5 best batting performances from Week 3 of 2023 World Cup ft. Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell
With the ongoing ICC men's ODI World Cup 2023 slowly moving into its business end, the third week of the tournament has also come to an end.
The tournament, showcasing the world's best teams on a daily basis, has been an absolute haven for those who adore the 50-over format.
The third week saw India continuing their dominant run, where the Rohit Sharma-led side also handed New Zealand its first defeat of the tournament. Teams including Australia and South Africa have also marching forward for their quest to enter the knockout stages.
The major highlight of the week has certainly been the high-scoring affairs. The pitches in India have largely been good for the batters, with as many as fans witnessing nine centuries being hit in as many encounters.
A total of 4,929 runs have been scored by the ten nations together at a scoring run rate of 6.11
On that note, let's take a look at the five best batting performances from Week 3 of the ongoing 2023 ODI World Cup.
Note: Only games from Match 16 (AFG vs NZ) to Match 24 (AUS vs NED) of the World Cup have been taken into consideration.
#5 87 off 113 - Ibrahim Zadran vs Pakistan in Chennai (Match 22)
![Ibrahim Zadran with his Man of the Match award [Getty Images]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2023/10/0be25-16982949008108-1920.jpg?w=500)
After a wait of 11 years, Afghanistan finally beat Pakistan in an ODI when the two Asian teams met in Match 22 of the tournament in Chennai. While the Afghans beat England in their third game of the tournament, their win against Pakistan would've tasted even sweeter as it came while chasing an above par total.
Batting first, Pakistan reached a first-innings total of 282/7 in their 50 overs. Afghanistan's pursuit may have been exceedingly difficult, as they had never previously chased a target of more than 280 in ODIs.
However, a composed opening stand of 130 runs between Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz straightaway put Afghanistan in front in the match. The way the two right-handers negated the new-ball threat from Pakistani pacers was commendable.
While Gurbaz was the aggressor in the 53-ball 65, Zadran maturely kept the scoreboard ticking with much risk. Even after Gurbaz was dismissed, Zadran continued his hunt for runs and added 60 runs for the second wicket with Rahmat Shah.
Ibrahim scored 87 runs and was well set to get to his hundred but nicked one to the keeper off Hasan Ali's bowling.
However, Afghanistan didn't let Pakistan to make a comeback in the game as an unbeaten 96*-run partnership between Shah (77*) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (48*) completed their highest-ever run chase with eight wickets and six balls to spare.
#4 163 off 124 - David Warner vs Pakistan in Bengaluru (Match 18)
![David Warner acknowledging the crowd after his milestone [Getty Images]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2023/10/2cdb3-16983011257380-1920.jpg)
David Warner has well and truly arrived in the 2023 ODI World Cup, as he has smashed two back-to-back wonderful centuries for Australia. While he scored 104 runs in the recent game against the Netherlands, it was Warner's 163 against Pakistan that grabbed eyeballs.
Alongside Mitchell Marsh, he piled up a massive opening partnership of 259 runs, the second-highest opening stand in ODI World Cup history.
Being put to bat first, the Aussie batters came out with aggressive intent and made merry as the ball was coming onto the bat nicely. With short boundaries on either side, both Warner and Marsh clobbered the Pakistani bowlers to all parts of the ground.
Warner, in particular, pounced on anything short and never shied from taking the aerial route, even against the rapid pace of Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi. The two batters became the first Australian opening duo to hit hundreds in an ODI World Cup innings as Warner made a superlative 163, while Marsh was dismissed after a superb 121.
Smashing 14 boundaries and nine sixes, Warner gave the crowd something to remember for a long time. After clearing one for a six off Haris Rauf's bowling in the 43rd over, Warner was caught by Shadab Khan on the very next ball.
Earlier in the innings, the belligerent southpaw was dropped twice, which made the Pakistani team pay quite heavily.
