3. Grant Elliott (South Africa) – 84* vs South Africa, 2015
Never before has New Zealand made it to the finals of the World Cup, but now the time has come – thanks to South African born Grant Elliott. The most often criticised South African quota system and the apartheid regime has lost them a lot of international players, and led them to migrate in search of greener pastures. In the past players like Allan Lamb, Robin Smith, Kevin Pietersen to name a few have migrated out of this nation, the new in the list is Grant Elliott. For someone who migrated to New Zealand in 2001, he did well to enter the national team 8 years later. But his stay in the team was very short. He was not heard after that. But suddenly out of wilderness, Grant Elliott gets picked ahead of the World Cup. Criticisms were blooming when he was picked ahead of the talented all-rounder Jimmy Neesham. But the criticisms were blown in the air, when he would go on to take New Zealand to their first World Cup final. After being set a difficult target by the Proteas, to score 298 in 43 overs, New Zealand looked good at the start with an eruption by McCullum but it was short lived as they lost wickets at quick intervals. Grant Elliott scored 84 off 73 balls to guide them to victory over Proteas. The bowling attack was one of the best in the world – Steyn and Morkel, but they were no match for the grit, determination, class of Elliot. He is no.3 in the list.
