T20Is have evolved by leaps and bounds in the last few years with the advent of franchise leagues across the world. We have seen some iconic T20 batting innings as a result from some dynamic players. Rating the best of them is an arduous task as the strength of the opposition, the occasion, the bowling attack, the pitch and match situations play a role in the same. Here we rate the top three knocks in the format in international cricket so far.
Aaron Finch - 156 vs England - Southampton, 2013
Aaron Finch holds the record for the highest T20I innings ever - a spectacular 172 against Zimbabwe. But it is perhaps his other knock of 150-plus that was more impactful, considering the opposition and eventual direction of the game.
Finch blasted 156 in 63 balls even as the next best Australian batsman made just 37. Finch was in his elements and hit 14 maximums and 11 fours in his innings. He led Australia to a daunting total of 248. The hosts led a strong fightback and eventually made 209, losing by 39 runs. But without Finch's extraordinary knock, Australia might indeed have lost this one.
Evin Lewis - 125* vs India - Kingston, 2017
The highest score in a run-chase in T20I cricket came from Evin Lewis at Kingston against India in 2017. Chasing 191 for a win, West Indies started with a bang courtesy Lewis. The brutal southpaw stitched a stand of 82 in 8.2 overs with Chris Gayle even as the Universe Boss made just 18 in 20 balls. Lewis finished unbeaten on 125, with Marlon Samuels there for company as West Indies chased down the target in 18.3 overs. Lewis hit 12 sixes and six fours in 62 balls as he scored 125 with little to no support from the other end.
Rohit Sharma - 118 vs Sri Lanka - Indore 2017
Rohit Sharma has four T20I hundreds but perhaps his best came against Sri Lanka at Indore in 2017. Enroute slamming the fastest T20I hundred (off 35 balls), Rohit hit 118 in just 43 balls with 10 sixes and 12 fours. A 165-run opening stand with KL Rahul was equally dominated by both batsmen but Rohit took the cake with his extraordinarily belligerent innings. He and Rahul had Lanka on a mat with their opening stand and India ended up piling on a sensational total of 260. An innings strike rate of close to 275 makes Rohit's hundred one of the most incredible in the format ever.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Glyn Kirk
