a) Individual or team
b) From any version of cricket
What is the one performance you will always remember?
I have mentioned Few of the best performances of all time.
1) Back to back centuries by the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar in 1998 Sharjah.
Cricket fans in the UAE were fortunate to witness Sachin Tendulkar at the peak of his career during a tri-series in Sharjah in 1998.
The just retired master blaster played two of his most memorable one-day innings at the historic Sharjah Cricket Stadium against Australia.
He hit back-to-back centuries almost single-handedly to take India into the finals and was at his majestic best on his 25th birthday.
In the league game, India were under pressure after Australia had put up a massive 283 runs.
India needed to win the match to qualify for the finals of the Coca Cola Cup or end up 30 runs short of the Australian total in order to get a back door entry into the finals and pip New Zealand.
After losing four quick wickets a struggling VVS Laxman joined Tendulkar and the Indians seemed to be staring defeat in the face, needing more than a run a ball in the remaining 20 odd overs.
A massive sandstorm came in from nowhere to add to the confusion and interrupted the game for about half an hour.
The target was readjusted and India needed to get 237 in 46 overs and the asking rate became more steep since India were asked to get 94 runs in 87 balls.
But before he resumed his innings Tendulkar assured Indian team coach Anshuman Gaekwad by saying, "Don't worry, I'll be there till the end."
Such was his confidence and determination, he smashed the first ball off Michael Kasprowicz for a six and then almost like a man posessed made 143, taking India into the finals of the Coca-Cola Cup.
Former Indian skipper turned commentator Ravi Shastri dubbed what has been described as the 'Sandstorm' innings as "the best innings he has ever played".
India lost the match by 20 odd runs but that brilliant knock helped India have one more crack at the Aussies in the finals on Sachin Tendulkar's birthday two days later on April 24.
The crowds at the Sharjah, had come with banners wishing Tendulkar a happy 25th birthday along with their intense desire to see him play another one of those blinders and take India to victory.
Tendulkar didn't disappoint them.
Australia had put up a huge target of 273 and that meant India had quite a chase on their hands.
Before the Indian innings began, Australian commentator Greg Chappell made a telling comment.
He said: "Sachin will be feeling just a little bit drained from his previous effort and the weight of the entire Indian population will be on his young shoulders."
He was right but Tendulkar went about his task with clinical precision and made 134. He unleashed some of his breathtaking strokes and power only after he had ensured that India were well on the road to victory.
After depositing Aussie paceman Michael Kasprowicz on to the roof of the Sharjah stadium, noted TV commentator Tony Greig said, "This little man is the nearest thing to Bradman there's ever been."
Tendulkar ended up sweeping almost all the awards after India emerged victorious. He also won an Opel Astra for his efforts at Sharjah an award which he dedicated to his wife, on his 25th birthday.
2) Lance Klusener in 1999 world Cup
Memories can be good or bad.
Well, when it comes to the most memorable match as well as performance in the game of cricket, one match that I simply cannot forget was the 2nd Semi Final in the 1999 Cricket World cup between Australia and South Africa.
To be honest, this game haunts me till date for the effort shown by the courageous Lance Klusener, inching South Africa almost to a victory, but not enough to make the Proteas win. The game ended up in a tie and Australia went on to play and win the finals.
Australia batted first to score 213. In reply, South Africa started well, but unfortunately the wickets kept falling. A vital partnership between Jonty Rhodes and Jacques Kallis moved South Africa closer to the target.
On the last ball of the 45th over, the destroyer(the name he had acquired after a series of great performances in that tournament), Lance Klusener arrived at the crease with South Africa needing 39 runs to win of 31 balls with 4 wickets left. Pollock and Boucher played their parts along with Klusener before departing.
Thanks to Klusener's big hitting, South Africa was still in the game.
The game was becoming real tight now and then came the famous final over.
