Top 5 cricketers of the Week, 19th – 24th June

It was a day of pride for Indians as Mithali Raj did something that no woman cricketer has done before, more importantly, at the Women’s ODI World Cup. Apart from that, we had couple of exciting T20I games between T20 powerhouses South Africa and England. The series was drawn 1-1 and the fans definitely got their money’s worth. Here, we take a look at the top 5 performances of the week.

#1 Mithali Raj

Mithali Raj smashed her 47^th ODI fifty, a record in itself, against England at Derby in the second match of the tournament at the Women’s World Cup. More importantly, it was her seventh consecutive ODI half-century, a world record, breaking a 29-year old mark set by LA Reeler.

What is even more impressive is that Raj has scored each of these seven half-centuries outside India. Two of them were unbeaten knocks and the latest one, a 73-ball 71, helped push India to 281 for the loss of just three wickets. England were 246 all out, giving India a comfortable 35-run victory. Smriti Mandhana was the Player of the Match with her whirlwind 72-ball 90, as she added 144 for the opening wicket with PG Raut (86).

#2 AB de Villiers

De Villiers was sublime in both T20 games against England

AB de Villiers played two sensational knocks in back to back games. In the first T20I against England, in Southampton, he help stabilise the South African innings after they were seven for two and 32 for three. He pushed them to a respectable score of 142 with his 58-ball 65. England won comfortably, though, by nine wickets with 33 balls to spare.

De Villiers scored a 20-ball 46 with four boundaries and three sixes in the second T20I, helping SA post 174. Eventually, they won by three runs. De Villiers was obviously the top-scorer, walking in at No.4 this time when SA were 57 for 2 in the eighth over. He was particularly harsh against Liam Plunkett who was clobbered in the 10^th over for three fours and a six.

#3 Chris Morris

Morris’ measly spell brought SA back into the game

Chris Morris saved the day and the series for South Africa with his sensational fast bowling in a high-scoring match. Defending 174, South Africa were under the pump as England reached 125 for 1 in the 14^th over. Morris had picked the lone wicket of Sam Billings in his first over.

It was Morris who broke the partnership again, getting rid of the dangerous Jonny Bairstow, who scored a 37-ball 47. Applying pressure, Morris put the brakes that slowed England down and helped South Africa squeeze out the narrowest of victories. Morris registered match figures of 2-18 in his four overs and deservedly won the Player of the Match award.

#4 Jonny Bairstow

Bairstow’s purple patch continues

Unfazed by the lack of ODI opportunities, Bairstow showed his mettle in both the T20 games against South Africa. In the first one, he scored an unbeaten 60 off just 35 balls, adding 98 for the second wicket as England chased down 143 in the 15^th over, beating South Africa by nine wickets. He was Player of the Match.

At Taunton, Bairstow couldn’t quite work his magic. After arriving at the crease in the second over, he added 110 for the second wicket with Jason Roy but fell at a crucial juncture. His 37-ball 47 was not good enough to get England the win, as his dismissal sparked a mini collapse. England capitulated to fall short of the target by three runs.

#5 Jason Roy

Roy was back to his sublime best albeit in a losing cause

Roy showed signs of his old form as he followed up his 14-ball 28 in the first T20I with a charming 45-ball 67 in the second game. Roy’s innings had nine sublime fours and a six. He added 110 for the second wicket with Bairstow but fell within eight runs of Bairstow’s dismissal.

England were in the driver’s seat at that moment, requiring 40 off the last five overs, but lost some quick wickets to fall short of the target by three runs. Interestingly, Roy also became the first T20I batsman to be dismissed Obstructing the Field, as the third umpire deemed he deliberately changed his course to come in the line of the throw.