ICC Cricket World Cup

Some records made and broken

How many of you break rest and stay glued to your television sets to watch the ongoing cricket matches? Cricket fever is at its highest these days now that the ICC World Cup matches are in the final stages.

This year's World Cup matches, being held in the Caribbean Islands, have been full of surprises and incidents, some of which are not so pleasant. There has been plenty of joy and sorrow with nations who are considered cricketing giants bowing out and nations who are comparatively new to the arena making it to the Super Eight.

Many records have been broken, some of which were unexpected. As the beat builds up with the finals drawing to a close, let's look at some of the records broken and made by the cricketers so far.

Of course, these records too could be broken by the time you read this because the information we publish here could have changed by then with more new matches being played in the Super Eight.

Fastest fifty in a World Cup

Brendon McCullum, the wicket keeper of the New Zealand team, became the batsman to score the fastest fifty in a World Cup match. He made this achievement in the match played against Canada in the preliminary round. He managed to make his 'express' fifty in just twenty balls, and this also broke the record for the fastest fifty made by Mark Boucher who scored his fifty in twenty one balls in this World Cup itself. Six sixes in one over This is one record which won't most probably be broken very soon. This was made by South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs who smashed six consecutive sixes in one over in a match against Holland. This was a truly spectacular display of batting. Highest total in a World Cup Just go back in time and recall the match Sri Lanka played against Kenya in the 1996 Cricket World Cup. They made a total runs of a staggering 398, and it became the highest total made in any One Day International.

However, this was broken by South Africa who chased a target of 478 set by Australia. However, Sri Lankans still defended the record for the highest total in a World Cup match, until the match between India and Bermuda in this tournament. India managed to score 413 against Bermuda and this became the new record for the highest total in a World Cup match.

Total number of sixes in an innings

The previous record for the highest number of sixes was fourteen and Pakistan had the honour of holding it. This record was jointly broken by India and South Africa who made a total of eighteen sixes each. India made this achievement against Bermuda, and South Africa did it in the match against Holland.

Win by the biggest margin

When a match is played between a new, inexperienced team and a highly attacking team, the result is severe. And, that is exactly what happened in the match between India and Bermuda. India went up to a raging score of 413 and at the end, Bermuda lost, making India win by 257 runs which went in to the record books as the highest margin by which a team won.

Four wickets in four balls

Here's news that we Sri Lankan cricket fans can be proud of. Speed demon Lasith Malinga sent four batsmen of the South African team back to the dressing room in four consecutive balls which is the first such occurrence in an ODI.

Since the score was low to defend, South Africa won the match by one wicket with just few balls left. It would have been a great reward for Lasith Malinga if we won that match. Malinga became the fifth to get a hat-trick in a World Cup.

Highest aggregate score in a World Cup

A massive 671 aggregate (total) was made in the match between Australia and South Africa where Australia scored 378 and South Africa scored 293 in their chase for victory.

Mathew Hayden scored the fastest century in a World Cup in this match.

Most number of wickets in a World Cup

Glenn McGrath became the leading wicket taker in the history of the World Cup, taking his 56th World Cup wicket against Bangladesh, overtaking Wasim Akram's 55 wicket total.

Hottest happenings related to the World Cup

* The first match between Ireland and Zimbabwe ended as a tie. This is just the third time that a match has ended as a tie in a World Cup.

* Ireland defeated Pakistan in their group match and knocked them out of the tournament. Ireland proceeded to qualify for the Super 8 stages in their first ever World Cup.

* Bangladesh entered in to the Super Eight stage, beating India and Bermuda. This is the first instance where they passed the preliminary round of a World Cup.

* Both Herschelle Gibbs and Matthew Hayden were awarded honorary citizenship of Saint Kitts and Nevis after their individual record-breaking feats.

Compiled by Aravinda Dassanayake