Top Five Highest Individual Scores In World Cup History

The upcoming ICC World Cup 2019 in England and Wales will commence from May 30 with England taking on South Africa at the Oval. The 12th edition of the marquee tournament will see many runs scored as the English wickets have been flat and best-suited for the batsmen. The recent series between England and Pakistan have witnessed 300+ totals in all the matches, which indicates that it will be a high-scoring tournament.

The last edition of the World Cup saw two double centuries hit by Windies’ Chris Gayle and New Zealand’s Martin Guptill for the first time in the history of the competition. These two innings are also the highest individual scores registered in the quadrennial event. And this time around, with flat wickets on offer, there is a high chance that there will be many records broken.

On that context, let us take a look at the top five highest individual scores in World Cup history:

Also read: Virat Kohli, Aaron Finch Rate England As Favourites To Win World Cup 2019

5. VIV RICHARDS

Former Windies skipper Viv Richards is the epitome of aggressive batting. Considered as one of the legends, Richards has given the cricket lovers enough memories to live a lifetime.

One such innings was against Sri Lanka at Karachi during the 1987 World Cup. Richards murdered every bowler to score 181 runs from just 125 balls to help Windies post 360 runs at the end of 50 overs. His knock included 16 fours and seven sixes which imprints the destructive nature of this batsman.

4. SOURAV GANGULY

Sourav Ganguly is one of the greatest left-handed batters to grace the game. His elegant cover-drives and coming down the ground to loft the spinners will forever be in the heart of the cricket lovers.

One of Ganguly’s illustrious knocks came during the 1999 World Cup against Sri Lanka in Tauntaun. The southpaw made a merry of Sri Lanka’s attack dispatching everyone at disposal. Ganguly was from a different planet on that day as everything he touched turned into gold; thus registering, 183 runs from 158 deliveries including 17 fours and seven towering sixes.

Meanwhile, this is also Ganguly’s highest ODI score and is the fourth best highest among all the World Cup games.

3. GARY KIRSTEN

Gary Kirsten was one of the most illustrated South African batsmen. He was a treat to watch while he batted and was an absolute masterclass.

He has led the Proteas in many games with massive hundreds, and one such was against UAE in the 1996 World Cup. Kirsten played an unbeaten knock of 188 runs to help South Africa post 321 runs against a relatively weaker opponent.

Kirsten’s knock came in just 159 balls including 13 boundaries and four sixes which is the highest score in a World Cup game.

2. CHRIS GAYLE

Chris Gayle is one of the fiercest batters of the world cricket right now. As he gears up to play his fifth ICC World Cup, the giant Caribbean has the second highest score in the World Cup.

The history of World Cups have witnessed only two centuries – one of them is from Martin Guptill while Gayle amassed the other one. The southpaw struck 215 runs from just 147 balls including ten boundaries and 16 massive sixes.

Meanwhile, Gayle has been in good form recently and will look to finish on a high. The veteran batsman has announced his retirement after the ICC World Cup 2019.

1. MARTIN GUPTILL

Martin Guptill’s score of 237 runs against Windies is the highest score by an individual in a World Cup match. The swashbuckling opener finished as the highest scorer in the 2015 World Cup and single-handedly powered New Zealand to the finals of the tournament before going down against Australia.

Meanwhile, Guptill’s dominated a relatively weak Windies attack to score 237 runs from just 163 balls, including 24 boundaries and 11 massive sixes. He absolutely murdered the Windies bowling unit to register the highest score in the World Cup. Besides, he is also the second player to score a double hundred in the World Cup.

The Black Caps will be pinning their hopes on Martin Guptill to replicate his effort in the upcoming World Cup.