WEB CHUTNEY

Though cricket is a team game, sometimes it takes just one man to save the day. Here are 10 cricketers who managed to be those people:

1. Kevin O’Brien

England had given Ireland a total of 327 to chase. England was favoured to win but all rounder Kevin O’Brien smashed 113 of 63 balls, giving his team a memorable three wicket victory.

2. Maurice Odumbe

Scoring only 166 against West Indies, it looked like an easy win for the Indies. Until Maurice Odumbe took 3-15 taking apart the West Indies for only 93 runs giving the Kenyans their first ODI victory.

3. Sunil Gavaskar

In the 1987 World Cup, India needed to chase 221 in 42.1 overs. Gavaskar scored his first and only ODI century scoring 103 runs in 83 balls giving India a victory in only 32.1 overs.

4. Shane Warne

Australia made 207- all out, in a 1996 semi final. They were going to lose until Shane Warne came and took three wickets for six runs in three overs. West Indies never recovered and lost their last eight wickets for 37 runs.

5. Wasim Akram

Taking three wickets with 2 in 2 balls and scoring 33 runs, Wasim became the Man of the Match and led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup.

6. Deryck Murray

At 203 - 9 with 64 runs needed for victory, wicket keeper Deryck Muaaray with last man Andy Roberts, guided his team to the required target with only two balls to spare!

7. Ashish Nehra

Nehra blazed through the English batting order with a swollen ankle, taking six wickets for 23 runs. The best figures by any Indian in a World Cup to date.

8. Lance Klusener

Lance Klusener came on with South Africa making 122/8 and made a respectable 199 final score. He then took three wickets for 21 runs and defeated Sri Lanka for 110 runs.

9. Gary Gilmour

Gilmour claimed six wickets to dismiss England for 93 runs. Despite the low total, Australia were wobbling at 39-6 before Gilmour saved the day with a run-a-ball 28.

10. Kapil Dev

Reeling at 17-5, India were facing an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe. It was then that Kapil Dev stepped up to the crease and made 175 ensuring India’s victory.

The original version of this post can be found here.