South Africa needed 9 runs to win of 6 balls with 1 wicket left. At striker's end was the destroyer. At the non-striking end was Allan Donald. Damien Fleming had the ball in his hand to finish it off for the Aussies. My heart was praying for the Proteas!! I desperately wanted them to win, and I wanted Klusener to win it for them. His aggression was unbeatable and he had been unstoppable throughout the tournament.
So here is a ball by ball description of the memorable final over:
1. 1st ball : Fleming bowled a full ball to Klusener who cover drove it away to the boundary for four runs.
2. Another four - Klusener on fire! Can not describe the joy and euphoria surrounding this moment!!!! 4 balls to go and scores are leveled. South Africa will definitely win from here.!!!! Yayyyyyy!!
3. Dot ball. It's okay guys. 3 balls still left. Proteas will still make it.
4. The fourth ball was similar to the third. Klusener mis-hit to Mark Waugh at mid off, but this time Klusener went for the run, even though the chances of a run out were high and there were still two balls remaining. Klusener sprinted down the pitch while Donald, at the other end, was not watching him and did not hear the call to run.
Waugh threw the ball to Fleming who rolled it to Adam Gilchrist. Donald (who had dropped his bat) was run out by some distance for a diamond duck.
HEART BREAKING!!
Why did this happen?? It was a high pressure game and no one came be blamed. South Africa came to be known as "chokers" since then. Klusener was shattered. All his effort was put into vain.
The outcome of the game was certainly not in favour of the South Africans, but I respect Klusener for the spirit he showed in that game. I do not care whether he did not make his team win. The destruction that he did while he was on the crease was simply breath-taking. The look in his eyes when he was batting that day - well, it can't be described words.
Lance Klusener - 31 runs of just 16 balls. 4 boundaries. 1 six.
Definitely not the best innings in the history of world cricket, but certainly the mostmemorable one(as this question asks), at least for me.
Just cannot forget that devastated look on the face of Klusener. I still hope he had won that game for the South Africans that day.
3) India in World Cup 1983
But I would like to mention one Innings that was the base of India winning the World Cup'83
It was the day India stunned the world out. Especially the great all rounder
Kapil Dev(probably the last classified all rounder).
Kapil Dev's India went in to the 1983 World Cup without expectations. They had won only one match, against East Africa, in the previous two editions, losing even to Sri Lanka, who were yet to be granted Test status.
Things were looking tough for India but they kept on playing and winning.
It was match #20 of World Cup'83
India vs Zimbabwe
Having lost 5 wickets just for 17 runs, India were in big trouble. And then came Kapil Dev. He was the last hope for India to lead the team to a good total. He was on a roll after Roger Binny's wicket at the score of 77.
It was 16 boundaries and 6 big sixes to score 175 from 138 balls at the strike rate of126.81.
Purely awesome performance. One of the classic innings of all time.
4) India Vs Australia Test Match at Eden Gardens. 2001
For me the most memorable cricket performance by a team would be by India in the'epic' 2nd Test match between India - Austalia in 2001 at Eden Gardens.
Playing against the all-conquering Australians at the Eden Gardens, India looked destined for another embarrassment before Laxman and Dravid changed the script with a mammoth 376-run partnership for the fifth wicket on Day 4 of the second Test, in Kolkata, in March 2001.
Their magical partnership turned the match on its head. Asked to follow-on, India staged one of the biggest escapes ever seen in Test cricket and romped to a 171-run victory.
Not to forget Harbhajan Singh's performance, he became the first Indian bowler to take a hatrick in a test match on his way to 13 wickets in the match.
Not only this, India went on to win this epic series as well.
Scorecard for the reference:
India v Australia, Kolkata
The epic duo:
For me, this is one of the best cricket matches I've ever watched..
India lingering at 146 for 5 with all the most experienced batsmen of team back in the pavilion. Tendulkar, Ganguly, Sehwag, Dravid. All gone.
With all the biggies out, half of India thought the game was over.
Stepped up two youngsters. Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh.
With only pride to pay for, these two boys put up 129 for the 6th wicket and made India HOPE.
