5 of the greatest innings played in the Cricket World Cup

#1. Adam Gilchrist (149 vs Sri Lanka, 2007 World Cup)

Adam Gilchrist was absolutely brilliant for Australia at the to

Adam Gilchrist’s incredible innings in the final of the 2007 World Cup should be at the top of this list. Gilchrist inserted a squash ball into his gloves before that innings, and cut the Sri Lankan bowling to shreds at Kensington Oval, Barbados. He hit 8 sixes and 13 fours in that knock, and simply took the game away from the Lankans.

Gilchrist played some great cuts and pulls off his back-foot and also lofted the spinners over mid-wicket and long-on boundaries. The likes of Muttiah Muralidharan and Chaminda Vaas could not contain him, as he put up an exhibition of aggressive strokeplay.

Gilchirst became even more aggressive after reaching his century, and the Lankans had no answer to his audacious strokeplay. He scored 149 off only 104 balls, and batted Sri Lanka out of the match. Matthew Hayden gave him company and those two added 172 in the opening partnership. Hayden made a quick 38, but it was Gilchrist’s day, and he hogged the limelight with his extraordinary innings.