World Cup 2015: Stats of the week - February 23 to March 1

Be it in any sport, records and big tournaments are like Siamese twins – they always go together. The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 currently underway Down Under is no exception to this fact. The much loved World Cup, which began on the V-day (February 14) has been through two full weeks now – the second half of which actually saw records being toppled and piled giving the viewers their money's worth.The just concluded week (February 23 to March 1) featured 10 group matches comprising a montage of thrillers, dead rubbers, upsets and stunners, imperatively reminding us that the tournament has gotten into serious business and, in the process, driving the statisticians crazy. Let us now look at a compilation of some of those eye-catching numbers from what was indeed a memorable week.

#1 West Indies v Zimbabwe - Feb 24

Chris Gayle lit up the stadium with his fireworks during his record-breaking knock of 215

Both the teams had come into this match upbeat after winning their earlier fixture. Despite West Indies’ victory against Pakistan, Zimbabwe had realistic hopes of beating the Caribbeans, courtesy their good form and Windies’ no-show against Ireland in their World Cup opener. But the big man from Jamaica had different ideas. (Result: West Indies won by 73 runs (D/L method)

Here’s the list that went into the record books:

372/2 is the highest total ever to have been recorded at the Manuka Oval. It is also Windies’ highest ever total in ODIs.

215 scored by Chris Gayle is the highest individual score by any batsman in World Cups. He got inducted into the elite 200-club, which includes the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma. This is also the third highest ODI score of all-time.

138 the number of balls in which Gayle reached the magical figure is the fastest by anyone who has emulated this feat. The previous record was 140 balls, by Virender Sehwag. Tendulkar took 147 balls, while Rohit got to his two double tons in 151 and 156 balls respectively.

372 the second-wicket partnership between Gayle and Samuels is the highest partnership for any wicket in ODI history. The duo surpassed the earlier record of 331 set by Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid against New Zealand in 1999.

#2 Bangladesh v Sri Lanka - Feb 26

K.Sangakkara(L) & T.M.Dilshan(R), the two senior players scored a ton each and shared a 210-run unbeaten stand

This was a battle between the two subcontinent teams set off-shore at the MCG, one (Sri Lanka) being slightly complacent than the other (Bangladesh). Lankans, who can boast of their immense World Cup exposure, came in as the clear favourites. And it was business as usual for the Island nation.

A rock-solid start from the openers, Lahiru Thirimanne and Tillakaratne Dilshan, followed by a clerical 210-run stand between the latter and wicket-keeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara raised their team’s total to 332. Bangladesh tried putting up what seemed to be a decent fight back; however, that didn’t have a telling impact on the result. (Result: Sri Lanka won by 92 runs)

Here’s the list that went into the record books:

400 is the number of ODIs that the 37-year-old Sangakkara has played so far. In an age when ODIs are gradually weaning away, this is certainly a milestone to reckon with. Only Sanath Jayasurya, Sachin Tendulkar and Mahela Jayawardene are the other players to have reached the landmark so far.

161* scored by Tillakaratne Dilshan is the highest by a Sri Lankan batsman in the World Cup beating Aravinda de Silva's 145 against Kenya in 1996.

22 times Dilshan’s shots managed to cross over the boundary rope and that is the most by any batsman in a World Cup eclipsing the 21 hit by Stephen Fleming against South Africa in 2003. Oddly though, this also happens to be the only case when a batsman has scored so high without hitting a six.

#3 South Africa v West Indies - Feb 27

AB de Villiers proved he’s more than a human with his blitzkrieg of 162* at the SCG

Those who presumed that this will be just another contest between two full members couldn’t be more wrong. This was a day when SCG’s ‘long-boundary-average-score’ theory was proved a fallacy.

Demolition machine AB de Villiers hammered the hapless Windies bowling all around the park, breaking records like crazy. Having chosen to bat, the Proteas made yet another 400 plus score courtesy, the one man army, ABD.

Caribbean bowlers had no answers to the kaleidoscopic shot display of AB de Villiers. Even in the chase, West Indies were let down by their inform batsman, Chris Gayle, eventually making this contest look like a one-sided contest. (Result: South Africa won by 257 runs)

0 dot balls! There were astonishingly zero dot balls during South Africa's Batting Powerplay as they scored 72 runs not losing a single wicket. This is as unique as the number itself.

