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Best innings by a Pakistani batsman in a World Cup match?

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Harsh Thakor

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These are in order of merit my best innings by a Pakistan batsmen in the world cup.

1.Inzamam Ul Haq's 60 in the 1992 semi-final against NewZealand

A batting masterpiece where Inzy brilliantly manouevred the ball through every gap like cutting through a cake.He took his team out of the doldrums of defeat to being on the verge of a famous win.He literally tuned the tide 180 degrees.


2.Zaheer Abbas's 93 v West Indies at the Oval in 1979
One of the best counter-attacking onslaughts against a great pace attack.Artistry at it's supreme best which almost took Pakistan home.



3.Mohsin Khan's 70 at the Oval v West Indies

Technically,a classic and the best innings of the 1983 world cup from that point of view.The wicket was one of the fastest ever and Mohsin exhibited the skill of an architect against a fiery Calypso pace attack of Roberts,Garner,Marshall and Holding.One of the classic batting performances on fast track,against great pace bowling.



4.Imran Khan's 102 v Sri Lanka in 1983
Ressurected Pakistan from the grave who looked heading for a collapse.Had a crucial baering on the result where Pakistan just scraped home by 11 runs.



5.InzamamUl Haq's 81 v Australia in 1999
Strokeplay at it's bset against a strong attack which won the game for his side.


6.Zaheer Abbas's 103 v New Zealand in 1983
Displayed great improvisation in match-wining stand with Imran Khan which won the match and got Pak to the semis.



7.Saeed Anwar's century in 1999 semi-final v New Zealand
Strokeplay at it's classical best displaying the fury of atiger.Above all won he game for Pakistan.



8.Asif Iqbal's 52 v England in 1979 at Leeds
A class exhibition of controlled batting on a green top in overcast conditions.Sadly Pak fell short by just 14 runs.


9.Rameez Raja's 115 v England in 1987
Mastery strokeplay which took Pakistan to a convincing win chasing a target of 247 runs.


10.Majid Khan's 60 v West Indies at Edgbaston in 1975

Strokeplay at it's very best which almost took Pakistan to a famous win.Imperious drives all round the wicket.


11.Javed Miandad's 62in the 1992 semi-final
Even if Inzy was the hero I can never fail to applaud Javed's monumental contribution.Infact it was Javed who saw his team home.


12.Zaheer Abbas's 83 n.o out of 193 in 1983 v England

Displayed great craft in difficult conditions to pull the score along.
 
The Inzi innings was special - just gave so much belief to Pakistan
 
Anwar's century in 2003 against India was good too.. Only for Sachin to spoil his party..
 
Imran played a potentially match-losing innings in the 92 semi final but unlike Misbah, he was lucky enough for his teammate to play the innings of his life.

This is explains why he has always overrated Inzamam ever since and has come up with nonsense like how he is the best player of pace etc. He owes the World Cup to Inzamam's cameo and that innings give the team tremendous belief.

Magnificent innings, one of the best in history given the context.
 
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Imran's 70 odd in the final of the WC deserves a go as well. Pity I didn't watch it live though.

Also watched Inzi's half-century recently and it was a fantastic innings, complete with a comical runout. That guy is one of the biggest match-winner batsmen from the subcon.
 
This thread shows how pathetic our batting has been since 1999.

From the last 3 editions, only one knock has made the list of the people here - Anwar's century vs. India in 2003.

Can't see any innings from this World Cup making the list either, another dismal effort with the bat is on the cards.
 
Mamoon said:
This thread shows how pathetic our batting has been since 1999.

From the last 3 editions, only one knock has made the list of the people here - Anwar's century vs. India in 2003.

Can't see any innings from this World Cup making the list either, another dismal effort with the bat is on the cards.
Click to expand...

I think in last WC Ryan Ten Doeschate scored more runs than any of our player
 
Mamoon said:
Imran played a potentially match-losing innings in the 92 semi final but unlike Misbah, he was lucky enough for his teammate to play the innings of his life.

This is explains why he has always overrated Inzamam ever since and has come up with nonsense like how he is the best player of pace etc. He owes the World Cup to Inzamam's cameo and that innings give the team tremendous belief.

Magnificent innings, one of the best in history given the context.
Click to expand...

