Top 5 ODI World Cup hundreds in a losing cause ft. Sachin Tendulkar & Mahela Jayawardene
World Cup centuries are often considered closest to the heart for cricketers when they result in victories. However, single-handed centuries without notable contributions from teammates or those in a losing cause also deserve special mention in a different breadth.
The 2023 World Cup witnessed one from the second ilk when all-rounder Mahmudullah scored a breathtaking century to save face for Bangladesh against South Africa. Chasing an improbable 383 for victory, the Tigers were reduced to a dismal 42/4 when the off-spinning all-rounder entered the crease.
Despite wickets falling around him like nine pins, the 37-year-old held one end up and propelled Bangladesh to a respectable 233 all-out in the 47th over. It was Mahmudullah's third World Cup century, the most by a Bangladesh batter, and one of only four tons in a World Cup run-chase batting at No.6 or below.
The knock provided some joy to Bangladesh fans on a forgettable evening at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Mahmudullah isn't the only one on the wrong end of the result when scoring a World Cup century.
History has witnessed several centuries of legendary players that have ended on a sour note, with their side losing the game.
Let us revisit the top five ODI World Cup centuries that came in a losing cause.
#1 Sachin Tendulkar vs Sri Lanka, 1996
For all the undying and incredible achievements of Sachin Tendulkar, including a record 100 international centuries, it hasn't always resulted in a happy ending for Team India.
Among his six World Cup tons, only three have come in Indian victories, with two others in losses and one in a tie. One such instance was at the 1996 World Cup when centuries were at a premium in a considerably low-scoring era.
Facing the eventual world champions Sri Lanka, Tendulkar scored a magnificent 137 off as many deliveries, batting from the start of the innings to almost the finish. Consisting of eight delightful boundaries and five maximums, the knock propelled India to a formidable 271/3 in 50 overs.
The Little Master also ensured Sri Lanka's legendary duo of Chaminda Vaas and Muthiah Muralitharan went wicketless.
However, much to his dismay, the Lankan Lions, inspired the Player of the 1996 World Cup, Sanath Jayasuriya, chased down the target with eight balls to spare. The southpaw smashed 79 off 76 balls to lay the ideal platform for Sri Lanka before Arjuna Ranatunga ( 46*) and Hashan Tilakaratne (70*) finished the match off with an unbeaten 131-run fifth-wicket partnership.
The result seemed to affect the Men in Blue adversely as the Lankans also dismantled the Indians in the sem-final of the 1996 World Cup en route to their first and only title.
#2 Mahela Jayawardene vs India, 2011
In a role reversal from 1996, it was the turn of a Sri Lankan batter to score a first-innings century, only to watch it end in pain against India.
However, unlike 15 years back, the stakes were much higher as it was the grand finale of the 2011 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Sri Lanka won the toss and batted first, with Mahela Jayawardene scoring one of the best World Cup centuries to set up a massive run-chase of 275 for the hosts in the high-pressure game. The classy right-hander scored 103* off only 88 deliveries, with 13 silky boundaries to seemingly put Sri Lanka into the ascendency at the innings break.
However, incredible 90s from Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni meant Jayawardene and Sri Lanka suffered a second consecutive World Cup final defeat after falling short against Australia in 2007.
Nevertheless, it was evidence of the former Sri Lankan skipper's ability to rise to the occasion in a crunch game following his century against New Zealand in the 2007 World Cup semi-final.
#3 Carlos Brathwaite vs New Zealand, 2019
Perhaps the most surprising century in a losing cause came from West Indian lower-order batter Carlos Brathwaite in the 2019 World Cup against New Zealand.
In a near must-win encounter following a hattrick of defeats, the West Indies conceded 291/8 to the Blackcaps despite a promising start with two wickets in the opening over.
Their reply was no better as only Chris Gayle displayed a semblance of a fight, scoring 87 off 84 deliveries. His dismissal reduced West Indies to 152/5, which soon became 164/7.
With the result seemingly a foregone conclusion, Brathwaite struck a powerful 101 off 82 deliveries that nearly helped pull off a memorable comeback win.
His brutal hitting with nine fours and five sixes stunned the Kiwis and brought the equation to a six needed off seven deliveries with a wicket in hand. However, Brathwaite went for a maximum to finish the game off the last ball of the penultimate over and perished in trying to clear the boundary by inches.
New Zealand breathed a sigh of relief as they emerged victorious by five runs despite Brathwaite's first and only international century.
#4 Herschelle Gibbs vs Australia, 1999
While the Super Six fixture of the 1999 World Cup between South Africa and Australia is infamously remembered for Herschelle Gibbs' costly drop of Steve Waugh, that Proteas opener scored a sumptuous century in the same game.
In a must-win game for the Aussies to qualify for the semi-finals, Gibbs essayed through to a glorious 101 off 134 deliveries against an attack featuring stalwarts Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. His century drove South Africa to a formidable 271/7 in 50 overs, piling the pressure on the Aussies to mount a stiff run-chase.
In reply, the Proteas had control of the game until a memorable outing flipped on its head for Gibbs. He dropped Aussie captain Steve Waugh on 56 with the scoreboard reading 152/3.
Waugh punished the South Africans for the reprieve with a match-winning 120* off 110 balls to lead Australia to the semi-final. To accentuate matters, the teams met in the semi-final a few days later, with the game ending in a tie and Australia advancing to the final on net run-rate.
Unfortunately for South African fans, the series of events lives on in their painful World Cup memories as the side continues to search for its elusive title.
#5 Kevin Pietersen vs Australia, 2007
It is well-documented that the Australians had arguably the most dominating World Cup run in 2007 at the West Indies. Gunning for a hattrick of titles following their triumph in 1999 and 2003, the mighty Aussies went unbeaten through their campaign with no real threat of losing in a single match.
Yet, their only real moment of worry was thanks to a scintillating century by legendary batter Kevin Pietersen. In the Australia-England clash of the Super Eight stages, Australia reduced their rivals to 24/2 in six overs.
Pietersen walked in and took control, smashing the formidable Aussie attack for 104 off 122 deliveries to propel England to a respectable 247.
Yet, true to their form, the rampaging Aussie batters brushed aside the target in a mere 47.2 overs with seven wickets in hand to continue their winning streak.