10 Best Batting Performances - ICC Champions Trophy

Sachin Tendulkar, India v Australia, Quarter-Final, 28 October 1998, Dhaka

If Australia thought it had begun its march to victory by reducing India to eight for two it did not to account for India opener Sachin Tendulkar, who struck a magnificent 141 off just 128 balls. The right-hander smoked 13 fours and three sixes all around the Bangabandhu National Stadium as he put Australia to the sword. Rahul Dravid (48) played the junior role in a second-wicket of 140. Ajay Jadeja (71 off 65 balls) then ushered India to 307 for eight after Tendulkar was dismissed with 29 balls remaining. Australia was bowled out for 263 in the reply to fall to a 44-run loss. 

Jacques Kallis, South Africa v Sri Lanka, Semi-Final, 30 October 1998, Dhaka

Jacques Kallis was still carving a spot for himself in the South Africa line-up when the inaugural ICC Champions Trophy was being held. In a match affected by rain, Kallis hit 113 not out in South Africa?s 240 for seven off 39 overs. The right-hander hit as many sixes and boundaries - five apiece and was the only batsman to score more than 30 on either side. Sri Lanka was dismissed for 132 in the reply to lose by 92 runs on the D/L method.

Andy Flower, Zimbabwe v India, Group Stage, 14 September 2002, Colombo

Andy Flower played one of the great backs-to-the-wall ODI innings but it was not quite enough to earn Zimbabwe a famous victory over India. As one of the leading players of spin, Flower was right at home against India?s slow bowlers on a sub-continental surface. The left-hander was finally dismissed for 145 in the penultimate over as the Africa nation lost by 14 runs. Rahul Dravid (71) and Mohammad Kaif (111 not out) had earlier rescued India from 87 for five to 288 for six.

Marcus Trescothick, England v Zimbabwe, Group Stage, 18 September 2002, Colombo

As one of the most explosive opening batsman of his time, Marcus Trescothick put Zimbabwe to the sword at the R. Premadasa Stadium in the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy. The left-hander?s 119 off 102 balls included 11 fours and two sixes before he was bowled by Grant Flower. With 11.4 overs still to go it seemed the England man was on the way to an even more significant total before he was unexpectedly dismissed. England?s 298 for eight was far much for its opponent as Zimbabwe limped to 190 for nine in reply.

Virender Sehwag, India v England, Group Stage, 22 September 2002, Colombo

When England struck 269 for seven there was every prospect of running India close at the R. Premadasa Stadium. But England did not bargain for a Virender Sehwag blitzkrieg, crashing 21 boundaries and one six in his 126 off 104 balls. The right-hander dominated a 192 first-wicket partnership with Sourav Ganguly, who picked up his own tempo once Sehwag fell - making 117 not out off 109 balls as India eased home by eight wickets with a massive 63 balls to spare. 

Nathan Astle, New Zealand v USA, Group Stage, 10 September 2004, The Oval

New Zealand may have entered itsmatch against USA expecting victory but the innings of Nathan Astle nonetheless lit up the encounter in London. After New Zealand struggled to 48 for two, Scott Styris then helped opener Astle to put on 163 for the third wicket. Two quick wickets fell before Craig McMillan (64 not out off 27 balls) joined Astle at the crease. The fifth-wicket pair added 136 off the last 46 balls of the innings with Astle finishing on 145 not out off 151 balls (13 fours and six sixes) - the joint highest individual score in tournament history alongside Andy Flower. 

Chris Gayle, West Indies v South Africa, Semi-Final, 2 November 2006, Jaipur

South Africa had no answer to West Indies opener Chris Gayle as he made light work of a victory target of 259, hitting 133 not out off 137 balls to see his team home with six wickets and six overs in hand. At one point it seemed possible West Indies might win by 10 wickets until Shivnarine Chanderpaul (57) retired hurt with the first-wicket stand on 154. In all, Gayle struck 17 fours and three sixes as no South African bowler was spared. 

Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka v South Africa, Group Match, 22 September 2009, Centurion

Sri Lanka opener Tillakaratne Dilshan lit up the first match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2009, flaying the host side to all parts at Centurion. The right-hander dominated a second-wicket stand of 156 with Kumar Sangakkara (54) to set Sri Lanka on the way to 319 for eight. Tillakaratne was dismissed with more than 20 overs to go but had already struck 106 off 92 balls (16 x 4, 1 x 6) by that time. Mahela Jayawardena (77) carried on the run-fest before South Africa was restricted to 206 for seven, losing out by 55 runs on the D/L method.

Shoaib Malik, Pakistan v India, Group Stage, 26 September 2009, Centurion

A third-wicket partnership of 206 between Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Yousuf (87 off 88 balls) underpinned a mammoth Pakistan total of 302 for nine. By the time Shoaib was dismissed at the end of the penultimate over he had struck 128 off 126 balls, including 16 boundaries. India maintained a decent tempo in the run-chase but wickets kept slowing them down every time they threatened to pull off an unlikely victory, eventually succumbing by 54 runs. 

Shane Watson, Australia v England, Semi-Final, 2 October 2009, Centurion

While Shane Watson's ICC World Twenty20 2012 heroics could only take his side as far as the semi-final, the all-rounder's exploits in the ICC Champions Trophy 2009 helped Australia retain the title. After taking two wickets to help restrict England to 257 all out, the big-hitting opener then proceeded to destroy the opposition attack in the reply. Watson powered his way to 136 not out off 132 balls, picking up 10 boundaries and seven sixes along the way. Captain Ricky Ponting helped himself to 111 not out in an unbeaten stand of 252 as Australia cantered home by nine wickets with 49 balls remaining.

source: icc-cricket.com