Dude, you dont know cricket or you didnt watch that world cup live .... If Imran was not there to avoid all top order melt down, Pakistan would have been out at 150. This was very bold decision by Imran to come up front and take all pressure and face new ball and setup the platform. Pak top players were slaughters like cows in that world cut with new ball .. That was the strategy that made Pakistani so successful in 90s but alas we still follow same strategy and game has moved on ..
 
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Mamoon said:
Imran played a potentially match-losing innings in the 92 semi final but unlike Misbah, he was lucky enough for his teammate to play the innings of his life.

This is explains why he has always overrated Inzamam ever since and has come up with nonsense like how he is the best player of pace etc. He owes the World Cup to Inzamam's cameo and that innings give the team tremendous belief.

Magnificent innings, one of the best in history given the context.
Click to expand...

It was a team effort, no doubt Inzi played a couple of very fine innings but it was well supported by Miandad. Moin's cameo was priceless. If Moin had not batted the way he did we may have still lost despite Inzi's great inning.
 
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Bilal7 said:
Imran's 70 odd in the final of the WC deserves a go as well. Pity I didn't watch it live though.

Also watched Inzi's half-century recently and it was a fantastic innings, complete with a comical runout. That guy is one of the biggest match-winner batsmen from the subcon.
Click to expand...

Imran final innings was one of the finest innings you will ever see in a big match after that early collapse. Miandad and Imran hardly said anything to each other during that partnership of almost 139 and they got us to 163/3 from 24/2
 
mnoman15 said:
Dude, you dont know cricket or you didnt watch that world cup live .... If Imran was not there to avoid all top order melt down, Pakistan would have been out at 150. This was very bold decision by Imran to come up front and take all pressure and face new ball and setup the platform. Pak top players were slaughters like cows in that world cut with new ball .. That was the strategy that made Pakistani so successful in 90s but alas we still follow same strategy and game has moved on ..
Click to expand...

The predictable response that has been dismissed time and time again.

I know its blasphemous and against the constitution of Pakistan to not cover Imran in glory at every opportunity, but that was by no means a good innings by Imran, and he was saved by Inzamam's brilliance and later Javed and Moin holding their nerve.

If the likes of Afridi, Umar and Razzaq would have played the role Inzamam, Miandad and Moin played in Mohali, this whole 'platform' logic would have been used for Misbah as well, and how he absorbed the pressure.

Both were equally poor innings, but one was lucky because his teammates came to the party. As simple as that.

I know about that strategy, and he played an excellent innings in the final, but in the semi final, he definitely played a poor innings. 262 at that time was like 310-315 today, and he built too much pressure and left his team in a limbo.

Inzamam, Moin and Miandad had way too much to do and thankfully they pulled it off.
 
iafzal said:
It was a team effort, no doubt Inzi played a couple of very fine innings but it was well supported by Miandad. Moin's cameo was priceless. If Moin had not batted the way he did we may have still lost despite Inzi's great inning.
Click to expand...

Inzamam turned the tables and Miandad and Moin held their nerve. I mentioned that already.

But Imran definitely played a very poor innings in context.
 
mnoman15 said:
Dude, you dont know cricket or you didnt watch that world cup live .... If Imran was not there to avoid all top order melt down, Pakistan would have been out at 150. This was very bold decision by Imran to come up front and take all pressure and face new ball and setup the platform. Pak top players were slaughters like cows in that world cut with new ball .. That was the strategy that made Pakistani so successful in 90s but alas we still follow same strategy and game has moved on ..
Click to expand...

Ask Mamoon about IK and Miandad inning in 1987 semi0final and he will call them pathetic too. IK in that Semi-Final performed like a champ in both departments
 
Mamoon said:
The predictable response that has been dismissed time and time again.

I know its blasphemous and against the constitution of Pakistan to not cover Imran in glory at every opportunity, but that was by no means a good innings by Imran, and he was saved by Inzamam's brilliance and later Javed and Moin holding their nerve.

If the likes of Afridi, Umar and Razzaq would have played the role Inzamam, Miandad and Moin played in Mohali, this whole 'platform' logic would have been used for Misbah as well, and how he absorbed the pressure.

Both were equally poor innings, but one was lucky because his teammates came to the party. As simple as that.

I know about that strategy, and he played an excellent innings in the final, but in the semi final, he definitely played a poor innings. 262 at that time was like 310-315 today, and he built too much pressure and left his team in a limbo.

