Year-end review: 4 best cricketing moments of 2019

We have seen some incredible action in the last year and there have been many memorable moments in 2019. There were some fine performances from the world-class players throughout the year and there is no doubt that these special performances from special players will always stay close to our hearts.

The year gave us some thrilling action as India registered their maiden Test series win on the Australian soil. Subsequently, the World Cup was full of nail-biting action and the final between England and New Zealand was a cherry on the cake. The Ashes rivalry between England and Australia saw some brilliant performances from Ben Stokes and Steven Smith.

On that note, we take a look at four best cricketing moments of 2019 which will be always remembered for the time to come.

#4 Kusal Perera's magical knock of 153 against South Africa

Kusal Perera.

Sri Lankan southpaw Kusal Perera came up with a really special performance in the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead, Durban. The left-hander played one of the best knocks in the history of Test cricket against a potent South African bowling attack.

Batting in the fourth innings, Sri Lanka were staring down the barrel of the gun as they were tottering at 110-5 while chasing the imposing target of 304 runs. The tourists had lost all hope when they were reduced to 226-9 but Perera kept his team afloat.

The left-hander scored 153 runs with the help of 12 fours and five sixes as he took the Proteas bowlers to the cleaners. The 29-year old was at his best and the South African bowlers could not crack the code to dismiss him.

Perera added 78 runs with Vishwa Fernando, which is the highest ever last wicket partnership in a successful run chase.

Subsequently, Sri Lanka won the first Test by one wicket and also won the second by eight wickets. Ergo, they became the first Asian team to win a Test series in South Africa.

#3 So close and yet so far for Carlos Brathwaite

Carlos Brathwaite.

Carlos Brathwaite well known for his heroics in the 2016 T20 World Cup almost pulled off one more for West Indies in the World Cup 2019. Windies had lost seven wickets for 164 runs and had to chase down 292 runs against New Zealand but Brathwaite refused to throw in the towel.

Brathwaite came up with an incredible knock of 101 runs from 82 balls in the World Cup. This was the maiden ODI century for the all-rounder and it went down as one of the best World Cup knocks. However, Brathwaite Superman's efforts went in vain as he could not clear the fence when a maximum would have sealed the deal for the Windies.

#2 The 2019 World Cup Final

New Zealand v England - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Final

The 2019 World Cup Final will not only go down as the most exciting final of the World Cup history but also the most controversial one. New Zealand scored 241 runs after electing to bat first and were tied after England scored the same number of runs after their egistered 50 overs – thereby forcing the game to go into a Super Over.

England then scored 15 runs in the Super Over and the Kiwis also managed to score the same. However, it was England who were declared victorious as they had scored 26 boundaries as compared to 17 scored by the Blackcaps.

It was one hell of a final and the ICC faced stern criticism for their absurd boundary count rule. New Zealand didn’t have the rub of the green on their side but their player’s conduct despite facing such a heartbreaking loss was magnificent.

#1 Ben Stokes stuns Australia to keep England alive in The Ashes

England v Australia - 3rd Specsavers Ashes Test: Day Four

Ben Stokes came up with the knock of the year when he plundered an unbeaten 135 runs in the second innings to help his team chase down a mammoth target of 359 runs in the third Test of the Ashes in 2019. The hosts' had lost all hope of staying alive in the series when they needed 73 runs and had only one wicket in hand. Jack Leach was able to survive 17 balls and scored an indispensable one run. Stokes was at his best and the Australian bowlers had no answers on how to react to his counter onslaught.

The southpaw was able to get everything off the middle of the bat as he smashed 11 fours and eight sixes in his match-winning knock. The Headingley Test will be remembered for a long time and it went down as one of the best Test matches to have ever been played in the Ashes rivalry.

Stokes also snared four wickets in the Test match and no doubt he was awarded the Man of the match.