Batsmen have the ability to make or break a game of cricket. They ensure that the opponents have a large amount to chase by scoring enormous runs. Batsmen can lead their teams to victory by chasing the runs scored by their opponents in the first innings by remaining calm and steady. However, no single batsman can make such a significant impact on the sport. There is a reason why two batsmen are on the crease together: to help each other score well.
While a single player can hit a six or a boundary, a solid partnership between two batters might lead to a huge enough run to trouble the opponents. The ICC World Cup is the largest cricket competition, and some of the finest matches in the tournament have included some outstanding partnerships.
Take a look at the top five partnerships in the ICC World Cup:
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Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels (West Indies):
Gayle and Samuels recorded the highest partnership record in World Cup history at the 2015 Cricket World Cup. They put on an astounding third-wicket stand of 372 runs against Zimbabwe in a match played at the Manuka Oval in Canberra, Australia.
Gayle hit the first double-hundred of the World Cup, scoring 215 runs off 147 balls, including 16 sixes and 10 fours, while Samuels provided 133 runs off 156 balls. This collaboration enabled the West Indies to achieve a massive total of 372/2 in their allotted 50 overs.
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Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid (India):
Ganguly and Dravid set the second-highest partnership in World Cup history at the 1999 Cricket World Cup. In a match at the County Ground in Taunton, England, they scored 318 runs for the second wicket against Sri Lanka.
Ganguly hit 183 runs off 158 balls, including 17 fours and seven sixes, while Dravid hit 145 runs off 129 balls. India won the match decisively by 157 runs after scoring 373/6 in 50 overs.
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Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka):
Tharanga and Dilshan formed the third-highest combination in World Cup history during the 2011 tournament. In a match against Zimbabwe at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, they put on a first-wicket stand of 282 runs.
Dilshan provided 144 runs off 131 balls, including 16 fours and 1 six, while Tharanga scored 133 runs off 141 balls, including 17 fours. Sri Lanka finished their allotted 50 overs with a total of 327/6.
David Warner and Steve Smith (Australia):
Warner and Smith had the fourth-highest scoring duo in World Cup history in 2015. In a match at the WACA in Perth, they put on 260 runs for the second wicket against Afghanistan.
Warner hit 178 off 147 balls, including 19 fours and 5 sixes, while Smith hit 95 off 98 balls. Australia achieved a challenging total of 417/9 in their 50 overs, the highest-ever score in World Cup history.
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David Miller and JP Duminy (South Africa):
Miller and Duminy of South Africa set the fifth-highest run partnership in the 2015 World Cup. Miller and Duminy put on an unbroken 256-run fifth-wicket stand against Zimbabwe.
South Africa finished with a total of 339/4 thanks to the collaboration. This is the highest-ever World Cup partnership for a South African duo.
These partnerships have led to some of the best matches in World Cup history. It is common for one player to assume responsibility for sending the ball past the boundary or into the gallery, while the other player takes a calmer, more stable approach as they combine their talent and runs to create some spectacular moments.
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