Inzamam, Moin and Miandad had way too much to do and thankfully they pulled it off.
Click to expand...

Did you watch that world cup live? As a matter of fact did you watch cricket in late 80s? If not then don't trust score cards ....
I bet you were still in your mom womb then ... It was a team effort, a delibrate plan how to approach score like that ...
 
Imran fans are even more insecure than Sachin fans.

This is why this whole runs in wins etc. stats are nonsense in my opinion, because you can play a poor innings and win due to the brilliance of others, which will make your innings 'match winning' as well.

Miandad did all the hard work in the 87 semifinal, but as the best batsman in the team, he should have stayed till the end and seen the team home. His wicket won the game for Australia, so yes that wasn't one of his finest efforts.

Doing the hard work is good, but you also have to finish well. For this reason Misbah hasn't played many great ODI knocks in spite of a great average, because he lacks the ability to finish well.
 
mnoman15 said:
Did you watch that world cup live? As a matter of fact did you watch cricket in late 80s? If not then don't trust score cards ....
I bet you were still in your mom womb then ... It was a team effort, a delibrate plan how to approach score like that ...
Click to expand...

The plan was clear yes but Imran should have batted a bit quicker. A SR in the high 60's would have made it a solid innings.

I won't call it a match-losing innings by any stretch though, he did play the role that was asked of him but not as well as he should have.
 
Mamoon said:
Imran fans are even more insecure than Sachin fans.

This is why this whole runs in wins etc. stats are nonsense in my opinion, because you can play a poor innings and win due to the brilliance of others, which will make your innings 'match winning' as well.

Miandad did all the hard work in the 87 semifinal, but as the best batsman in the team, he should have stayed till the end and seen the team home. His wicket won the game for Australia, so yes that wasn't one of his finest efforts.

Doing the hard work is good, but you also have to finish well. For this reason Misbah hasn't played many great ODI knocks in spite of a great average, because he lacks the ability to finish well.
Click to expand...

insecure? i hope you know there was someone who took 3 wicket too only giving 36 runs in that semi final
 
mnoman15 said:
Did you watch that world cup live? As a matter of fact did you watch cricket in late 80s? If not then don't trust score cards ....
I bet you were still in your mom womb then ... It was a team effort, a delibrate plan how to approach score like that ...
Click to expand...

Don't get defensive.

You don't have to watch something 'live' to conclude what is wrong and what is right.

By the same token, people shouldn't call Bradman the best batsman and Sobers the best all-rounder, because we didn't watch them 'live' and your grandfather was probably your great grandmother's womb when Bradman was batting.

But yes, whatever suits your agenda.

Here your green tinted goggles have disabled you to acknowledge that Imran played a poor innings in the semifinal, and of course nothing will change your opinion because you are biased.
 
Strike Rate said:
insecure? i hope you know there was someone who took 3 wicket too only giving 36 runs in that semi final
Click to expand...

I'm talking about his innings with the bat, not his overall performance.

He bowled well, but batted poorly.
 
In run chases, I rate only those innings where the batsmen grabs the game by the scruff of its neck, controls the pace of the game and wins it for his team.

Can't rate knocks where the batsman plays the anchor role and is dependent on his teammates to come good and provide the killer blow. Of course every team needs one anchor, but a player who grabs the game by its balls and runs away with it is far more valuable.
 
I would say that Imran nazir's 160 against zimbabwe was also a great knock.

Of course we have nothing to play for at that stage and in a way it made us free to express our selves but that knock still remains the 2nd highest odi score by a pakistani batsman (after anwar's 194)
 
Out of the knocks of World Cup 2011, Misbah's against Sri Lanka was the best from Pakistan. And World Cup 2011 is the only world cup (50 overs) that I've ever watched. Think I watched parts of the 99 world cup, especially the final but was too young to really remember much.
 
Saeed Anwar - 1999 - Semi final.

Classiest innings if there ever was one
 
Mamoon said:
In run chases, I rate only those innings where the batsmen grabs the game by the scruff of its neck, controls the pace of the game and wins it for his team.

Can't rate knocks where the batsman plays the anchor role and is dependent on his teammates to come good and provide the killer blow. Of course every team needs one anchor, but a player who grabs the game by its balls and runs away with it is far more valuable.
Click to expand...

