In the past 7 days we have seen some cricket’s top teams play each other in different formats of the game. These matches have produced some exhilarating moments and some humane ones. Here is a round up of the top 5 moments from the past week of cricket.

Sunil Narine’s one over blitz

Taking 3 wickets in 1 over is no mean feat and Sunil Narine pulled off this very move at a time when his team needed it the most. Having scored a modest 163 because of the unpredictable rain, West Indies gave away the initiative to Sri Lanka who were about to run away with the match with Tillakaratne Dilshan scoring the fastest half-century of his 320-match ODI career (59 of 32). Narine dismissed batsmen nos. 5, 6 and 7 in the 19th over, to bring the tail-enders to the crease with 30 runs still to get. This put a lot pressure on the home team who ultimately did end up winners but with just one wicket in hand.

Dilshan’s 59 of 32

Perhaps if Dilshan had not played this knock, the Sri Lankan tail-enders would have caved under pressure and given the match away to the Windies. The Windies bowlers had no answers to Dilshan’s steady but authoritative innings. One of the Lankans’ old guard, Dilshan retains a class that serves its purpose in the most demanding of circumstances.

South Africa’s relay of centuries

From de Kock through du Plessis to de Villiers, South Africa’s batting order ran a relentless relay race to 438 at the Wankhede to flatten India in the seal the ODI series in the Proteas’ favour. De Kock scored 109 from 87 before being caught out by Kohli, du Plessis was unfortunate enough to head back retired hurt leaving his knock discontinued at 133 for 115. A B de Villiers, the man of the cricketing moment, proved his worth of the accolades by hitting 119 in just 61 balls. After this the Indian team had no answer.

Taylor-made rescue

James Taylor wrestled back the initiative from Pakistan with a maiden Test half-century on day two of the final Test between England and Pakistan in Sharjah. Under immense pressure, Taylor helped England claw back their presence in this test match, before finally going down to Rahat Ali. His final score 76 of 161.

Brave old Ben

Ben Stokes defied a collarbone injury to come into bat at No.11  for England. Although he was last man out for a ten-ball duck as England’s first innings was wrapped up for 306, we salute the bravery of this man who was undeterred by an injury he suffered less than two days back and came out to face the onslaught of the Pakistan bowling.