World Cup 2019: Top 3 batting performances during the warm-up games

The ICC World Cup 2019, easily the biggest tournament in the sport of cricket, is right around the corner. 10 nations will be competing for the prestigious title, leaving no stone unturned in their efforts.

The players who do well at the World Cup become legends of the sport. Nothing can really compare to the adrenaline rush of helping your team win a nail-biting thriller at the mega event. But before the real action begins, the teams need a little time getting used to the conditions in the host country.

Warm-up games are played to understand the pitch and climatic conditions, as the teams try to get their combinations right before the tournament. Here is a look at the top three performances in the just concluded World Cup warm-up round.

#1 Vintage MS Dhoni

MSD and KL Rahul were at their brutal best

The best performance in the warm-up games came from a lower middle order wicket-keeping legend from India. MS Dhoni played a brilliant knock of 113 runs off just 78 deliveries to help his team post an imposing total against Bangladesh.

Dhoni stood at the crease till the last over and he hit 8 fours and 7 huge sixes, leading India to a mammoth 359 for 7 which helped them defeat Bangladesh by 95 runs. He stitched together a brilliant fifth wicket partnership of 164 runs with the new No. 4 KL Rahul, who himself managed a classy 109 runs off 88 deliveries.

Sourav Ganguly on air was very impressed with the way Dhoni batted, stating that Dhoni never went into a shell where his strike rate was below par - which in turn eased the pressure on the other batsmen. Dhoni got to his century in just 72 deliveries and he made sure the scoreboard was moving along at a healthy rate throughout the innings.

#2 Steve Smith makes a smashing return to the international arena

Steve Smith is back

The one-year ban on Steve Smith after the sandpaper controversy is finally over. And the former captain returned to the Australian team with a stunning 116 runs off 102 deliveries under immense pressure, with the English crowd booing him right from the moment he stepped on the field.

Australia notched up 297 for the loss of 9 wickets in their 50 overs and they were able to defeat England who scored 285 all out in the game. The Aussies managed to overcome the negativity that surrounded them throughout, thus laying down a marker for the official tournament.

Smith's skills, composure and perseverance came to the fore in his innings, and he will likely be a force to reckon with throughout the mega event. His fans would be hoping for many more such performances from him.

#3 Hashmatullah Shahidi’s patient innings

Shahidi stood like a wall between Pakistan and a win

Hashmatullah Shahidi produced a terrific innings against Pakistan as Afghanistan, the new giant-killers of cricketing world, won by 3 wickets in a thrilling finish to the game. The Afghans managed to reach the finish line with 3 balls to spare, and the star of the show was Shahidi with a brilliantly paced 74 runs off 102 deliveries that included 7 fours.

It was a determined performance by Shahidi and the Afghans overall, who could easily get on a roll against the other top World Cup contenders as well.

Aside from these three, there were also notable performances by Shai Hope and Tom Blundell. Hope scored a brilliant century (101 runs off 86 deliveries) against New Zealand, which led West Indies to a mammoth 421 all out in the first innings. New Zealand could manage only 330 all out in this high scoring match, with Blundell scoring a wonderful 106 runs off 89 deliveries.