Dubious distinctions

Taking a hiding... India's Javagal Srinath went for most runs in the final against Australia at the Wanderers.-V. V. KRISHNAN

Each edition of the World Cup has thrown up some dismal and disappointing displays. Here are some from the 2003 championship in South Africa.

Hannan Sarkar of Bangladesh was the only one from among the 205 batsmen who played in the tournament to be dismissed off the first ball of a match. This was in a group match against Sri Lanka in Pietermaritzburg (February 14). Left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas bowled Sarkar. Namibia’s Riaan Walters was dismissed off the first ball of the innings — not the match — as he was caught by Tatenda Taibu off Heath Streak in a group match in Harare. Namibia was chasing Zimbabwe’s 340.

Runs and ruins

Namibia’s fast bowler Rudolph Janse van Vuuren conceded the maximum runs in a match at the competition — 92 off 60 balls against Australia in Potchefstroom. Next in the list was India’s Javagal Srinath — 87 off 60 balls against Australia at the Wanderers in the final. He was followed by Namibia’s B. L. Kotze (75 off 60 balls; versus Zimbabwe at Harare), India’s Ashish Nehra (74 off 60 balls; versus Pakistan at Centurion Park), New Zealand’s Shane Bond (73 off 60 balls; versus South Africa at the Wanderers), Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar (72 off 60 balls; versus India at Centurion Park) and Waqar Younis (71 off 52 balls; versus India at Centurion Park) and Namibia’s L. J. Burger (70 off 60 balls; versus Zimbabwe in Harare).

Off the mark

India’s Zaheer Khan overstepped the popping crease and erred in line the most number of times. The left-arm seamer conceded five wides and five no balls against Pakistan at Centurion Park in his 10-0-46-2; nine wides against Holland in Paarl in his 8-1-1-17-1; six wides and two no balls against Australia at the Wanderers in his 7-0-67-0; six wides and five no-balls against Sri Lanka at the Wanderers in his 7-0-33-2.

India’s Javagal Srinath conceded five wides and two no balls against Australia at the Wanderers in his 10-0-87-0, and four wides and three no balls against Zimbabwe in Harare in his 8-1-14-2. However, Zaheer Khan was only the third highest bowler of ‘wides and no balls’. Bangladesh’s medium pacer Jubair Talha conceded five wides and six no balls against the West Indies in Benoni, while Namibia’s fast bowler Gerrie Snyman conceded seven wides and four no balls against Holland in Bloemfontein.

Slow scoring

Bangladesh’s Khaled Mashud was the slowest scorer, making 20 off 67 balls against Sri Lanka in Pietermaritzburg. When one takes time into consideration, Mashud’s team-mate Habibul Bashar did not score a run for 17 minutes (balls faced: 8) against Canada in Kingsmead. Bashar was followed by Canada’s Ishwar Maraj, who did not score a run for 15 minutes (balls faced: 14) against New Zealand in Benoni. Holland’s Tim de de Leede did not score a run for 17 minutes (balls faced: 9) against India in Paarl; West Indies’ Chris Gayle did not score a run for 21 minutes (balls faced: 5) against Bangladesh in Benoni; West Indies’ Wavell Hinds did not score a run for 19 minutes (balls faced: 16) against South Africa in Cape Town.

G. Viswanath