Top 5 cricketers of the week – December 21st to December 27th

A massive Ranji Trophy triple, an all-round performance in a losing cause, a landmark, record-breaking double ton in one of the toughest places for visiting batsmen in a Boxing Day Test, a five-for against one of the strongest batting units playing at home and a blistering ODI century at the top – these are the five performances that mark last week’s cricket for us.

It was not short of action, whether you like Indian domestic cricket where the Ranji has reached the Semi-Final stage, ODI cricket or Test cricket, with two Boxing Day games in alternate time zones. As usual, some players stood up and made sure they sprinted towards the end of 2016 with superlative performances.

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#1 Samit Gohel

Gujarat’s Samit Gohel, opening their second innings, had the task of batting out time, as his team had already gained the first innings lead, which was more than enough to send them through to the Semi-Final in the case of a draw.

Against Odisha, Samit scored 359*, the highest by any opener who carried his bat in all first-class history, not just Indian. Samit has the legendary Don Bradman for company in that it is the second-highest first class score in the second innings of a Test behind Don’s 452.

The innings made a mark in several other aspects as well. It was the third-longest knock in first-class history in terms of time and the sixth highest in terms of number of balls faced. That is one hell of an innings indeed! The joint fourth-highest score in Ranji history helped Gujarat score 641 in their second innings and bat Odisha out of the game.

#2 Azhar Ali

Azhar Ali celebrates his milestone

At the MCG, in a Boxing Day Test, Azhar Ali scored a valiant 205* and would have probably carried his bat, had Pakistan not declared on 443 for 9. He is the first Pakistan batsman to score two double tons in a calendar year, having scored a triple against the West Indies.

He also became the first visiting opener to hit a double ton at the MCG and the first Pakistani batsman to ever score a double ton in Australia in Tests. Those are some serious stats and Azhar, the oft-ignored, unspoken, unassuming batsman deserves every bit of the applause that he has been receiving for this spectacular knock.

#3 Suranga Lakmal

Lakmal rocked South Africa early

Lakmal is close to 30 years old and has still not attained the peaks that many thought he would much earlier in his career. The man who made his Test debut six years ago, and was considered to be the successor to Lasith Malinga’s legacy, has played only 31 Tests since, picking up 67 wickets at 47.65.

However, on the first and second days of the first Test against South Africa at Port Elizabeth, he gave a fine display of his talent, swinging and moving the ball and wrecking the South African top order. Lakmal picked up his first five-wicket haul with figures of 5-63 against a strong South African batting order. Four of his five wickets were of the South African top 5, further demonstrating how well he really bowled.

#4 Tom Latham

Latham blasted New Zealand to victory

In the first ODI against a feisty Bangladesh side, in Christchurch, Latham smoked 137 off just 121 balls with 7 sixes and 4 fours, after losing his more swashbuckling partner, Martin Guptill. Latham added 158 for the fifth wicket with Colin Munro and gave New Zealand the push they needed to reach 341, a very stiff target for any opposition.

This is the 24-year old’s second century in ODIs and may enhance a below-par average of 34 after 47 ODIs. In reply, Bangladesh were bundled out for 264, losing the game by 77 runs. He picked up the Player of the Match award as well.

#5 Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib’s efforts were in vain

Turning up good performances away from home is always a tough job, but Bangladesh’s veteran player and probably their best, Shakib, turned up once again with bat and ball. In the first ODI against New Zealand, he picked up three wickets with the ball, two of which slowed New Zealand in the middle, dragging them from 132 for 2 to 158 for 4 in the 29^th over.

Apart from figures of 3-69, Shakib, who was a tad expensive with the ball, made up for it with a hefty contribution with the bat. His 54-ball 59 and a 63-run partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim kept Bangladesh in the hunt before they lost their way in the last 20 overs.