India won the game by two wickets, and our very own DADA's celebration in Flintoff style, made the day all and more special.
For me, this was the game which started the formation of The Modern team India. Winning in West Indies, making it to the World Cup Final 2003.
Here's the scorecard, with Sourav Ganguly's memories.
b) From any version of cricket
What is the one performance you will always remember?
I have mentioned Few of the best performances of all time.
1) Back to back centuries by the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar in 1998 Sharjah.
Cricket fans in the UAE were fortunate to witness Sachin Tendulkar at the peak of his career during a tri-series in Sharjah in 1998.
The just retired master blaster played two of his most memorable one-day innings at the historic Sharjah Cricket Stadium against Australia.
He hit back-to-back centuries almost single-handedly to take India into the finals and was at his majestic best on his 25th birthday.
In the league game, India were under pressure after Australia had put up a massive 283 runs.
India needed to win the match to qualify for the finals of the Coca Cola Cup or end up 30 runs short of the Australian total in order to get a back door entry into the finals and pip New Zealand.
After losing four quick wickets a struggling VVS Laxman joined Tendulkar and the Indians seemed to be staring defeat in the face, needing more than a run a ball in the remaining 20 odd overs.
A massive sandstorm came in from nowhere to add to the confusion and interrupted the game for about half an hour.
The target was readjusted and India needed to get 237 in 46 overs and the asking rate became more steep since India were asked to get 94 runs in 87 balls.
But before he resumed his innings Tendulkar assured Indian team coach Anshuman Gaekwad by saying, "Don't worry, I'll be there till the end."
Such was his confidence and determination, he smashed the first ball off Michael Kasprowicz for a six and then almost like a man posessed made 143, taking India into the finals of the Coca-Cola Cup.
Former Indian skipper turned commentator Ravi Shastri dubbed what has been described as the 'Sandstorm' innings as "the best innings he has ever played".
India lost the match by 20 odd runs but that brilliant knock helped India have one more crack at the Aussies in the finals on Sachin Tendulkar's birthday two days later on April 24.
The crowds at the Sharjah, had come with banners wishing Tendulkar a happy 25th birthday along with their intense desire to see him play another one of those blinders and take India to victory.
Tendulkar didn't disappoint them.
Australia had put up a huge target of 273 and that meant India had quite a chase on their hands.
Before the Indian innings began, Australian commentator Greg Chappell made a telling comment.
He said: "Sachin will be feeling just a little bit drained from his previous effort and the weight of the entire Indian population will be on his young shoulders."
He was right but Tendulkar went about his task with clinical precision and made 134. He unleashed some of his breathtaking strokes and power only after he had ensured that India were well on the road to victory.
After depositing Aussie paceman Michael Kasprowicz on to the roof of the Sharjah stadium, noted TV commentator Tony Greig said, "This little man is the nearest thing to Bradman there's ever been."
Tendulkar ended up sweeping almost all the awards after India emerged victorious. He also won an Opel Astra for his efforts at Sharjah an award which he dedicated to his wife, on his 25th birthday.
2) Lance Klusener in 1999 world Cup
Memories can be good or bad.
Well, when it comes to the most memorable match as well as performance in the game of cricket, one match that I simply cannot forget was the 2nd Semi Final in the 1999 Cricket World cup between Australia and South Africa.
To be honest, this game haunts me till date for the effort shown by the courageous Lance Klusener, inching South Africa almost to a victory, but not enough to make the Proteas win. The game ended up in a tie and Australia went on to play and win the finals.
Australia batted first to score 213. In reply, South Africa started well, but unfortunately the wickets kept falling. A vital partnership between Jonty Rhodes and Jacques Kallis moved South Africa closer to the target.
On the last ball of the 45th over, the destroyer(the name he had acquired after a series of great performances in that tournament), Lance Klusener arrived at the crease with South Africa needing 39 runs to win of 31 balls with 4 wickets left. Pollock and Boucher played their parts along with Klusener before departing.
