5 surprising ICC Cricket World Cup performers

#2 Kevin O\'Brien blitzes England

Kevin O'Brien's onslaught against England in 2011 at Bangalore once again reinforced Ireland as cricket's premier associate nation after their stirring progress during the 2007 event. The red-haired Irishman smashed the fastest hundred in the tournament's history as Ireland shocked their near-neighbours by overhauling their total of 327/8 in the final over.

The result looked a foregone conclusion when O'Brien arrived at the crease in the 23rd over with the score on 106/4, and it soon got worse, with Gary Wilson's departure making it 111/5. O'Brien, though, launched into one of those innings that will stay etched into the memory. His fifty came up off just 30 balls, and his hundred followed just 20 deliveries – seemingly a mere blink of the eye – later.