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Cricket World Player Of The Week - Luke Ronchi

by Krish Sripada Monday 26 January 2015

Luke Ronchi's 170 not out earned him the weekly award

©REUTERS / Action Images

New Zealand wicket-keeper Luke Ronchi has been named as the Cricket World Player Of The Week following a fabulous week for One-Day International cricket, with quite a few performances vying for the top spot.

There was resilience, there was skill and there were blitzkriegs. But, the performance that takes the cake is Ronchi’s 170 in just 99 balls for New Zealand in the fifth ODI of the ongoing series against Sri Lanka.

Ronchi walked to the middle when the score was 93 for five, New Zealand in deep trouble. He put on an unbeaten 267 for the sixth wicket with Grant Elliott, in a partnership that made quite a few records, including the highest sixth wicket stand for New Zealand against any team in ODIs.

While Elliott himself scored an unbeaten 104 at faster than run a ball, Luke Ronchi’s strike-rate was a staggering 171.71 in an innings adorned with 14 fours and nine sixes.

His late onslaught meant that New Zealand scored a colossal 160 runs in their last 15 overs and more than 110 runs in their last eight overs.

Luke Ronchi’s 170 is the highest score by a New Zealand wicket-keeper eclipsing Brendon McCullum’s 131.

Among other impressive performances, the one that came really close to Ronchi’s sensational innings is Steve Smith’s unbeaten 102 in just 95 balls against England, in a stiff chase.

Smith walked in at 76 for one and anchored the chase from there as he saw Australian wickets tumble at the other end. At 92 for three, the Aussies were in a spot of bother, but Smith, who became the first man to score a century in Test and ODI captaincy debuts, put on 69, 55 and 81-run partnerships with Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner and Brad Haddin to see Australia over the line.

Among the bowlers Steven Finn’s comeback would be a delight for the Englishmen whose plans for the World Cup are still fraught with confusion.

Finn virtually bounced the Indians out in a breathtaking performance of five for 33 in eight overs. In his five-fer, four wickets were from India’s top six showing how badly he hurt the Indian innings.

Another standout outstanding performance in the week was Andre Russell’s whirlwind 64 in just 40 balls against a class South African attack, ending a very long draught for West Indies against South Africa.

The same match saw another scintillating performance by David Miller who scored his maiden century, 130 in just 131 balls to set up a competitive total.