The World Cup so far in pictures

In just 23 matches, cricket’s biggest tournament has already provided many talking points

 

Pakistan were unable to beat India in the sides’ first match of the tournament as the defending champions made it 6-0 in terms of matches won over their  arch-rivals in World Cups with a 76-run win. PHOTO:  AFP

 



 

Tim Southee ripped through the England batting side and became only the third player in World Cup history to claim seven wickets in a match. New Zealand chased down England’s 124 in just 12.2 overs. PHOTO: REUTERS

 



 

Kumar Sangakkara has been in inspired form in the tournament so far with the most runs and the best average. He marked his 400th career innings with a century against Bangladesh and followed it up with another ton against England. PHOTO: AFP

 



 

Wahab Riaz was pivotal with both bat and ball for Pakistan when they registered their first win of the tournament against Zimbabwe to keep their qualification hopes alive. PHOTO: ICC

 



 

Chris Gayle became the first man to score a World Cup double-century when he made 215 against Zimbabwe. His effort was also the fastest double-century and the first by a non-Indian. PHOTO: AFP

 



 

Ireland shocked the West Indies in their first match as they chased down the Caribbean side’s 304-run total to further make a mockery of ICC’s proposal of reducing the number of teams in the next World Cup to 10. PHOTO: AFP

 



 

Afghanistan recorded their first-ever World Cup win over Scotland in a nail-biter with a one-wicket. Shapoor Zadran and Hamid Hassan made 19 for the final wicket after Afghanistan were 97-7 chasing 211. PHOTO: AFP

 



 

AB de Villiers played one of the most outrageous innings in World Cup history when he made 162 from 66 balls to record the quickest-ever 150 in ODIs. South Africa also recorded the joint biggest World Cup win in the same game by 257 runs. PHOTO: REUTERS

 



 

New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum holds aloft the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy after his side beat Australia in one of the best matches of the tournament so far. Australia were dismissed for a small score of 151 but the Kiwis made a meal of it and needed a Kane Williamson six to get over the line by one wicket. PHOTO: AFP

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March  3^rd,  2015.

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