Ireland has come out as a rising cricket nation in the past decade. This Irish team defeated many cricketing giants such as England, West Indies, and Pakistan to gain their test status in 2017. The Ireland cricket team is famous for creating upsets in international cricket. Their most famous One Day International victory came against England in the ICC World Cup 2001, where Kevin O’ Brien was the star with the bat. We will look at the top ten Ireland batters with the highest individual scores in One Day International cricket below.
1. Paul Stirling (177)
Paul Stirling plays as a batting all-rounder for the Ireland cricket team in international cricket. The dashing batter’s best performance in the ODI matches came against Canada on 7th September 2010 in Toronto in Canada, when he hit 177 runs off 134 deliveries. Stirling’s innings consisted of 21 fours and five hits outside the fence and scored runs at a strike rate of 132.08.
2. Ed Joyce (160*)
Ed Joyce is one of the cricket players who played for Ireland and England. The left-handed batter’s highest score in the ODI matches is an unbeaten 160 that came off in 148 balls against Afghanistan on 19th July 2016 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Joyce’s innings consisted of 19 fours and three sixes and a strike rate of 108.
3. Andy Balbirnie (145*)
Andy Balbirnie made his international cricket debut in 2010 against Scotland. The right-handed batter’s best performance came against Afghanistan in Dehradun on 5th March 2019, in which he scored an unbeaten 145 runs in 136 deliveries to guide his team home. Balbirnie’s innings consisted of eight fours and the same number of maximums with a strike rate of 106.
4. Kevin o’ Brien (142)
The Irish all-rounder played his best knock against Kenya on 2nd February 2007 in Ruaraka Sports Club Ground in Nairobi, Kenya. The right-handed all-rounder made 142 runs off 125 deliveries, including nine fours and six sixes at a strike rate of 110. Although, it was not enough to guide his team home as Kenya won the match.
5. William Porterfield (139)
William Porterfield formerly captained the Ireland cricket team across all formats. The left-handed opening batter’s highest score came against the United Arab Emirates in ICC Academy in Dubai on 13th January 2018. Porterfield scored 139 runs off 147 deliveries, including 15 fours and two sixes, with a strike rate of 94 to win the ODI for his team.
6. Jeremy Bray (116)
Jeremy Bray represented the Ireland cricket team as a left-handed batter and an occasional wicket-keeper. Bray’s best performance came against Scotland in Gymkhana Club Ground in Nairobi on 30th January 2007. The Irish batter scored 116 runs in 136 balls with the help of ten fours and four sixes with a strike rate of 85, but it went in vain as Scotland won the match.
7. Eoin Morgan (115)
Yes, Eoin Morgan played for Ireland before he represented the England cricket team and helped them win the World Cup for the first time. The future World Cup-winning skipper’s highest score in Ireland jersey came against Canada in Jaffery Sports Club Ground in Nairobi on 4th February 2007. Morgan scored 115 runs off 106 balls with the help of ten fours and two sixes with a strike rate of 108.
8. Gary Wilson (113)
Gary Wilson played for Ireland as a wicket-keeper batter in all the formats. The wicket-keeper batter’s best performance came against the Netherlands in Castle Avenue in Dublin on 16th August 2010. Wilson scored 113 runs off 147 deliveries with the help of ten fours and a strike rate of 76 to guide his team to a victory.
9. Niall O’ Brien (109)
Niall o’ Brien is a former wicket-keeper batter of the Ireland cricket team. The elder O’ Brien brother’s highest score came against New Zealand in Dublin (Malahide) on 14th May 2017. The keeper-bat scored 109 runs off 131 balls with the help of nine fours and five sixes with a strike rate of 83.
10. Simi Singh (100*)
Simi Singh is a right-arm bowling all-rounder of the Ireland cricket team. Simi’s best performance came against South Africa in Dublin (Malahide) on 16th July 2021. The all-rounder scored an unbeaten 100 from 91 deliveries, including 14 fours with a strike rate of 109, but it was not enough for his team to cross the line.
