorable World T20 performances of all time, but it just missed out on this list as do a number of other gems.These are all equally good, equally mesmerising knocks that just missed out for example, Mahela Jayawardenes 98* against West Indies, Rohit Sharmas 79*, a lone-man fight against a fiery Australian bowling line-up, or Glenn Maxwells 74 in a losing cause against Pakistan in Mirpur.The highest individual score in a World T20 match, 123 by Brendon McCullum against Bangladesh in the 2012 edition, will also miss out. That's because we have taken into account the impact, the result and even the pressure of a chase or of a big match while compiling this list.All of these innings comprise moments that don't fade away, much like the Axe Signature line of body perfumes. So without further ado, here is the list:

#5 Yuvraj Singh - 70 in 30 balls v Australia

Yuvraj was on fire against Australia

It was a tight call between this one and two other knocks – JP Duminy’s sensational 86 in 43 balls against New Zealand in Chittagong and Umar Akmal’s 94 against Australia in Mirpur, both in the 2014 World Cup. Both were brilliant innings, and deserve to be celebrated.

However, the India vs Australia semifinal was a far bigger match, and that changes things. Yuvraj’s 70 off just 30 balls included 5 sixes and 5 fours against a bowling line-up that included Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken and Mitchell Johnson.

The strike-rate of 233 ensured India had a big total of 188 which they defended well, taking them to the final of the 2007 T20 World Cup, which they eventually won. That the runs came on a Durban pitch that favours fast bowling is the icing on the cake.

#4 Alex Hales 116* in 64 balls v Sri Lanka

Hales smashed the ball all around the park

Winning in the sub-continent was never one of England’s strong suits. That is why this innings of Hales assumes special importance, even though it runs the risk of losing itself in the annals of T20 cricket.

Hales’ knock was a true gem considering Sri Lanka had posted 189 in 20 overs in Chittagong, thanks to a special 89 from Jayawardene. Chasing 190 in the sub-continent against a high quality side is never easy. One shouldn’t forget that Hales’ opponents were the eventual 2014 champions.

Add to that the way England started the chase – they were two down without scoring any runs at the end of the first over by Nwuan Kulasekara who ended the night with figures of 4-32, unfortunately on the losing side.

However, Hales added 152 for the third wicket in just over 15 overs, scoring at a run rate of 10, with Morgan’s contribution a mere 57. Hales smashed 6 sixes and 11 fours in his 64-ball knock, remaining unbeaten and making sure England chased down the stiff total with 4 balls to spare.

Ajantha Mendis, Sri Lanka’s mystery spinner, got some special treatment, going for 52 runs in his four overs. Interestingly, Hales’ first 50 runs came off 38 balls, after which he shifted gears spectacularly, especially in the 15th over from Mendis which went for 3 sixes and a four.

#3 Michael Hussey 60* in 24 balls v Pakistan

Hussey was incredible against Pakistan

The 2010 semifinal in St. Lucia was the stage for a nail-biting encounter between Australia and Pakistan. Pakistan set up a big total on a slowish surface. The score 191 was impressive in every way, and it came about thanks to the late fillip by Umar Akmal, whose 56* in 35 balls was a tremendously entertaining innings.

Australia faltered in the chase and were 105-5 in 12.3 overs and later 139 for 6 in 16.3 overs, the match all but gone. But Hussey, who came down at No. 7 after his brother David Hussey given his limited stature in the T20 world, then pulled off a miracle, smashing six sixes and three fours with Saeed Ajmal proving to be the main victim.

Australia managed to score 14, 16 and 18 in the last three overs with Ajmal going for three sixes and a four in the final one, giving the men from Oz a memorable win. The innings will always be remembered for its sheer impact and the way it turned things around – almost literally snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

Add to that the fact that it came in a chase of a big total and in a high-pressure big match on world cricket’s greatest stage, and you have something to cherish! This was truly the signature knock of Hussey’s career.

#2 Chris Gayle 100* in 48 balls v England

It was a batting masterclass from Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle is no stranger to the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. He has played many a devastating innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore in that stadium. But this time he sounded the gong for West Indies in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2016, with a cracking century against England in a stiff chase.

That the knock came against a resurgent English side makes it even sweeter. West Indies were set a target of 183, a tough total even by Wankhede standards. They then lost their opener Johnson Charles on the second ball of their innings. But Gayle, who was content to let Marlon Samuels take centre-stage early on, took off midway through the innings.

He plundered 11 sixes, more than all the sixes hit by England put together (9), and 5 fours to reach his century in just 48 balls - at a phenomenal strike-rate of 208. Wickets did keep tumbling at the other end, but Gayle-Force ensured West Indies knocked off the target will 11 balls to spare.

The biggest victim of the day was Moeen Ali who was hit for three successive monstrous sixes in the 14th over to virtually end the contest, taking his numbers from 3-0-16-1 to 4-0-38-1. This is only one of the eight centuries scored at the World Cup but was easily the fastest of them, breaking Gayle’s own record of 50 balls against South Africa in the inaugural edition of the tournament.

#1 Yuvraj Singh 58 in 16 balls v England

Yuvraj lit-up the sky against England

This innings holds the record for highest strike-rate in a World Cup half-century, but that's only a small part of why it is so special. Yuvraj’s half-century came off a near-impossible 12 balls, and the spectacular innings included the famous 6 sixers in six balls off a single Stuart Broad over.

Yuvraj smashed 7 sixers in all and 3 fours to finish with 58 at a whopping strike-rate of 362.5. The next highest strike-rate at the World Cup for any innings of more than 50 is S Myburgh’s 274 against Ireland.

The Yuvraj onslaught came after some sledging from Broad. Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag had laid a solid foundation and India were 171 for 3 after 18 overs. Yuvraj had already hit successive fours off Flintoff before the 19th of the innings was started by Broad, and that turned out to be the game-changer.

Yuvraj became the first player to hit 6 sixers in an over in T20 cricket and the fourth overall in all first-class matches. India posted 218 and although England fought well, they could only manage 200 in reply.