Australia's veteran batter David Warner bagged yet another milestone as he became the first Australian batter to notch 500 runs in two ODI World Cup editions. Warner achieved this sensational feat during the ODI World Cup 2023's semifinal between Australia and South Africa at the Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata on November 16, Thursday.
Warner put on a show in the 2019 World Cup, where he amassed a staggering 647 runs. Overall, the 37-year-old propelled became the third batter to aggregate 500-plus runs in two World Cups joining the elite list of Sachin Tendulkar (1996 and 2003) and Rohit Sharma (2019 and 2023).
Besides Warner, Ricky Ponting (2007), Matthew Hayden (2007) and Aaron Finch (2019) are the other Australian batter to amass 500-plus runs in an ODI World Cup edition.
Notably, the star opener is the seventh batter to notch 500-plus runs in the ongoing ODI World Cup, joining the likes of Virat Kohli, Quinton de Kock, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer. Warner has amassed 528 runs riding on two tons and as many fifties with an impressive average of 52.80. Moreover, his strike rate in the tournament is over 105 (107.53).
In another record, Warner became only the second Australian after Ricky Ponting to surpass 1,500 runs in ODI World Cup history.
Warner's exceptional performance in the current World Cup has propelled him into an elite group of batters who have surpassed the 1,500-run mark in ODI World Cups. He joined an illustrious list that includes cricketing icons Tendulkar (2,278 runs), Ponting (1,743 runs), Kohli (1,741 runs), Kumar Sangakkara (1,532 runs), and Rohit Sharma (1,528 runs).
Warner could only score 29 off 18 riding on four sixes and one four while chasing South Africa's modest total of 212. He stitched a crucial 60-run partnership with Travis Head, laying the foundation for Australia's chase. However, Aiden Markram's clever off-spin delivery outfoxed the southpaw, sending him back to the pavilion and abruptly ending his innings.
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