Thanks to Klusener's big hitting, South Africa was still in the game.
The game was becoming real tight now and then came the famous final over.
South Africa needed 9 runs to win of 6 balls with 1 wicket left. At striker's end was the destroyer. At the non-striking end was Allan Donald. Damien Fleming had the ball in his hand to finish it off for the Aussies. My heart was praying for the Proteas!! I desperately wanted them to win, and I wanted Klusener to win it for them. His aggression was unbeatable and he had been unstoppable throughout the tournament.
So here is a ball by ball description of the memorable final over:
1. 1st ball : Fleming bowled a full ball to Klusener who cover drove it away to the boundary for four runs.
2. Another four - Klusener on fire! Can not describe the joy and euphoria surrounding this moment!!!! 4 balls to go and scores are leveled. South Africa will definitely win from here.!!!! Yayyyyyy!!
3. Dot ball. It's okay guys. 3 balls still left. Proteas will still make it.
4. The fourth ball was similar to the third. Klusener mis-hit to Mark Waugh at mid off, but this time Klusener went for the run, even though the chances of a run out were high and there were still two balls remaining. Klusener sprinted down the pitch while Donald, at the other end, was not watching him and did not hear the call to run.
Waugh threw the ball to Fleming who rolled it to Adam Gilchrist. Donald (who had dropped his bat) was run out by some distance for a diamond duck.
HEART BREAKING!!
Why did this happen?? It was a high pressure game and no one came be blamed. South Africa came to be known as "chokers" since then. Klusener was shattered. All his effort was put into vain.
The outcome of the game was certainly not in favour of the South Africans, but I respect Klusener for the spirit he showed in that game. I do not care whether he did not make his team win. The destruction that he did while he was on the crease was simply breath-taking. The look in his eyes when he was batting that day - well, it can't be described words.
Lance Klusener - 31 runs of just 16 balls. 4 boundaries. 1 six.
Definitely not the best innings in the history of world cricket, but certainly the mostmemorable one(as this question asks), at least for me.
Just cannot forget that devastated look on the face of Klusener. I still hope he had won that game for the South Africans that day.
3) India in World Cup 1983
But I would like to mention one Innings that was the base of India winning the World Cup'83
It was the day India stunned the world out. Especially the great all rounder
Kapil Dev(probably the last classified all rounder).
Kapil Dev's India went in to the 1983 World Cup without expectations. They had won only one match, against East Africa, in the previous two editions, losing even to Sri Lanka, who were yet to be granted Test status.
Things were looking tough for India but they kept on playing and winning.
It was match #20 of World Cup'83
India vs Zimbabwe
Having lost 5 wickets just for 17 runs, India were in big trouble. And then came Kapil Dev. He was the last hope for India to lead the team to a good total. He was on a roll after Roger Binny's wicket at the score of 77.
It was 16 boundaries and 6 big sixes to score 175 from 138 balls at the strike rate of126.81.
Purely awesome performance. One of the classic innings of all time.
The scorecard of the match :
scorecard source : ESPN Cricinfo
PS : Unfortunately it was a strike by BBC crew. This match was never telecast.4) India Vs Australia Test Match at Eden Gardens. 2001
For me the most memorable cricket performance by a team would be by India in the'epic' 2nd Test match between India - Austalia in 2001 at Eden Gardens.
Playing against the all-conquering Australians at the Eden Gardens, India looked destined for another embarrassment before Laxman and Dravid changed the script with a mammoth 376-run partnership for the fifth wicket on Day 4 of the second Test, in Kolkata, in March 2001.
Their magical partnership turned the match on its head. Asked to follow-on, India staged one of the biggest escapes ever seen in Test cricket and romped to a 171-run victory.
Not to forget Harbhajan Singh's performance, he became the first Indian bowler to take a hatrick in a test match on his way to 13 wickets in the match.
Not only this, India went on to win this epic series as well.
Scorecard for the reference:
India v Australia, Kolkata
The epic duo:
5) England vs India, The Lords, Natwest Series Final, 2002.
