Ask the Spider #107

What is the highest individual innings in international T20?

Clearly Chris Gayle got the hang of Twenty20 batting right away – in ony his fourth T20 innings, and the very first match of the 2007 World Twenty20 at Johannesburg he crafted what remains the highest ever innings, scoring 117 out of a West Indies total of 205 from only 57 balls, including ten sixes and seven fours. Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough to finish on the winning side, as South Africa eclipsed the West Indies total with more than two overs to spare. Brendon McCullum came within one run of Gayle’s score earlier this year, blasting 116* at Christchurch in Feb 2010 as New Zealand tied Australia.

How many individual centuries have been scored?

So far there have been four:- the aforementioned Gayle and McCullum have been joined recently by century-makers Suresh Raina (101) and Mahela Jayawardene (100), these two innings occurring at the current tournament.

Who has most T20 fifties?

Once again, that honour lies with Brendon McCullum, with six.

Who has the best bowling figures?

Three players have achieved a five-wicket haul:- Umar Gul took 5-6 for Pakistan vs New Zealand at The Oval during last year’s World Twenty20, Nehemiah Odhiambo took 5-20 for Kenya vs Scotland at Nairobi in Feb 2010, and West Indies Darren Sammy took 5-26 against Zimbabwe at Port Of Spain in the same month.

Which bowler has taken most international T20 wickets?

Pakistan’s Umar Gul has 43 T20 wickets to his credit.

Have any bowlers achieved a hat-trick?

Two bowlers can claim international T20 hat-tricks, Brett Lee (Aus) vs Bangladesh at Cape Town during the 2007-08 Twenty20 World Championship and Jacob Oram (NZ) vs Sri Lanka at Colombo in Sep 2009.

What’s the most runs scored off one over?

In Durban in 2006-07 India’s Yuvraj Singh blased six sixes off England’s Stuart Broad.