Top 5 cricketing moments of 2019

The year 2019 saw many memorable cricketing moments being played out on the field. The year began with Team India registering a historic first-ever Test series win in Australia. On the other hand, Sri Lanka stunned South Africa in South Africa, becoming the first team from Asia to register a Test series win in South Africa.

At Lord’s, England continued the tradition of hosts winning the World Cup following a pulsating final albeit controversially via the now redundant boundary count rule. England and Australia resumed their Ashes rivalry, which was, as expected, a closely fought one. Steve Smith, Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer came up with some fantastic performances as the series was tied 2-2. Australia, however, retained the Ashes having won the previous contest between the sides.

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With an eventful year coming to an end, we look back at five of the most memorable cricketing moments of 2019.

#5. Malinga's four wickets in four balls

New Zealand v Sri Lanka - 3rd T20

At the age of 36, Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga proved that he can still be lethal, by claiming four wickets in four balls in the third T20I at Pallekele against New Zealand in September. Sri Lanka had just 125 on the board, and needed something extraordinary to defend it. Malinga produced just that.

With the third ball of the third over, he cleaned up Colin Munro with a 140-kph yorker. Next ball, Malinga trapped Hamish Rutherford, who had come in for the unfit Tom Bruce, lbw with an inswinger, one that was given not out before a review saw the umpire overturn his decision. Colin de Grandhomme, who had scores of 44 and 59 in the previous two games, was the hat-trick victim. It was Malinga’s legendary delivery -- swinging in, and moving away after pitching, as de Grandhomme’s stumps were castled.

Malinga made it four in four by trapping the experienced Ross Taylor lbw with a brute of a yorker. He completed a five-for by having Tim Seifert caught off a half-volley. Malinga’s eventual figures read 4-1-6-5.

#4. Smith's run-filled Ashes comeback

England v Australia - 4th Specsavers Ashes Test: Day Four

Following the ban handed to him over his role in the ball-tampering scandal, Steve Smith returned to Test cricket during Ashes 2019. And, he batted in such incredible fashion, it was as if he had never gone away.

In his first Test on return, he cracked 144 and 142 at Birmingham to put the Aussies 1-0 up. Smith looked set for another hundred at Lord’s when a blow to the neck from Jofra Archer forced him to retire hurt. He returned, but was clearly unsettled, and was dismissed for 92. Marnus Labuschagne famously replaced him as the concussion substitute in the second innings.

Having missed the Headingley Test, which England won on the back of Ben Stokes’ heroics, Smith returned to put the Aussies 2-1 up at Manchester. He smashed 211 in the first innings and added a brisk 82 in the second as England went down by 185 runs. Smith rounded off the Ashes with 80 and 23 at The Oval for a total tally of 774 runs. England squared the series with a 135-run win in the final Test, but Aussies retained the urn.

#3. Kusal Perera’s epic 153 not out

Kusal Perera and Vishwa Fernando celebrate Durban triumph

Amidst Ben Stokes and Smith’s brilliance, and the World Cup hoopla, Kusal Perera’s heroic 153 not out at Durban back in February has pretty much been forgotten. Chasing 304 for victory, the game seemed all but over for the visitors at 226 for 9. Perera was on 86 when the last man Vishwa Fernando joined him. And his innings, it seemed, was just delaying the inevitable.

However, Perera produced a marvellous counter-attack while also keeping Fernando away from strike in what will go down as one of the greatest Test knocks ever. Perera hit five sixes and 12 fours in an incredible 153 not out, and before the Proteas could figure out what had hit them, the game was over. Fernando faced just 27 balls and contributed a valuable six in the unbroken last-wicket stand of 78. Buoyed by the miraculous triumph, Sri Lanka went on to register a historic 2-0 win over South Africa.

#2. Ben Stokes' Headingley Miracle

Ben Stokes lets out a roar after Headingley knock

Months after Perera’s legendary knock, England’s World Cup hero Ben Stokes produced a similar epic on a grander scale. The Ashes. England had been rolled over for an embarrassing 67 in the first innings at Headingley. Chasing 359 for victory, they were down and out at 286 for 9. Stokes was stranded on 61 when last man Jack Leach made his way to the crease.

The England all-rounder then decided to completely take matters into his own hands, and produced an astounding innings that drew comparisons with Ian Botham’s 149 in 1981 at the same ground. Stokes and Leach featured in an incredible last-wicket stand of 76, with Leach’s contribution being 1 from 17 balls. Stokes’ unbeaten 135, featuring eight sixes and 11 fours, coming close on the heels of his World Cup exploits, made him a greater hero in England.

#1. Pulsating World Cup Super Over

A heart-broken Martin Guptill

The manner of England’s victory at Lord’s in the World Cup final will always remain a subject of ridicule, coming as it did via an incomprehensible boundary count rule. However, it must be noted that England and New Zealand combined to produce one of the greatest World Cup finals ever.

After Stokes’ incredible 84 not out from 98 balls, which included the contentious four overthrows, ensured the final went into the Super Over as both sides finished with 241, the greater drama was in store. Stokes and Jos Buttler came in for the Super Over. Both got a boundary each off Trent Boult as England posted an impressive 15 on board.

Archer, in his maiden World Cup, was handed the responsibility of bowling the Super Over, in other words, of winning the World Cup for England. Out of form Martin Guptill and Jimmy Neesham walked out to bat for New Zealand. Archer began with a wide, and a six from Neesham over the deep midwicket boundary, as the bowler missed his yorker, made it seven from four.

Neesham picked up five runs from the next three balls, leaving Guptill the task of getting two off the last ball. Archer angled one into the pads, which Guptill clipped towards deep midwicket. Guptill and Neesham had to come back for the non-existent second. Jason Roy fired the throws straight at Buttler, who dislodged the stumps, with a diving Guptill well short. The Super Over was tied, but it was heartbreak for Kiwis and ecstasy for England as the boundary count rule declared them World Champions.

In a fairer sense though, there was no winner as both the sides were incredibly and, equally, magnificent.