64 balls ABD took to reach his 150, the fastest by any batsman in the history of ODI cricket. He now has the phenomenal record of the fastest 50 (16 balls), fastest 100 (31 balls) and fastest 150(62) in ODIs. Is 200 any far?

104 runs conceded by Jason Holder during his 10-over spell is the most ever by any West Indies bowler and the second by any bowler in World Cups. Apparently this is also the worst bowling figure for a bowler when captaining his side.

76 runs smashed by AB de Villiers off Holder is the most by any batsman off a single bowler. ABD went hammer and tongs hitting seven fours and six sixes off the 21 balls he faced from Holder.

3 times so far Windies have conceded scores over 400 plus, which is the most by any team in ODIs.

#4 New Zealand v Australia - Feb 28

Kane Williamson(R) after hitting one over the ropes to see Kiwis through a nail-biting finish

The mother of all group games; a dress-rehearsal for the grand finale; clash of the titans; and what other titles this trans-Tasman clash didn’t hear of? Only God knows. Australia were visiting their Island neighbours after four long years. In the run up to the majestic tournament, both the teams were touted as title contenders and they’ve so far lived up to the hype. Auckland, which is known for its short boundaries, ironically saw the best match of the World Cup which was low on scores.

Australia chose to bat. Trent Boult’s five-for restricted them to a paltry score of 151. Nonetheless, Mitchell Starc, during the second half, gave enough jitters to the packed stadium with his fiery six-wicket haul that made this low-scoring contest to be the most memorable one. (Result: New Zealand won by 1 wicket)

Here’s the list that went into the record books:

151 is the lowest score for Australia ever in World Cups while batting first; it is also their second-lowest ever in the history of the tournament, only behind to 129 all out against India in the 1983 World Cup.

15 runs scored by Australia in the very first over of the match is the joint highest in World Cups. Australia had scored 15 in the opening over of the 2003 final, which was bowled by Zaheer Khan.

12 wickets between the three left-arm pacers, Trent Boult (5) and Mitchell Starc (6) and one for Corey Anderson is easily the most for left-armers in the game’s history.

#5 India v United Arab Emirates - Feb 28

R.Ashwin(centre) celebrating his four-wicket haul with his teammates

UAE needed to pull their socks up to at least manage a decent show against the defending champions. Indians were unbeaten coming into the match, with wins coming against their toughest opponents in pool B. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return was another plus to the already confident Indian side.

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin spun out the opposition with his career best figures of 4/25. Chasing down the menial score of 102 was only a formality for the Indians who did it quite comfortably. (Result: India won by 9 wickets)

Here’s the list that went in to the record books:

102 is the lowest score a team has been bowled out by India in World Cups. Sri Lanka's 109 in Johannesburg in 2003 was the previous lowest.

187 balls were remaining in their chase, which makes it the second biggest win for Indians.

1991 was the last time a spinner claimed more wickets in an ODI at the WACA. Ravi Shastri it was, who took 5 for 15 against Australia.

#6 England v Sri Lanka - March 1

Sangakkara and Thirimanne vandalised the English bowling mercilessly by chasing down 310 with ease

England came into this fixture with their battering against New Zealand a week ago not fully healed. Sri Lanka had a visible edge over the English after winning their earlier encounter hands down.

England, with the help of young Joe Root, put up a competent total of 309 on the board. Notwithstanding the steep target, Lankans, who saw Kumar Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne on song, cruised past the total with a formidable ease. Sangakkara, who was at his flamboyant self, notched up his second consecutive ton in the tournament. (Result: Sri Lanka won by 9 wickets)

Here’s the list that went into the record books:

121 of Joe Root makes him the youngest Englishman to score a World Cup century. The previous youngest World Cup centurion for England was David Gower, who scored one at 26 years, also against Sri Lanka, in 1983.

4 is the number of centuries Root has to his name as a No.4 batsman, which apparently is the most for England at No.4.

139 of Thirimanne, during the chase of 309, made him the youngest centurion – at 25 years – for Sri Lanka in the World Cups.

7 Fifty-plus opening stands for Sri Lanka in 10 ODI innings in 2015. No other team has more than three 50-plus partnerships for the first wicket during this period.