Top 5 T20I batting performances of 2021

#3 Liam Livingstone (103 off 43)

England all-rounder Liam Livingstone. Pic: Getty Images

Although Liam Livingstone’s blazing T20I hundred came in a losing cause, but it was an extraordinary effort nonetheless. Chasing 233 in Nottingham against Pakistan in July, built around the half-centuries of Azam and Rizwan, England seemed down and out at 48 for 3. Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali were all back in the hut. However, Livingstone gave Pakistan a scare with his audacious knock.

The England batter struck six fours and nine sixes in his 43-ball 103, which translated to a strike rate of 239.53. Livingstone smacked Haris Rauf for two sixes and a four in the last over of the powerplay to get his innings underway. He never looked back after that. Consecutive sixes followed in the next over from Shadab Khan.

Livingstone raced to fifty in 17 balls, the fastest by an England batter in the T20Is. While wickets kept falling at the other end, Livingstone continued to find the boundaries. He reached his hundred in dominant fashion, walloping Shadab over long-on for a six.

Livingstone’s 42-ball century is the fastest by an Englishman in the T20Is. He was dismissed on the very next ball and with him, went England’s faint hopes of a win.

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#2 Jos Buttler (101* off 67)

Jos Buttler celebrates his century against Sri Lanka. Pic: Getty Images

England’s dashing wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler played arguably his finest T20I knock till date in the T20 World Cup clash against Sri Lanka in Sharjah. Sent into bat after losing the toss, England crumbled to 3 for 35 inside the powerplay. However, Buttler single-handedly brought England back into the contest with a blazing 101* off 67 balls.

The 31-year-old struck six fours and as many sixes in the innings on a challenging surface. With England having lost early wickets, Buttler was subdued in the first half. He reached his fifty off 45 balls, his slowest T20I half-century.

But Buttler was back to his aggressive best in the second half of his innings. He smacked Lahiru Kumara for two sixes in an over and followed it up with two sixes and a four off consecutive deliveries against Dasun Shanaka. He reached his hundred off the last ball of the innings with another maximum off Dushmantha Chameera.

Thanks to Buttler’s brilliance, England reached a competitive 163 for 4 and won the T20 World Cup clash by 26 runs.

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#1 Mitchell Marsh (77* off 50)

Mitchell Marsh celebrates with Glenn Maxwell after Australia win the T20 World Cup final. Pic: Getty Images

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh might not be remembered as one of the greatest to have played the game. However, he played one of the most significant knocks in the history of Australian cricket. Marsh’s blazing 77 not out off 50 balls led Australia to a thumping win over New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final.

Batting first, Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson lifted New Zealand to a competitive 172 for 4, courtesy of a sublime knock of 85 off 48 balls. In response, Australia lost Aaron Finch for 5. While David Warner scored a brisk 53 off 38, New Zealand had hope after Trent Boult sent him back with the score reading 107 for 2 in the 13th over.

Marsh, however, kept on attacking the Kiwi bowlers and lifted Australia to one of their most famous wins. In the fourth over of the chase, he whacked Adam Milne for a six and two fours off consecutive deliveries. He brought up his fifty off 31 balls with a maximum off Ish Sodhi.

Marsh was at the other end when Glenn Maxwell hit the winning runs and was fittingly named Player of the Match for his excellent knock in the summit clash.