For me, this is one of the best cricket matches I've ever watched..
India lingering at 146 for 5 with all the most experienced batsmen of team back in the pavilion. Tendulkar, Ganguly, Sehwag, Dravid. All gone.
With all the biggies out, half of India thought the game was over.
Stepped up two youngsters. Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh.
With only pride to pay for, these two boys put up 129 for the 6th wicket and made India HOPE.
India won the game by two wickets, and our very own DADA's celebration in Flintoff style, made the day all and more special.
For me, this was the game which started the formation of The Modern team India. Winning in West Indies, making it to the World Cup Final 2003.
Here's the scorecard, with Sourav Ganguly's memories.
6) Highest Match Aggregate SA VS AUS -
872–13 (99.5 overs) Australia (434–4) v/s South Africa (438–9) Johannesburg 2005–06
8 ) Killer Chris Gayle
9) Kevin O'Brien ~ The Irish Hero
After 30 overs, the scorecard read something like this.
872–13 (99.5 overs) Australia (434–4) v/s South Africa (438–9) Johannesburg 2005–06
I was a school kid when this match was played but it is still fresh in my memory like my first fight.
I t was night time and dad allowed me to watch it because he too was excited. The first time I saw my neighbors hoarding television screens for other country matches than India.
The 5th One Day International cricket match between South Africa and Australia was played on 12 March 2006 at New Wanderers Stadium,Johannesburg. The match broke many cricket records, including both the first and the second team innings score of over 400 runs. Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. They scored 434 for 4 off their 50 overs, breaking the previous record of 398–5 by Sri Lanka against Kenya in 1996. In reply, South Africa scored 438–9, winning by one wicket with one ball to spare. The match has been acclaimed as the greatest One Day International match ever played and has been referred to as the "438 match"or "438 game"in the media.
7) The Rise of Australia
In my lifetime, I can say I have seen one truly great team - the Australian side from mid 90's to late 2000's. However, most people forget how it all started. And in particular, how one man decided to take matters in his own hands.
At the start of the Frank Worrell trophy in 1995, West Indies had not lost a series to Australia in 22 years (or anyone in 15 years). And with the likes of Ambrose, Walsh and Bishop in their seam attack; plus Lara, Richardson and Hooper in the batting department - West Indies were a very formidable side.
However, this series was to be remembered for one of the most extraordinary cricketing efforts of all time - but from an Australian.
After losing the first test, primarily due to some poor batting display - West Indies came hard at Australia. Aussies managed to save the second test. But in Trinidad, in the third test - there was no stopping Ambrose and Walsh. 15 wickets among them and Australia were dislodged twice for 233 runs in total. West Indies won by 8 wickets.
However, the test match created one of the most ferocious fighters of the game. In the first Innings, one man Steve Waugh scored 63* unbeaten out of Australia's 128. His battle with Ambrose during this innings became an iconic image of the 90's cricket.
It was a scratchy effort - but Waugh had decided he wouldn't relent.
The next match is stuff legends are made of. Steve Waugh - struggling with the short ball into the rib-cage with fielders around him - invented a unique way of tackling it. He decided to take the blows on his shoulder and back. Mind you this was West Indians bowling at 90 MPH. With all the finesse of Mark Waugh's 126, Steve went on to make one of the most stubborn double hundreds in history of cricket.
This article from Paul Reiffel talks about the up-close and personal experience of Waugh's teammates.
The event marked a turn in Australian fortunes. And with Steve Waugh as their Test Captain, Aussies went on to create history in years to come..
RCB vs PWI, 23rd April 2013
175 not out from 66 balls.
Records broken:
Fastest century in Twenty20 cricket - Chris Gayle, 30 balls. Beats the record set by Yusuf Pathan for the Rajasthan Royals by seven deliveries.
Most sixes in a Twenty20 match - Chris Gayle, 17. Four more sixes than South African Richard Levi hit against New Zealand in 2012 – the previous holder of the record.
