The Best WC Final Knock

[subshakerz]

Based on the other thread where this was mentioned, I am putting it into its own thread.

 

[Socerer 01]

Stokes wasn’t even the best in the match, Buttler’s was more crucial and better despite the lesser amount of runs

 

[GIMH]

Stokes wasn’t even the best in the match, Buttler’s was more crucial and better despite the lesser amount of runs

No

 

[Socerer 01]

No

yes, until Buttler’s knock Stokes wasn’t looking good and the match was slipping away from them

 

[GIMH]

yes, until Buttler’s knock Stokes wasn’t looking good and the match was slipping away from them

And then what happened after Buttler went out?

 

[Socerer 01]

And then what happened after Buttler went out?

an unfortunate moment in cricket history

 

[GIMH]

Like, I agree Buttler was the more fluent while they were batting together but that’s not the same. Stokes went and did as Stokes often does and took us (sort of) home. (Shame he couldn’t do it in the Test just finished )

 

[subshakerz]

Stokes wasn’t even the best in the match, Buttler’s was more crucial and better despite the lesser amount of runs

Stokes was essential for steering the innings and getting them over the line.

 

[Socerer 01]

Like, I agree Buttler was the more fluent while they were batting together but that’s not the same. Stokes went and did as Stokes often does and took us (sort of) home. (Shame he couldn’t do it in the Test just finished )

can’t argue with that, I guess staying out there at the end does count for something

 

[subshakerz]

This is actually a really hard vote. All knocks were top drawer.

 

[Socerer 01]

This is actually a really hard vote. All knocks were top drawer.

from ones I have seen, Ponting and Gilly’s were so demoralising to even watch. Gilchrist’s perhaps even more so. Dhoni’s may well be the weakest among this, his was merely the icing on the cake which turned a possible win for India into probable one. had SL won Jayawardene’s knock may have been a better shout too

 

[subshakerz]

from ones I have seen, Ponting and Gilly’s were so demoralising to even watch. Gilchrist’s perhaps even more so. Dhoni’s may well be the weakest among this, his was merely the icing on the cake which turned a possible win for India into probable one. had SL won Jayawardene’s knock may have been a better shout too

Gilly surely faced a better attack though with Murali and Malinga in prime form.

Dhoni faced the same attack but somewhat older though the pressure was more intense since the match was in the balance.

 

[Godard]

For me, the fact that MS was facing the most pressure out of any(final on home soil, Sachin’s last WC, the fact they were pre tournament favourites, chasing a sizeable total, losing Sachin and Sehwag early), and he played above his normal position to neuter Murali and above the player of the tournament when he himself had a poor tournament, despite support from Gambhir(who was not playing as fast as the situation required), he took the role of the aggressor, the knock came against a good attack, and the drama surrounding it(the six to finish it).

 

[Godard]

from ones I have seen, Ponting and Gilly’s were so demoralising to even watch. Gilchrist’s perhaps even more so. Dhoni’s may well be the weakest among this, his was merely the icing on the cake which turned a possible win for India into probable one. had SL won Jayawardene’s knock may have been a better shout too

Dhoni had the main role to play. He immediately took the role of the aggressor, as Gambhir slowed down quite a lot. If Dhoni had gone out quickly, it could have been very tricky. 270+ is a very formidable score in the final(at the time too), especially when you get Sachin and Sehwag out in 5 overs.

 

[Godard]

Gilly surely faced a better attack though with Murali and Malinga in prime form.

Dhoni faced the same attack but somewhat older though the pressure was more intense since the match was in the balance.

Yes I agree. Murali in prime>Malinga in prime. I rate Dhoni marginally above for some other reasons.

 

[subshakerz]

For me, the fact that MS was facing the most pressure out of any(final on home soil, Sachin’s last WC, the fact they were pre tournament favourites, chasing a sizeable total, losing Sachin and Sehwag early), and he played above his normal position to neuter Murali and above the player of the tournament when he himself had a poor tournament, despite support from Gambhir(who was not playing as fast as the situation required), he took the role of the aggressor, the knock came against a good attack, and the drama surrounding it(the six to finish it).

Yeah pressurewise it was a lot. But then Gambirs supporting role and outscoring Dhoni makes me think.

 

[subshakerz]

Compared to Dhoni, DeSilva also faced a strong attack and lost the openers early and steered them from the beginning to the end.

 

[Godard]

It was support sure, but Gambhir scoring 97 from 122 balls and slowing down(towards his century) could have the made chase tricky. Plus Dhoni despite being the new man took the pressure off Gambhir completely by attacking Murali. Still it’s hard to decide behind Dhoni, Gilly and Lloyd.

 

[Godard]

Compared to Dhoni, DeSilva also faced a strong attack and lost the openers early and steered them from the beginning to the end.

He had decent support from Gurusinha and then Rantunga. Better attack, but lower target and much less pressure.

 

[subshakerz]

He had decent support from Gurusinha and then Rantunga. Better attack, but lower target and much less pressure.

At that time, 240 was the equivalent for 270 odd in 2011. And the conventional thinking of the time is that it is near impossible to chase in a WC final because of pressure.

Dhoni also had support from Gambir. The only difference is DeSilva paced his innings beautifully so there was no need to hit out at the end.