Occasions when batters were denied milestones by ‘deliberate’ extras

Centuries hold significant importance in the world of cricket, signifying a remarkable achievement for a batter when they cross the coveted 100-run mark. However, when viewed from a team's perspective, the priority shifts towards ensuring the team's victory, often surpassing personal milestones. There have been unfortunate instances where both individual and team milestones were at stake, and the opposing team prevented the batsmen from achieving their century.

For instance, Evin Lewis, who had swiftly reached his half-century in just 19 balls, was on the path to potentially record one of the fastest centuries in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the second-quickest in T20 cricket. St Kitts needed only one more run for a victory. However, Kieron Pollard's significant overstep resulted in a no-ball, granting St Kitts the win while leaving Lewis agonizingly stranded on 97. 

In the 2008 Duleep Trophy, North Zone, under the leadership of Shikhar Dhawan, found themselves on the cusp of a remarkable victory. Dhawan stood just six short of a well-deserved century. However, fate played a fickle hand when West Zone's Rakesh Dhruv sent a wide down the leg side, resulting in five wides. Though one run was needed for victory, a crucial no-ball by Makda curtailed Dhawan's quest for a century.

In a gripping encounter against Bangladesh in 2002, Herschelle Gibbs was on the brink of cricketing history. He stood just four runs away from becoming the first player to register four consecutive ODI centuries. With South Africa requiring six runs to secure victory with Gibbs at 96, Alok Kapali's wide delivery eluded wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud, resulting in five runs. Although Gibbs mustered only a single off the next ball, he fell agonizingly short of the century, stranded on 97.

During the 2018 Caribbean Super50, Zak Crawley was on the brink of his maiden List A century with Kent needing four runs for victory against Leeward Islands. However, seamer Sheeno Berridge's consecutive wides reduced the target to two runs. Despite an intentional effort to let Crawley reach his hundred by his partner Sean Dickson, of a consecutive wide delivery the ball rolled over the boundary untouched, granting Kent the win and leaving Crawley stranded on 99. 

In a 2010 cricket match against Sri Lanka, Virender Sehwag was agonizingly left stranded on 99 not out. India, chasing a target of 171, had faced an early batting collapse, but Sehwag had almost single-handedly brought them close to victory. In the 35th over, he thought he had secured the win and his century with a six. However, it was ruled a deliberate front-foot no-ball by Suraj Randiv, granting India the victory but denying Sehwag six runs and his hundred.

In the 2021 Big Bash League Qualifier, a bizarre incident unfolded during a crucial moment. Perth Scorchers' Andrew Tye delivered a controversial above head-height wide down the leg side when Sydney Sixers' James Vince was just two runs away from his century, with one needed for victory. Tye's subsequent bouncer in the 18th over also resulted in a wide, leaving Vince stuck on an unbeaten 98*. A frustrated Vince walked off after exchanging a piercing stare with Tye.