Agree there, but this is not applicable for ODI openers and some times for #3 player also, unless the chase is small enough.
 
There are so many innings which we haven't seen of 70's and early 80's so its tough to chose one

but from what we have seen is i think Young inzi scoring against top side NZ in the semis
 
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] HAris sohail innings can be there in top 20??? Misbah knock in 2015 against Zim can also be added.
 
DRsohail said:
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] HAris sohail innings can be there in top 20??? Misbah knock in 2015 against Zim can also be added.
Click to expand...

Top 20 is too wide, there are so many to consider. Considering the circumstances, Haris's innings indeed was a good one - top 20, should be.
 
Didn’t Hafeez score a match winning 175 chasing a 320 target against someone in the last World Cup, or was that the World Cup before?

Trying to find the scorecard on Cricinfo but struggling, I can’t have imagined that surely..
 
I have watched Pakistan cricket since the 1974 tour of England.
Seen every World Cup since the first one in 1975.
Inzi’s knock in 1992 by a country mile
 
Majid Khan said:
Didn’t Hafeez score a match winning 175 chasing a 320 target against someone in the last World Cup, or was that the World Cup before?

Trying to find the scorecard on Cricinfo but struggling, I can’t have imagined that surely..
Click to expand...

Lolz he was not in last wc and his highest score is not even 175
 
Hasan123 said:
Excellent knock. But I think most of OPs knocks maybe be better. Great innings but not the best of all time.
Click to expand...

Have not seen much before 1999 wc in fact my first wc memory was 96 QF whrere his innings come 2nd after Inzi 81 against AUS.
I have not seen a better inning from paksitani players which changed the dimension of the game
 
2 worthy additions to the list from this WC are the knocks that were played by Hafeez vs England and Haris vs South Africa.

Inzy's semi-final blitz is not only the premier knock by a Pakistani in WC history but also an ATG WC knock.
 
topspin said:
2 worthy additions to the list from this WC are the knocks that were played by Hafeez vs England and Haris vs South Africa.

Inzy's semi-final blitz is not only the premier knock by a Pakistani in WC history but also an ATG WC knock.
Click to expand...

Definitely need to add those knocks, particularly Hafeez who took the pre tournament favourites into deep water with great stroke play. Englands first home defeat in a long long time.
 
DRsohail said:
Have not seen much before 1999 wc in fact my first wc memory was 96 QF whrere his innings come 2nd after Inzi 81 against AUS.
I have not seen a better inning from paksitani players which changed the dimension of the game
Click to expand...

We haven't produced many quality batters since Moyo.
 
As the OP listed Zed’s innings against a truly great West Indoes attack in 1979 was very special. A game we should have won....I feel I have left that time and time again over the last 44years....
 
Sandeep said:
Anwar's century in 2003 against India was good too.. Only for Sachin to spoil his party..
Click to expand...

Sachin was dropped early in his innings by Abdul Razzaq and didn't quite score a century...whereas Saeed played a chancless masterful innings only for the usual bottlers like Inzi to fail to carry the score over 300.
 
Majid Khan said:
Didn’t Hafeez score a match winning 175 chasing a 320 target against someone in the last World Cup, or was that the World Cup before?

Trying to find the scorecard on Cricinfo but struggling, I can’t have imagined that surely..
Click to expand...

You definitely imagined it
 
Majid Khan said:
Didn’t Hafeez score a match winning 175 chasing a 320 target against someone in the last World Cup, or was that the World Cup before?

Trying to find the scorecard on Cricinfo but struggling, I can’t have imagined that surely..
Click to expand...

I have some news for you. . .
 
People who have watched the 96 world cup between Pakistan and India, was Javed Miandad's 38 of 64 equivalent to Misbah's knock at Mohali :misbah
 
Majid Khan said:
Didn’t Hafeez score a match winning 175 chasing a 320 target against someone in the last World Cup, or was that the World Cup before?

Trying to find the scorecard on Cricinfo but struggling, I can’t have imagined that surely..
Click to expand...
That was hafeez's 2nd best wc knock, after the time he scored 220 against india in the final of the wc , which we won!
 
Well Harris sohail’s innings surely ranks in top 6 or 7 now.

My favorite is imran’s in the 92 final.. he steered the ship..
 
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