Milestones achieved in a World Cup game heighten a cricketer's reputation across the globe, given the high stakes and magnitude of the event. While a batter craves a half-century or a century in a World Cup outing, a bowler strives to walk away with a five-wicket haul.However, all-rounders have the rare opportunity to produce both in the same game, as unlikely as it realistically is. Nevertheless, several cricketers across men and women have achieved the double of scoring a half-century and bagging five wickets in a match over the years.But only three have come in a World Cup outing, which is further evidence of the enormity of the feat.On that note, let us look at the three cricketers who have achieved the improbable double of scoring a 50 and picking up five wickets in an ICC World Cup game.#1 Deepti SharmaIf achieving the half-century and five-wicket double is improbable in any international game, the degree of difficulty only multiplies in a knockout contest. Yet, India's Deepti Sharma accomplished the seemingly impossible in the nation's most important women's outing in the 2025 World Cup final against South Africa in Navi Mumbai last night (November 2).The 28-year-old became the first women's cricketer to achieve the feat in a World Cup game and the only one across men and women to do so in an ICC knockout match. After an excellent start to their final against the Proteas, the Women in Blue slipped to 171/ in the 30th over when Deepti walked into bat.She scored a measured run-a-ball 58 to ensure there was no repeat of the 2017 final when India unfathomably collapsed in the final against England. The champion all-rounder then struck the two dagger blows with the wickets of South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt and the dangerous Annerie Dercksen in back-to-back overs to all but seal the deal for her side.Deepti finished with incredible figures of 5/39 in 9.3 overs, helping India win by 52 runs and clinch their maiden Women's World Cup title. Deepti was rewarded for her remarkable consistency throughout the tournament with the Player of the Series award.#2 Shakib Al HasanBefore Deepti Sharma's heroics last night, we rewind to six years back for the last time a cricketer scored a half-century and picked up five wickets in a World Cup clash. It was another spin-bowling all-rounder in Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan, who achieved the feat in the 2019 ODI World Cup against Afghanistan in Southampton.The now-38-year-old scored a defiant 59-ball 51 after Bangladesh lost an early wicket inside the first five overs. Shakib's half-century helped the Tigers post a competitive 262/7 in 50 overs.However, it was with the ball that the veteran all-rounder decimated the Afghans, finishing with outstanding figures of 5/29 in 10 overs. His scalps included four out of Afghanistan's top five, helping Bangladesh pull off a 62-run victory.Shakib enjoyed a 2019 World Cup to remember, finishing with 606 runs at an average of over 86 and 11 wickets at an economy of under 5.40 in eight games.#3 Yuvraj SinghFormer Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh was the first-ever cricketer across men and women to score a half-century and bag a five-wicket haul in a World Cup fixture. Like Deepti Sharma, Yuvraj achieved the rarest of feats in a home 50-over World Cup, which saw India ultimately become champions.The now-43-year-old delivered the improbable double in India's group stage outing against Ireland in Bengaluru in the 2011 edition. Yuvraj wrecked Ireland's middle-order after they coasted to 122/2, finishing with incredible figures of 5/1 in 10 overs.His exploits helped the hosts restrict the Irish to a sub-par 207 all-out in the 48th over. Yuvraj then helped India overcome a slight wobble in the run chase with a sensible 75-ball 50*, helping them win by five wickets with four overs to spare.Yuvraj eventually finished as the Player of the Tournament for his all-round showing, scoring 362 runs and picking up 15 wickets.