#3 95 off 104 - Virat Kohli vs New Zealand in Dharamsala (Match 21)
![Virat Kohli during the game vs NZ [Getty Images]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2023/10/a8ee2-16983019139344-1920.jpg)
Another run-chase, another remarkable performance from Virat Kohli. The star Indian batter was once again on top of his game as he guided the Men in Blue to a tight win against New Zealand in Dharamsala.
On a chilly Sunday evening at the picturesque HPCA Stadium, India found themselves in a spot of bother while chasing 274 in the second innings. However, Kohli, who has mastered the art of hunting down totals, continued his great run of form to hand India their fifth consecutive win of the World Cup.
Despite losing partners from one end, Kohli kept the scoreboard ticking with some brave strokeplay and intelligent running between the wickets. While respecting the good balls bowled by the Kiwi bowlers, he dispatched the bad ones and hit eight boundaries and a couple of sixes during his stay.
After reaching his 69th ODI fifty, Kohli took the run-chase deep before hammering Trent Boult to a six and a four to all but seal the game. India needed just five runs in the last 15 balls when, in an attempt to complete his century, Kohli was holed out on the boundary.
Falling short of a well-deserved hundred, the Delhi-born batter was dismissed for 95 in 104 balls. Ravindra Jadeja, who also chipped in with a well-made 39*, hit the winning runs as India won their first ODI World Cup game against the Kiwis after 20 years.
#2 174 off 140 - Quinton de Kock vs Bangladesh in Mumbai (Match 23)
![Quinton de Kock celebrating his hundred [Getty Images] .](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2023/10/071aa-16983022898182-1920.jpg)
The highest run-getter of the tournament so far with 407 runs in five games, Quinton de Kock slammed the the highest individual score of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 in Match 23 against Bangladesh in Mumbai.
Opting to bat first, South Africa lost Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen within the first eight overs. However, De Kock took his time to settle in and kept the flow of runs going.
Despite the extreme warm conditions in the afternoon, he motored along and stitched a 131-run stand for the third wicket with Aiden Markram (60).
In the 35th over, De Kock completed his 20th ODI century in 101 balls. After a couple of quiet overs, the left-handed batter turned on the afterburners and smashed boundaries for fun.
In his last 24 balls, he hammered 57 runs and put on an entertaining show at the Wankhede Stadium. He took on Bangladesh's premier spinner Shakib Al Hasan and hammered him for a 6, 4, 6, and 4 in four consecutive balls in the 43rd over. He continued the carnage and scored three more boundaries in his next five balls.
At 174 runs with five more overs in the bank, De Kock was well placed to become the first-ever South African to score a double hundred in an ODI. However, in an attempt to slice one towards backward point, he was holed out on the boundary.
The 30-year-old put on a brilliant batting display, drawing cheers from each of those in attendance.
#1 106 off 44 - Glenn Maxwell vs Netherlands in Delhi (Match 24)
![Glenn Maxwell was pumped up after his fastest ton [Getty Images]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2023/10/390e8-16983026291298-1920.jpg)
South Africa's Aiden Markram delighted the Delhi crowd on October 7, 2023, with a magnificent innings with a 49-ball century against Sri Lanka.
18 days later, Glenn Maxwell outdid Markram's effort and smashed the fastest-ever century in ODI World Cup history on the very same ground.
Coming to bat after 39 overs, Australia needed Maxwell to to fire and provide a late blitz. After clearing a few boundaries to get his innings going, Maxwell scored 35 runs off his first 21 balls.
The 'Big Show' then switched his gears and brought the roof down with his immaculate ball-striking and flamboyance. In what was an utter carnage, he smoked his next 19 balls for 66 runs. He hit nine boundaries and eight maximums to bring up the fastest-ever ODI World Cup century (in 40 balls).
The range of shots Maxwell displayed during his knock were outlandish, to say the least. In amidst of clobbering sixes down the ground, he reverse-paddled even the quicker bowlers for boundaries.
His immense hitting stole the show as Australia went on to post a humongous total of 399/8 before recording the biggest-ever victory in ODI World Cup history (by 309 runs).