IPL 2015: Top 10 Batsmen of Week 5 of Indian Premier League
Indian Premier League fans have been treated to some superb performances with the bat this week.
Big names such as Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers have certainly lived up to their lofty reputations. After his World Cup woes, Eoin Morgan has finally shown why he's such a potentially dangerous performer.
This week's not just been about the overseas stars, though. Indians Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu and Hardik Pandya have all delivered something special.
Read on to see which batsmen have provided the most memorable innings of the week.
Statistics are courtesy of ESPNcricinfo. Performances are from 3 to 9 May 2015.
Ranking Criteria
1 of 11
The top 10 is based on the best batting performances of week five. Criteria for selection includes weight of runs and the rate at which they were scored.
An innings in a winning effort carries more weight than one in a losing cause. Similarly, a win against top-class opposition is rated more highly than against a struggler.
This being the entertainment business, style points are also on offer. If an innings contains plenty of fours and sixes, so much the better.
10. Johan Botha (Kolkata Knight Riders)
2 of 11
Performance: 17 vs. Delhi Daredevils
As cameos go, they don't come much more spectacular than the one Johan Botha produced against Delhi.
The South African faced his first delivery with just five balls of the KKR innings remaining and promptly hit it for four. He repeated the dose on the three deliveries that followed. The blink and you'll miss it bonanza ended when he was run out chasing a second run off the final ball.
Five deliveries, 17 runs and a strike rate of 340. When you consider that Kolkata went on to win by just 13 runs you can see just how crucial Botha's last-minute heroics were.
9. Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians)
3 of 11
Performance: 21 not out vs. Chennai Super Kings
Mumbai Indians made it five wins on the bounce thanks in part to a spectacular display of hitting from Hardik Pandya.
Facing a potentially tricky chase from the last two overs, Pandya settled any nerves by destroying spinner Pawan Negi.
Pandya hit three of Negi's first four deliveries in the penultimate over for six and any worries about a late-innings wobble were put to bed.
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8. Eoin Morgan (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
4 of 11
Performance: 63 vs. Rajasthan Royals
After a torrid World Cup and a slow start to the IPL, Eoin Morgan gave a reminder of his considerable talents against Rajasthan.
The England 50-over captain's innings of 63 took just 28 balls and included five sixes and four fours.
When in the mood Morgan remains one of the most dangerous strikers of a ball in the limited-overs formats.
7. Suresh Raina (Chennai Super Kings)
5 of 11
Performance: 52 vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore
An innings of 52 runs from a relatively pedestrian 46 deliveries wouldn't usually feature in the top 10 performances of the week.
There was something special about Suresh Raina's effort against RCB, though. While the rest of his colleagues were finding more and more bizarre ways to lose their wicket, Raina held the innings together.
The 28-year-old was the only batsman to pass 50 from either side as the Super Kings went on to win by 24 runs.
6. Ambati Rayudu (Mumbai Indians)
6 of 11
Performance: 49 not out vs. Delhi Daredevils
When Ambati Rayudu walked to the middle with the score at 40 for four, a victory target of 153 against Delhi looked a long way off.
Helped initially by Rohit Sharma and then Kieron Pollard, Rayudu was there at the end to steer Mumbai home with three balls to spare.
The 29-year-old timed his effort against the Daredevils to perfection. His first nine runs took a pedestrian 17 deliveries. The 40 that followed came off just 23 balls.
5. AB De Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
7 of 11
Performance: 47 vs. Kings XI Punjab
Pity the poor Kings XI Punjab bowlers. Not only did they face Chris Gayle in full flow, they also had to try to cope with AB de Villiers at the other end.
While the West Indian was rewriting the IPL record book with another century, De Villiers was also tucking into the hapless Punjab attack. The South African hit three fours and four sixes, taking just 24 deliveries to reach an unbeaten 47.
As double whammies go, they don't come much more devastating than Gayle and De Villiers.
4. Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)
8 of 11
Performance: 51 vs. Kings XI Punjab
Kolkata Knight Riders moved to the top of the IPL table on Saturday thanks largely to the efforts of Andre Russell.
Chasing 184 against Kings XI, KKR were wobbling at 83 for four but a steady innings from Yusuf Pathan and a spectacular one from Russell put them back on track.
The West Indian all-rounder smashed 51 from just 21 balls including five fours and four sixes to get KKR within touching distance of the win.
Despite a wobble from the tail, Kolkata sneaked home by one wicket with a ball to spare.
With a strike rate of 197.93, Russell is the fastest scoring batsmen of this year's IPL (minimum 100 runs).
3. Moises Henriques (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
9 of 11
Performance: 74 not out vs. Delhi Dardevils
There was little hint of what was to come after Moises Henriques had scratched around for just 10 runs from his first 16 deliveries against Delhi.
After smashing a big six from Amit Mishra the Australian found his range. Helped by a cameo from Ravi Bopara, Hyderabad scored 64 from their final five overs with Henriques' 74 not out coming from just 46 balls.
That blockbuster finale was needed as the Sunrisers sneaked home by six runs.
That win took them to fourth in the table. They'll be a tough side to face if they make the knockout stage.
2. Ajinkya Rahane (Rajasthan Royals)
10 of 11
Performance: 91 vs. Delhi Daredevils
Ajinkya Rahane did his chances of winning this year's Orange Cap for the tournament's most prolific batsman no harm with a superb 91 not out against the Delhi Daredevils.
Rajasthan's opener smashed nine fours and three sixes while leading the Royals to a match-winning total of 189.
The 26-year-old has certainly impressed his colleagues. Aussie World Cup winner James Faulkner told IPLT20.com, “I think he (Rahane) is a class player. Rajasthan Royals are very lucky to have him. He has done very well for us at the top in this IPL.”
His 91 was the highest ever score by a Rajasthan batsman against Delhi.
1. Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
11 of 11
Performance: 117 vs. Kings XI Punjab
Chris Gayle cemented his place as the greatest batsman in the history of the IPL with a stunning century against Kings XI Punjab.
It took the big-hitting West Indian just 57 balls to reach 117, destroying an attack that included Mitchell Johnson and Sandeep Sharma.
Gayle's spectacular effort included seven fours and 12 sixes. When in full flow he is the most watchable batsman in the game (sorry AB).
The 35-year-old's effort against Kings XI was his 14th Twenty20 century. To put that achievement into perspective, consider that Brendon McCullum is second on the centuries list with six.
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