Most Twenty20 sixes in a career - Chris Gayle, 76. By scoring 17 sixes against Pune Gayle moves up the table and is now eight ahead of second-placed Brendon McCullum.
Highest individual Twenty20 score - Chris Gayle, 175 not-out. Snatching another record off McCullum who’s unbeaten 158 in the first ever IPL match was the record for five years.
Biggest opening partnership in IPL - Chris Gayle and Tillakaratne Dilshan, 167 runs. Beats the previous record for a first wicket partnership by four runs – set by Sachin Tendulkar and Dwayne Bravo of Mumbai Indians in 2012.
Biggest Twenty20 total - Royal Challengers Bangalore, 263-5. Moves three runs ahead of the previous highest score in the twenty-over format, which was set by Sri Lanka in 2007 with 260-6.
England Vs Ireland, Group B match at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
a sparse crowd had turned up to watch what was surely going to be a one-sided contest. Any chances of an upset were written off after England put up 327 runs in their 50 overs and then went on the reduce Ireland to 106-4 after 22.2 overs, at which point Kevin O'Brien walked out to bat. Ireland were soon reduced to 111-5 in 24.2 overs.
Game, Set, Match, thought most people, but Kevin O'Brien had other ideas. Positive from the start, his initial strokes were seen as a compensatory something for the Irish fans to cheer about.
The next 5.4 overs yielded 55 runs, an impressive rate but the target was still a tall ask for an unaccomplished team like Ireland.
a sparse crowd had turned up to watch what was surely going to be a one-sided contest. Any chances of an upset were written off after England put up 327 runs in their 50 overs and then went on the reduce Ireland to 106-4 after 22.2 overs, at which point Kevin O'Brien walked out to bat. Ireland were soon reduced to 111-5 in 24.2 overs.
Game, Set, Match, thought most people, but Kevin O'Brien had other ideas. Positive from the start, his initial strokes were seen as a compensatory something for the Irish fans to cheer about.
The next 5.4 overs yielded 55 runs, an impressive rate but the target was still a tall ask for an unaccomplished team like Ireland.
After 30 overs, the scorecard read something like this.
Irish fans were slowly getting behind Kevin O'Brien, his stroke-making inching them ever closer. The English commentators, especially Nasser Hussain (:P) slowly started showing signs of frustration and their furrowed brows showed they were worried.
Finally, in between some absolutely blistering shots from Kevin O'Brien, England finally got the wicket of his partner AR Cusack, gone for a well made 47 (80), but more importantly giving Kevin O'Brien company in a partnership of 162 (103).
The equation now read a much better "55 runs need off 51 deliveries", but there was still work to be done. Kevin O'Brien brought up his hundred in just 50 balls and was finally dismissed in the penultimate over for 113 of just 63 balls, leaving his team-mates 11 runs to win off 11 balls, which they held nerve to do and send the Irish fans into delirium. .
The innings of Cusack and Trent Johnston (33 off 40 balls) cannot be understated, as Ireland pulled off one of the great world cup upsets following their heroics against Pakstan in 2007.
This is surely THE most memorable moment of the century so far in cricket, perhaps one of the greatest of all time.
Finally, in between some absolutely blistering shots from Kevin O'Brien, England finally got the wicket of his partner AR Cusack, gone for a well made 47 (80), but more importantly giving Kevin O'Brien company in a partnership of 162 (103).
The equation now read a much better "55 runs need off 51 deliveries", but there was still work to be done. Kevin O'Brien brought up his hundred in just 50 balls and was finally dismissed in the penultimate over for 113 of just 63 balls, leaving his team-mates 11 runs to win off 11 balls, which they held nerve to do and send the Irish fans into delirium. .
The innings of Cusack and Trent Johnston (33 off 40 balls) cannot be understated, as Ireland pulled off one of the great world cup upsets following their heroics against Pakstan in 2007.
This is surely THE most memorable moment of the century so far in cricket, perhaps one of the greatest of all time.
souce :- quora.com
