So long, and thanks for the big hits... Chris Morris' five of the best

ADAM OLIVER looks back at the five outstanding performances of the former South Africa allrounder's illustrious career including two onslaughts in Mumbai in the IPL

Following a senior career lasting just over 12 years and including 399 matches across the formats, Chris Morris has drawn a line under his playing days by confirming his retirement.

The lighting quick seamer and lower-order finisher is planning to move into coaching with South African domestic side Titans.

But the 34-year-old departs the scene having regularly illuminated the white-ball game with some stellar displays. From Mumbai to Johannesburg, The Cricketer picks out his finest moments...

82* (32) - Gujarat Lions v Delhi Daredevils, Indian Premier League 2016

Despite going on to lose the game by a single run, a pulsating 17-ball half-century took Dehli Daredevils close to a famous victory. Failures at the top of the order from Quinton de Kock, Sanju Samson and Karun Nair meant that the middle order had to score the bulk of the 172 runs set by the Gujarat Lions.

The $1.3 million Morris showed his worth, including hitting Dwayne Smith for three consecutive maximums and dismissing Pravin Tambe for 14 runs in an over. 

Not only was it enough to scoop the player of the match award while on the wrong side of the result, but the 17-ball half-century has only been bettered by five other players. He'd earlier picked up Brendon McCullum and Suresh Raina as part of bowling figures of 2 for 35.

^{Chris Morris celebrates against Afghanistan (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)}

4 for 27 - South Africa v Afghanistan, T20 World Cup 2016

Setting 210 to win against Afghanistan, South Africa could have been forgiven for thinking the job was half-done in Mumbai. But it took an inspired bowling display from Morris to rubber-stamp a victory that hung in the balance at the mid-way point of the chase.

Two wickets in the powerplay helped put the brakes on a fast start after Mohammad Shahzad has gone to 44 from 19 balls. And Morris returned for his final over to rubber-stamp victory with the required rate having gone out of control.

He bowled Rashid Khan and Dawlat Zadran to help collect another player of the match prize.

62 (38) - South Africa v England, ODI, 2016

With the Proteas fighting to remain in the five-match series, the fourth ODI match had a lot on the line. Joe Root's century had put the tourists in charge but the 263 target looked more than achievable.

The Proteas were 191 for 6 with 72 still needed with only four wickets remaining when Morris marched to the crease. By the time he departed after facing 38 deliveries the scores were level.

He quickly punished England's length, with Reece Topley, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes all being sent over the rope in the space of 19 balls.

Though eventually dismissed by an Adil Rashid googly, it was the leg-spinner's drop with Morris on 14 that played a major role in the contest being sent to a decider at Cape Town.

^{Morris lays into England at the Wanderers (Gallo Images/Getty Images)}

4 for 31 - South Africa v Sri Lanka, ODI, 2017

Any hopes of damage limitation for Sri Lanka ended when South Africa stormed to 384 for 6 at Centurion, with centuries for Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla.

Though Asela Gunaratne would go on to reach three figures in the chase, it was largely inconsequential; Morris had already had his way.

Upul Tharanga and Kusal Mendis were both out before the end of the sixth over before Morris put the cherry on top by collecting the wickets of Sachith Pathirana and Jeffrey Vandersay. Figures of 10-1-31-4 were his best in ODI cricket and helped secure a 5-0 whitewash.

^{Morris putting Sri Lanka to the sword (Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images)}

4 for 23 - Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals, Indian Premier League 2021

Morris had already completed the run-out off his own bowling of Eoin Morgan, who failed to score after an awful mix-up with Rahul Tripathi in the 11th over before he returned to close out the KKR innings and lay the platform for a relatively routine chase.

His final nine deliveries included four wickets - Andre Russell and Dinesh Karthik among them - a six from Pat Cummins, a single and three dots.

In one of his final contributions as a professional, he claimed his best ever IPL figures, 4 for 23, and would take just six more in the final throes of his career.

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