STATS CORNER – As many as 19854 runs were scored for the loss of 687 wickets at an average of 28.50 off 3942.4 overs at an economy rate of 5.03 in 46 matches in the 10th World Cup sofar. A total number of 1599 runs were scored for the loss of 45 wickets at 35.53 off 344.5 overs at an economy rate of 4.63 in four quarter finals while 18255 runs were scored for the loss of 642 wickets at an average of 28.43 off 3597.5 overs at an economy rate of 5.07 in 42 matches in the first round.
Eighteen batsmen scored 23 centuries in the 91 innings of 46 matches in the just concluded quarter final round of this mega event. South African Abraham de Villiers, India’s Sachin Tendulkar, Holland’s Ryan ten Doeschate and Sri Lankan Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan scored two centuries each while Ross Taylor (New Zealand), Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka), Virender Sehwag (India), Yuvraj Singh (India), Hashim Amla (South Africa), Virat Kohli (India), Brendon McCullum (New Zealand), Kevin O’Brien (Ireland), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Devon Smith (West Indies), Paul Stirling (Ireland), Andrew Strauss (England) and Picky Ponting (Austrlaia) made one century apiece.
No batsman from Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Canada, Kenya and Bangladesh scored century in the World Cup. Twenty six bowlers on 33 occasions claimed a four-wicket haul in the first round. Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi achieved this feat four times while South Africa’s Imran Tahir, Australian Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson and West Indian Sulieman Benn claimed four or more wickets in an innings twice each. Shahid Afridi equalled Australian Shane Warne and Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan’s record of most four-wicket hauls in World Cup by taking four wickets for 30 in 9.3 overs against the West Indies in the first quarter-final.
It was fourth four-wicket haul for Pakistan skipper in 19 World Cup matches. Shane Warne also claimed four 4-wicket hauls in 17 Cup matches while Muttiah Muralitharan took same number of four-wicket hauls in 37 world Cup matches.
