ODI cricket tests a batter’s patience, technique, luck, and risk-taking ability. It is every batter’s dream to have an ODI century on his name. The 3-digit figure is a testimony to a batter’s grit and performance on a particular day. But sometimes, these performances go in vain as the team doesn’t manage to go over the line. Here are the Top 10 Highest Individual Scores in ODI Cricket in a Losing Cause-
1. Charles Coventry (194*)
Charles Coventry would’ve never thought that his swashbuckling unbeaten knock of 194* would come in a losing cause. In the 4th ODI in Bulawayo against Bangladesh in 2009, Coventry came to the crease in the 2nd over of the first innings. He scored a swift 194* in the 156 balls (16 fours, 7 sixes). This is the highest individual score for Zimbabwe in ODI cricket. His knock took Zimbabwe to 312/8. Bangladesh eventually chased down the target in 47.5 overs.
2. Fakhar Zaman (193)
South Africa hosted Pakistan at Johannesburg in 2021. Pakistan was asked to chase down a target of 342 to win the series. In the second innings, Fakhar Zaman was on his way to get past his own best score in ODI cricket. But he was not getting any support from the other end. When he was playing on 193, Zaman was run out to bring an end to a brilliant knock. His run-out was a different story in itself. The Proteas won the match in the end.
3. Matthew Hayden (181*)
Australia visited Hamilton to play the 3rd ODI against New Zealand in 2007. They won the toss and decided to bat first. Opener Matthew Hayden toyed with the Kiwi bowlers as he smashed an unbeaten 181 in 166 balls. His knock set up a stiff target of 347 for New Zealand. But the Kiwis chased down the target with wicket intact and 3 balls to spare.
4. Evin Lewis (176*)
Evin Lewis smashed the 5th-highest individual score for West Indies against England in 2017 at The Oval. In this rain-affected game, West Indies batted first to post 356/5 in 50 overs. Opener Evin Lewis scored a whopping 130-ball-176* (17 fours, 7 sixes) to set up the score. But England eventually won the match by 6 runs (Duckworth Lewis Method)
5. Sachin Tendulkar (175)
Next on the list is the “God of the Cricket” himself. Sachin Tendulkar almost got India over the line against Australia in an ODI in Hyderabad in 2009. While chasing a mammoth target of 351, Tendulkar scored 175 runs in 141 balls. He used 19 fours and 4 sixes to get to his 3rd-highest ODI score. Alas, India lost the match by just 3 runs.
6. David Warner (173)
David Warner is one of the most elegant left-handers ever. He showed his class against South Africa in 2016 in Cape Town, albeit in a losing cause. Australia was given a target of 328 to hunt down. David Warner gave it all and piled up 173 runs in 136 balls. But that was not enough. Australia had to face defeat by 31 runs.
7. Rohit Sharma (171*)
India clashed with Australia in a game at Perth in 2016. India put on a clinical batting performance, especially from the opening-batter Rohit Sharma, who smashed an unbeaten 171 to pile up 309/3. He smacked 13 balls to the fence and 7 over it. Unfortunately, India lost the match by 5 wickets as Australia chased the target quite easily.
8. Robin Smith (167*)
Robin Arnold Smith was one of the many English players born in South Africa. Against Australia at Birmingham in 1993, he smashed a mind-blowing unbeaten 167 to propel England to 277/5. Despite such brilliant innings, he could not save his team from defeat as Australia chased the target keeping 6 wickets intact.
9. Ricky Ponting (164)
This match at Johannesburg in 2006 saw 872 runs being scored across both innings. Australia rode on captain Ricky Ponting’s swashbuckling 164 to post 434/4, the highest team total back then. Ponting’s knock was laced with 13 fours and 9 sixes. But his joy was short-lived. South Africa climbed the steep mountain successfully with one wicket intact.
10. Chris Gayle (162)
West Indies hosted England in the 4th ODI in Grenada in 2019. Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler powered England to a humongous 418/6. West Indies needed a fiery start even to reach close to the target. And Chris Gayle took the responsibility of providing the start. Going as an opener, Gayle hammered 162 runs in just 97 deliveries (11 fours, 14 sixes). West Indies eventually fell short by 29 runs.