ESPNcricinfo Awards 2013 ODI batting nominees: Shellackings and jailbreaks
Martin Guptill
189 not out vs England
second ODI, Southampton
Guptill was in splendid form in the three-match series, scoring his second century in three days in this game. His unbeaten 189 was the highest score by a New Zealander in a one-dayer, beating Lou Vincent's 172 against Zimbabwe. Guptill was dropped on 13, and his subsequent assault, which included 19 fours and two sixes, left England shell-shocked. His century came off 111 balls, and the next 89 runs off just 44. Guptill led New Zealand to an imposing 359 for 3 and set up their unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. He also equalled Viv Richards' 189 at Old Trafford in 1984 for the highest innings against England in an ODI.
Rohit Sharma
209 vs Australia
seventh ODI, Bangalore
Rohit, in the middle of a purple patch as an opener, became the third batsman to join the 200 club in ODIs, after Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. In a match in which bowlers from both sides were bludgeoned, he blasted 16 sixes - a world record - to help India to 383 for 6 in the deciding ODI. He got to his 100 off 114 balls but his second century took just 42 balls; India plundered 151 off the last ten overs. Rohit's contribution was all the more important in the final analysis as Australia made a spirited effort in the chase, falling short by only 57.
Kane Williamson
145 not out vs South Africa
second ODI, Kimberley
Another century that set up an away series win for New Zealand. Williamson, one of the country's best young batting talents to emerge in the last few years, came in at No. 3 in the third over and batted through the innings. After a cautious start, he settled in for the long haul: his 127-run stand with Grant Elliott was New Zealand's first century partnership of the tour. He hit 17 fours and a six in his unbeaten innings to carry New Zealand to 279 and set up their first series win in any format in South Africa. Given New Zealand's batting horror show in the Tests, Williamson's knock stood out in the memory.
Shikhar Dhawan
114 vs South Africa
Champions Trophy, Cardiff
The innings that set off India's victorious campaign in England. Dhawan had begun his sensational second coming as an opener on Indian soil a few months earlier, and he wasn't daunted by English conditions. He made South Africa pay for overusing the short-pitched stuff in good batting conditions. After getting hit initially, Dhawan walked out of his crease to swat and pull the seamers. His opening stand of 127 with Rohit Sharma was the bedrock for India's imposing 331 for 7, which South Africa failed to overhaul. Five days later, he followed it up with another century.
Kieron Pollard
109 not out vs Australia
fourth ODI, Sydney
At 55 for 6, West Indies looked like folding up for a sub-100 score. But Kieron Pollard wasn't going to give in easily. After the top four fell in single digits, Pollard, in at No. 5, batted till the 50th over, supported by the lower order. His unbeaten 109 included 11 fours, but the big-hitting allrounder restrained himself enough to fetch his first six only in the 46th over. Pollard, who has often struggled for consistency in ODIs, sent a strong message to Australia. It may have been in a losing cause, but his innings was one of the positives for West Indies in their 5-0 drubbing.
Kumar Sangakkara
134 not out vs England
Champions Trophy, The Oval
One of Sri Lanka's most clinical high-scoring chases in recent times on foreign soil was made possible by an unbeaten century from one of their most experienced hands. Under pressure from the first ball, faced with a target of 294, Sangakkara undid England with nerveless, chanceless calculation. He occasionally played uncharacteristic strokes, yet nothing in his innings seemed rushed or improvised. Nuwan Kulasekara's unexpected promotion to No. 5 was a masterstroke that helped Sri Lanka cut the target to size with remarkable ease. Sangakkara's calm presence at one end was priceless as he batted through after coming in in the third over.
Virat Kohli
100 not out vs Australia
second ODI, Jaipur
Chasing 360 was made to look ridiculously simple, in dream batting conditions, by centuries from Rohit Sharma and Kohli. Rohit may have scored more (141 not out), but Kohli's knock came off just 52 balls, making it the fastest century by an Indian. The setting was ideal for his uninhibited knock: he walked in with an opening-stand cushion of 176 in 26.1 overs, and proceeded to deflate Australia with eight fours and seven sixes, helping India reach the target with nearly six overs to spare.
MS Dhoni
139 not out vs Australia
third ODI, Mohali
Bowlers rarely had their moments in this ODI series, but when Dhoni walked in in Mohali, India were in a bit of trouble at 76 for 4. With Virat Kohli for company, Dhoni turned things around and made a score of 300 possible. He hit one four in his first 67 deliveries but finished with 12 fours and five sixes from 121 balls. His manic assault towards the end included his trademark helicopter shot and towering sixes. The innings enhanced Dhoni's reputation as a man for a crisis - his last ODI century had come in December 2012, when he took India from 29 for 5 to 227 for 6 against Pakistan.
James Faulkner
64 not out vs India
third ODI, Mohali
MS Dhoni's efforts went to waste in the match above, thanks to Faulkner's stunning jailbreak. Chasing 304, Australia seemed out of it when Faulkner walked in at 213 for 6, with the team needing 91 off 53 balls. When it came down to 44 off 18, Faulkner ransacked 30 off a single Ishant Sharma over, which included four sixes and a four. Fittingly, Faulkner sealed the win with a six in the final over. It gave the visitors an unlikely 2-1 lead. And it wasn't the last India saw of Faulkner the batsman in the series.
