ICC World Cup History: 4 Best cameo knocks in the semi-finals

Before the dust could settle from the enthrallment of the 12th edition of the IPL, the cricket fans from all over the world are geared up for the 50-over ICC World Cup which is set to commence in England and Wales in a week’s time.

After a break of two weeks, the fans are in for a roller-coaster ride yet again featuring sleepless nights, triumphs and ecstasy, followed by turmoils and heartbreaks. Though the 50-over matches are not as exciting as T20 matches, it is after all the World Cup which comes only once in four years. As a lot of pride is attached to a World Cup win, even the infrequent fans start following the World Cup meticulously.

In a World Cup, for any team, the semi-finals would be the most crucial match. For the favourites, it is like achieving the first and foremost goal of reaching the semi-finals. For the dark horses, it is achieving the unexpected. For the rest, it is time to return home empty-handed.

The teams who have managed to reach the semi-finals shall put their best foot forward to stay alive in the tournament and to proceed to the all-important final. That kind of challenging situation often produces the best out of some of the class players.

As a result, one would always find the semi-finals going down to the wire as compared to the finals. After reaching the final, some teams become self-contented with their efforts and might not possess the final fling to the goal. It happened with Pakistan in 1999, India in 2003 and New Zealand in 2015.

In this article, let us revisit four of the best cameo knocks played in the different editions of the World Cup. Again, some of these knocks cannot be strictly defined as cameos in terms of the number of runs scored. But they are still cameos in terms of the pace of the innings and the very little time the batsmen had to react to an adverse situation.

#4 Aravinda De Silva – Sri Lanka vs India, 1996

Aravinda De Silva knocked India out of World Cup 1996

India met Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, in the semi-finals of World Cup 1996. After their fabulous win against the then-defending champions Pakistan in the quarter-finals, Indians were a spent lot by the time they reached Kolkata.

To make matters worse, Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin at the toss decided to play to the weaknesses of the opponent rather than to the strengths of his own team. To nullify Sri Lanka’s strength in chasing, Azhar put Sri Lanka in to bat on a tricky wicket.

For a moment, it looked like Azhar’s decision was going to work in India’s favour as Javagal Srinath dismissed both the big-hitting openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana in the very first over. That brought Aravinda de Silva to the wicket with Sri Lanka reeling at 1 for 2.

De Silva was in sublime form on that day, executing perfect cricket strokes. Not even a single shot was hit in the air as he showed his class that day. Before anyone could realize, he reached his 50 off 32 balls with 11 fours.

By the time he got out to Anil Kumble, De Silva made 66 off 47 balls with 14 fours at a strike rate of 140. He scored 66 in his team’s total of 85 for 4. A truly remarkable innings under pressure which enabled Sri Lanka to reach the final where De Silva scored a hundred while chasing to enable Sri Lanka to win the World Cup for the first time.

#3 Inzamam-ul-Haq – Pakistan Vs New Zealand, 1992

Inzamam ul Haq played the innings of his life in the semi-finals of World Cup 1992

The first semi-final of World Cup 1992 was played between Pakistan and New Zealand at Auckland. In World Cup 1992, Pakistan was very nearly knocked out of the tournament when they were all out for 74 against England.

England were 24 for 1 before heavens opened up to wash out the match. The one point that Pakistan got in that abandoned match at Adelaide enabled them to sneak through to the semi-finals.

In the semi-finals, New Zealand batted first and scored 262 for 7 in 50 overs. In reply, Pakistan were 140 for 4 in 35 overs when the relatively unknown Inzamam-ul-Haq walked out to join the veteran Javed Miandad. Pakistan needed 123 runs in 15 overs at an asking rate of 8.20 which was considered beyond reach those days.

Before this match, Inzamam had a poor World Cup with scores of 27,14,0,2,48,16,11 and 5. But Pakistan captain Imran Khan reposed faith in him.

Inzamam was up against New Zealand’s most successful bowler of the tournament, Chris Harris with 15 wickets. Before Inzamam’s arrival to the crease, Harris troubled all the Pakistani batsmen with his slow stuff and had accounted for Imran Khan's dismissal.

But Inzamam took on Harris to hit him for two fours and a six in an over. He was severe on off-spinner Dipak Patel too. Inzamam added 87 runs in 10 overs for the fifth wicket with Miandad. He reached his 50 off 31 balls. He blazed away to 60 in 37 balls with seven fours and one six. His cameo was instrumental in Pakistan reaching the final in World Cup 1992, and winning the tournament thereafter.

#2 Grant Elliott - New Zealand vs South Africa, 2015

Grant Elliott floored Dale Steyn and South Africa with his blinder

Another World Cup semi-final appearance for New Zealand in Auckland, this time against South Africa. For the New Zealand cricket fans, the hammering they got at the hands of Inzamam in Auckland 23 years ago was still fresh in memory.

In 2015, South Africa set New Zealand a target of 298 in 43 overs. New Zealand lost their top four batsmen - Martin Guptill, Brendon Mccullum, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor with the score reading 149 for 4 in the 22nd over. New Zealand needed exactly another 149 runs in 21 overs.

In walked South African-born Grant Elliott, now playing for New Zealand against South Africa. He had Corey Anderson as a partner at the other end. Anderson helped Elliott’s cause by being aggressive in the beginning. Their 50-run partnership was reached in 48 balls.

Elliott reached his 50 off 53 balls with six fours and one six. Anderson too reached his 50, and the century partnership was posted off 92 balls. New Zealand needed 55 runs in the last seven overs. Elliott took care of the Morne Morkel threat by picking him up over square leg for a six. He never allowed Imran Tahir to settle down.

Elliott wisely played out Dale Steyn’s two overs which cost just 11 runs. When the final countdown started, New Zealand needed 29 runs off 18 balls with Elliott batting on 63 at run a ball. Steyn gave away a mere six runs in the 41st over. That made it 23 required off 12 balls.

Elliott scored 11 runs, including a boundary in the penultimate over bowled by Morkel. New Zealand needed 12 runs in the last over, which was to be bowled by Steyn. After Daniel Vettori’s boundary, it came down to five off two balls with Elliott on strike.

That was when the experienced Steyn bowled a length ball which Elliott promptly deposited over long on. Elliott remained not out on 84 off 73 balls, one of the best innings ever played in a World Cup semi-finals. For South Africa, it was, as always, so near and yet so far.

#1 Sandeep Patil - India vs England, 1983

Sandeep Patil played a real gem of an innings in the semi-finals of World Cup 1983

When India reached the semi-finals of World Cup 1983 to meet hosts England in Manchester, they were considered as easy meat for England. There was already talk going around about the possible final between England and West Indies at Lord’s.

England went into the match with the same biased mindset. Only when they were bowled out for 213 while batting first, they realized that there was a match to be won for reaching the final.

England suddenly showed a lot of purpose on the field by removing both the Indian openers for 50 runs. Mohinder Amarnath and Yashpal Sharma steadied the ship with a partnership of 92 runs but consumed a lot of deliveries. Finally, when Mohinder Amarnath got out for 46 off 92 deliveries, Sandeep Patil walked in.

With the match in the balance, the stage was set for Patil’s cameo which could take his team to the final. Patil was surprised to see England captain Bob Willis bringing himself on to the bowling crease. Patil had earlier clobbered Willis for six fours in an over in a Test match at the same venue.

The sight of Willis got Patil’s adrenaline flowing as he kept repeating the same treatment to the English skipper. Patil raced to his 50 off 32 balls with eight fours at a strike rate of 159, which was unheard of in those days.

Patil’s cameo ensured that India reached the target with more than five overs to spare.