Cricket World Cup: Highest individual scores in finals

A total of 11 World Cup tournaments have been played until now. Many iconic players have represented their nations in the elite cricket tournament until now. The Australian cricket team has been the most successful country in the World Cups till now as they managed to win the trophy on 5 different occasions. India and West Indies have won the trophy twice. Pakistan and Sri Lanka have won the World Cup one time each.

The cricketing universe has witnessed numerous brilliant batting performances in the World Cups. Particularly the pressure and expectations touch the crest during the final match of the World Cup. Players who have managed to perform exceptionally in such situations are revered and immortalized in the history of cricket sport.

In this slide show, we are going to take a look at the top five players with the highest individual scores in the finals of the World Cup. Former West Indies skipper, Clive Lloyd narrowly misses this list. He scored 102 runs in the final of 1975 World Cup against England team. A total of six players have scored a century in the finals of the World Cup until now.

Here are the five highest individual scores in the World Cup final.

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#5 Mahela Jayawardene - 103* vs India, 2011

Mahela Jayawardene

The former Sri Lankan cricket team captain, Mahela Jayawardene played an outstanding innings in the final of 2011 World Cup against the mighty Indian team. He came into the middle when his team was struggling at 2/60 after 16.3 overs.

He then constructed crucial partnerships with Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, and Nuwan Kulasekara to take his team to a decent first innings total of 274 after the end of 50 overs. In the process of resurrecting his team's innings, he completed a well deserved century.

Jayawardene scored 103* runs from 88 balls which included 13 fours.

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#4 Aravinda de Silva - 107* vs Australia, 1996

Aravinda de Silva

Another Sri Lankan on this elite list, Aravinda de Silva is one of the best batsmen to emerge from the island nation. He scored a magnificent century under pressure against the mighty Australian team in the finals of the 1996 World Cup. He came into bat at number 4 after his team had lost both their inform openers cheaply with just 23 runs on the scoreboard.

He then put on a match-winning 125 run partnership with Asanka Gurusinha to take Sri Lanka home in a tricky chase of 242 runs. The then Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga also played a crucial cameo to support de Silva during the chase.

He scored 107* runs from 124 balls, which included 13 fours.

#3 Sir Viv Richards - 138* vs England, 1979

Sir Viv Richards (left)

One of the most destructive batsmen of all time, Viv Richards has played an impressive knock during the final of the 1979 World Cup. He came at number 3 after the wicket of Gordon Greenidge.

He kept batting at one end till the end even though wickets kept tumbling on the other end. He put on a 139 run partnership with Collis King to take his team to a respectable total of 286 runs after the end of stipulated 60 overs.

Richards scored 138* runs from 157 balls which included 11 fours and 3 sixes.

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#2 Ricky Ponting - 140* vs India, 2003

Ricky Ponting

Former Australia captain, Ricky Ponting played one of the most dominating ODI innings of all time in the finals of 2003 World Cup against India. He was in ominous form right from the start of that innings as he hit the bowlers all around the park at will.

He came into bat after a century partnership from the openers. He continued from there on and went to score a scintillating century.

Ponting scored 140* runs from 121 balls which included 4 fours and 8 sixes.

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#1 Adam Gilchrist - 149 vs Sri Lanka, 2007

Adam Gilchrist

The revolutionary wicket keeper batsmen, Adam Gilchrist is the record holder for the player with the highest individual score in the finals of World Cups. He played a magnificent innings of 149 at an astonishing strike rate of 143.27 to help his team reach a very good total of 281 from 38 overs in a rain-affected match.

Gilchrist scored 149 runs from 104 balls which included 13 fours and 8 sixes.