Quinton de Kock
135 v India
first ODI, Johannesburg
It was the first of three hundreds in the series by the baby-faced South African opener. De Kock led South Africa's assault on an undercooked India in the first match of the tour, his 135 helping set India 359. It was a steady build, and he accelerated only towards the end of his innings. Ninety of his runs came in boundaries alone and that was enough to deflate India. He departed in the 42nd over, but after setting the platform for a brutal assault.
James Faulkner, reason now he is the match winner, the way he played I watched that match, best match
James Faulkner match wining performance... when aus. were about to loose.
Rohit Sharma, no doubt. He blasted the ball all over the ground and that too against some of the best Australian bowlers we've seen.
Y this list doesn't included the MSD's 112 vs PAK earlier in Jan'13 ?? That s the best innings ever with context of game when india is 30-5 against a good pace attack. MSD went in gave india a fighting total of 226 under heavy South Indian summer (I guess).
James Faulkner....the new age Michael Bevan.....performed like veteran....no words to say!
Once again I am very open. Yeah Rohit Sharma did scored a double hundred against the Aussies. Record of sixers were there which was broken by him where Shane Watson was highest with 15/sixers against the minnows Bangla Desh and Rohit Sharma scored just one more with sixteen 6/sers. But the Award shud go to QUINTON DE KOCK of South Africa, scoring 100 plus another 2/hundereds, Hat-trick of 100/dreds against India and South Africa won the series easily.
Kane Williamson
quinton de kock's 134 was the greatest inning played on that series.he was the one who set the chain of win on the IND-SA series.gud to see "BABY FACE ASSASSIN" play wid so confidence
It was difficult to choose but James Faulkner innings against India was incredible.
My vote for kohli or sharma
Faulkner's 64 run assault.. is the innings to be remembered for a long time not only for Aussies bt for India also.... A scary mvie for Ishant Sharma too.....
NO doubt, its Virat Kohli. Who made fastest century for India and by that inning India chased nearly impossible total of 360 just in 44 overs. No inning can be better than this.
Dhoni..............is the top most in that once india loose the wickets he will stay till end he will complete the innings and math as well.....ultimately he is the match winner..........
Rohit Sharma 209 v Australia Best one.
It is difficult to choose the best. Faulkner's 64* was amazing but Guptil's 189* was the innings of the year
Kane Williamson WITH ALONE NOT OUT INNINGS VS DANGEROUS SOUTH AFRICA BOWLERS M Morkel, LL Tsotsobe, RK Kleinveldt,R McLaren IN SOUTH AFRICA HOME
James Faunkler Innings Definitley
williamson or Guptil should get
James Faulkner deserves the award
Quinton de cock, for his consistancy
The winner would definitely be Faulkner's innings.Rohit Sharma's,Guptill's,Sangakkara's,De Kock's,Kohli's,Dhawan's and Williamson's innings were all brilliant match winning innings but they did not come under too much pressure.Sangakkara batted through almost the entire innings so he had time to get in,while the others were cushioned with many partnerships.The other innings,Pollard's and Dhoni's were absolutely fantastic knocks which came in the time when their sides were reeling,but they were not match-winning ones.Faulkner needed to hit from ball one and although there was cream cheese bowling from the likes of ishant sharma,the pressure mounted so much that scoring that much was just brilliant.My vote goes to Faulker's innings.The amount of runs do not count as the situation when the runs came in,
Guptill's 189* was the best inning, Faulkner's inning was a match winning one and De Kock's was the most exciting, I tell u one thing it's gonna be a hard desicion
Rohit Sharma 209 no doubt was the best knock of 2013
Upul Thranga`s 175 againt India
James Faulkner's Chase linnings..good chaser in Aussie..Today in the best innings Vs England Side.
rohit,williamson nd sangakara.....
virat 's 100 for his match winning inning....
Rohit Sharma 209 What an inning ........
James Faulkner's Innings. Period.
James Faulkner! Despite the fact that he has the lowest score in the nominees, the stage of the match and the SR at which they were made was simply sublime. To be a bowling all rounder, if not a tailender, and to snatch a certain victory from India's hands definitely warrants the top award
James Faulkner Innings was one of the best ODI finshes in 2013, Single highhandedly won the game for Australia against India in Mohali.
The Situation he was in that mach was huge and pilled it off... And in the next game he almost pulled it of in Bangalore... Got the century, but could not finished as he did in Mohali.
Faulkner's innings is the best
I'd go with Faulkner's 64. He literally stole the match out from under India's nose, and although the whole series was played on ridiculously flat tracks he still had to deal with the scoreboard pressure and back himself enough to pull it off. Kohli and Sharma would be very close second and third.
where is sanga's massive 165 against RSA :/ :/
Shikhar Dhwan in Chamions tophy because it was difficult condition under best pace attack in the world
James Faulkner`s Innings he made Australia to win the match which Australia was looking at the defeat.
Faulkner's innings has to be the best followed by that of Virat..