5 world records registered against Minnows

Hundreds of cricketers might come and go. But, only a handful of players shall remain eternal in the hearts of the fans. Their feats keep them in our memories even after exit from the sport. ‘When the going gets tough, the tough gets going’ is a saying and the game has seen many record boards getting shattered by unexpected players in crucial games against tough oppositions.On the other side of the coin, there have been records created like a child’s play at normal and easy conditions. A world record is a record irrespective of the opposition, but the quality of the opposition makes the record a lot more special. The sport has seen a lot of accomplishments against weaker sides (because of which they don’t get the appreciation they deserve) over the years.So, here are five such World records scripted against the lower ranked minnows:

#1 Herschelle Gibbs (Six sixes in an over)

Gibbs hit six sixes in an over against the Dutch

Ever since the first international Test in 1877, nobody had managed to blast all the deliveries of an international over into the stands, until Gibbs achieved it in 2007. It was the opening WC game for the under-rated Netherlands and it saw a new landmark being set in international cricket, but against them.

It was the 30th over of the Protean innings and Herschelle Gibbs, with the dancing shoes on, started the storm with a smack over long on. The inexperienced Daan Van Bunge’s next two deliveries were bludgeoned over long-off and knowing that a rare feat was just around the corner, Gibbs sent the ball sailing over the long off once and mid-wicket twice to finish the honours.

Gibbs departed for a 40 ball 72 after making an unexpected record, which also made a charity one million dollars richer after the Johnny Walker Group had promised the amount if any player accomplished the feat. The Dutch were left in a shock and they eventually surrendered to the South Africans, losing by a humungous of 221 runs.

#2 Chris Gayle (First ODI 200 in WC)

Only 3 Indian batsmen had achieved the feat prior to Gayle

It was on February 24, 2015 when Christopher Henry Gayle became the first ever non-Indian to make a double hundred in ODIs. Zimbabwe were victimised this time and it was on the same date, 5 years back, when Sachin Tendulkar became the first man on the planet to reach 200 in ODIs.

The bowlers from Zimbabwe were left clueless on how to tackle the menacing Gayle whose double ton also became the first of its kind in the World Cups. The big Jamaican’s brutal assault on Zimbabwe fetched him 215 runs of just 147 deliveries with 16 huge sixes.

His well-knit 372 run partnership with Marlon Samuels also became the highest partnership in ODI cricket for any wicket, surpassing the Sachin-Dravid’s duo’s 331. There was not a single Zimbabwean bowler who had not been smoked by the ‘monster’. Gayle also added two wickets to his tally, earning the man of the match award with ease.

#3 Brett Lee (Hat trick in ODIs and T20)

Lee celebrating his hat-trick wicket

One of the greatest speedsters of cricket, ‘Binga’ has a very rarely known record to his name- the only man to take a hat-trick in ODIs as well as T20Is. No other bowler has been able to reproduce this feat till date but unfortunately, Lee’s record came against lower ranked countries.

He staged the ODI hat-trick against ‘the surprise semi-finalists’ Kenya during the 2003 World cup when he first disturbed the stumps of Kennedy Otieno. Brijal Patel followed his team mate to the pavilion edging the ball to Ponting and the much anticipated hat-trick ball was a toe crusher that knocked down the timber to pave the way for David Obuya to go back to the dressing room. Australia chased down 175 convincingly with five wickets in hand to get hold of the four points.

Lee’s hat-trick list saw a new addition during the inaugural season of the T20 WC when he scalped the young Shakib-Al-Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza and Alok Kapala of three successive deliveries to reach the milestone. Chasing 129, the Bangla bowlers hardly came in the way of the Aussies who won the match by 9 wickets.

#4 Sri Lanka (Highest ODI and T20 totals)

Lanka have always been known for thrashing minnows convincingly

The lions from the island nation hold the unique record of scoring the highest totals across all three formats of the game, but only their Test total has the reputation of the opposition being a top ranked team. Netherlands and Kenya come into the picture again by conceding the highest team totals in ODIs and T20Is.

Shouldered by Sanath Jayasuriya’s explosive 157 and Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 117, Sri Lanka posted a mammoth total of 443 against the Dutch in their own backyard in 2006. The result of the match had no hidden surprises and turned out in favour of the visitors as expected

Coming to the T20 format, it was again the flashy opener Jayasuriya who caused the destruction this time, but this time against Kenya. Mahela Jayawardena’s 65 and Jehan Mubarak’s cameo of 46 took Sri Lanka to 260 in the 8th match of the inaugural T20 WC in 2007. Kenya did not stand a chance against Sri Lanka’s bowlers as well, surrendering for a mere 88.

#5 Chaminda Vaas (The best ODI bowling figures 8/19)

The record that has been staying for almost 15 years now

14 years have passed now and undoubtedly, Vaas’ figures of 8/19 remain the best for any bowler till date in the ODI format. Adding another feather to his cap, he also claimed a hat-trick during the course of his historical spell, making the moment more special to be remembered. Playing at home against a mediocre Zimbabwe, Vaas dominated the visitors from the very first ball, trapping the opener Ebrahim leg before the wicket.

In the 11th over of the match, he saw off S Carlisle, C Wishart and the young Taibu of three consecutive deliveries to fulfil his hat trick. All his wickets were genuine seamer dismissals- Caught behind, clean bowled and LBW.

Vaas’s rampage rattled the Zimbabwean batting order, bringing them down to an ultra-fine 38. Chasing 39 in 50 overs would not be easy for any team and SL chased it down with ‘just’ 274 balls to spare

Vaas, also has another distinctive master stroke to his name of taking a hat-trick in the very first three balls of an ODI match. He scripted this success during the 2003 WC match against Bangladesh had a victory less streak in that edition of the World cup.