Cricket World Cup History: Ranking the top 5 batting performances in World Cup finals

#1 Adam Gilchrist’s 149 off 104 balls vs Sri Lanka, 2007

Adam Gilchrist

Regarded by many cricket pundits as one of the greatest ODI innings of all time, this was an exhibition of destruction from a player who transformed the role of a wicket-keeper batsman. Due to rain, the game was reduced to 38 overs per side and Gilchrist began his assault in the 11th over when he hit Dilhara Fernando for three consecutive boundaries. Then, there were two similar and humongous straight sixes off Tilakaratne Dilshan in the 14th over as the ball landed on the second tier.

After a point of time it looked like Gilchrist was having fun with the bowlers as wherever they bowled, the ball ended up in the crowd. He registered his hundred off 72 balls, the fastest in a World Cup final. When he was finally dismissed, everyone in the crowd stood up and applauded in awe as they had witnessed a very special knock from a legendary opener.