By IANS,
Bangalore: Shane Watson and Brad Haddin’s first-wicket stand of 183 runs against Canada in a Group A match Wednesday is Australia’s highest at the World Cup.
The partnership is also the best for any wicket here at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, outstripping the 170 for the third wicket between Ian Bell and Andrew Strauss for England against India Feb 27, 2011.
The other highlights:
Haddin and Watson have managed to total over 400 in four world cup innings — 415 at an average of 103.75 for the opening wicket, including two 100-plus and one fifty-plus stands. Only Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill have averaged more than Haddin and Watson in the present World Cup — 319 (ave.106.33) in five innings.
Watson has become the first Australian batsman to make 250 runs or more in the present competition — 256 at an average of 64.00. Haddin has the next best tally — 237 at 59.25 — for Australia. The all-rounder has recorded two innings in the nervous nineties in ODIs — both on Indian soil — 94 against Canada at Bangalore and 93 against India at Hyderabad on Nov 5, 2009. He got the Man of the Match award for the second time in the World Cup — his 13th in ODIs. He has also hit seven sixes — the most by an Australian player in the present tournament.
Brett Lee (4/46) has recorded his best bowling figures in India, eclipsing the three for 37 against India at Hyderabad on Oct 5, 2007. He has captured four or more wickets in a world cup game for the second time — his best ever figures are 5 for 42 against New Zealand at Port Elizabeth on March 11, 2003. In Australia’s victories, Lee has captured 275 wickets at an average of 20.62 in 142 matches — a tally exceeded only by Glenn McGrath for Australia with 301 (ave.17.94) in 171 matches.
Ricky Ponting has performed below average in the present tournament — 83 in five matches (ave.20.75) at a strike rate of 62.40.
Shaun Tait took his wicket-tally to 33 (ave.19.45) in 16 matches at the World Cup — only Glenn McGrath (71) and Brad Hogg (34) have bagged more wickets for Australia in the overall tournament history.
Canada (77/1) have recorded their best performance in the mandatory batting powerplay in the 2011 edition of the World Cup. They totalled 50 off 4.4 overs — the quickest by any team in the present edition. The North American side (211) recorded their highest total against Australia in ODIs, eclipsing the 105 at Birmingham on June 16, 1979.
Zubin Surkari and Ashish Bagai were associated in a stand of 68 for the third wicket — Canada’s highest for any wicket against Australia.
Bagai has batted exceedingly well in his last three World Cup innings — unbeaten 64 against Kenya at Delhi, 84 against New Zealand at Mumbai and 39 against Australia at Bangalore. He has made 225 at an average of 45.00 in six games, including two half-centuries — the second highest run-aggregate in the competition for Canada, next only to John Davison’s tally of 226 (ave.37.66) in 2002-03.
Harvir Baidwan has bagged 13 wickets at an average of 23.61 in six games — the most by a Canadian bowler in a World Cup.
Hiral Patel (54 off 45 balls) has recorded his highest score in ODIs/World Cup.
Patel is the only batsman from Canada to post a fifty against Australia in ODIs.
Jimmy Hansra has managed to total 215 at an average of 43.00 in six games, including two fifties, in the present tournament.