Best ODI Men’s Cricket Moments
Over the several years of cricket’s existence, we have witnessed many great innings in One-Day International cricket. There have been so many spectacular innings in the past that we have lost count. Thus, speaking of the greatest ODI innings, I have opted to pick out the top 5 greatest-ever ODI innings in the history of men’s cricket. Like I said, there have been many, but these 5 are probably the greatest of them all, according to me at least. So let us take a look at them, one by one.
1. Herschelle Gibbs 175
One of the most famous ODI’s ever took place at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on the 12th of March, 2006. Australia had put up a World Record total of 434 for 4 in 50 overs, all thanks to captain Ricky Ponting’s flawless 164 off 105 balls. Chasing a record total, South Africa lost Dippenaar early and outwalked Herschelle Gibbs at 3. Both he and Graeme Smith thwarted the Aussie bowlers to all parts in a sensational 187-run partnership.
Smith departed, but Gibbs carried on his sublime hitting as South Africa looked set to break the record. Gibbs fell to Andrew Symonds after an incredible 175 off 111 deliveries, which included 21 boundaries and 7 sixes. Wickets started to tumble quite regularly thereafter, but Mark Boucher and, with the help of key contributions by Van Der Wath, Kemp, and Telemachus, helped South Africa chase down the monumental target with one wicket and one ball remaining.
2. Saeed Anwar 194
India vs. Pakistan cricket matches are always high octane, and the Pepsi Independence Cup, 1997, was another highly anticipated encounter. Pakistan won the toss and decided to have a bat. Saeed Anwar, the dashing left-hander, opened the innings with Shahid Afridi. While Afridi did not last long, Saeed Anwar looked in terrific touch. Runs were simply flowing from Anwar’s bat while his partners were just playing second fiddle. Anwar crossed 150, then 160, and soon entered into the 190s and looked all set to become the first-ever men’s cricketer to breach the 200 runs mark.
But his innings came to an end on 194, courtesy of Sachin Tendulkar, the bowler. Anwar’s 194 off 146 was studded with 22 boundaries and 5 big sixes. His spectacular innings gave Pakistan a solid 327 runs on the board, which was defended reasonably well, all thanks to Aaqib Javed’s 5-fer. Pakistan won the game by 35 runs, and Anwar has adjudged the player of the match.
3. Virender Sehwag 219
On 8th December, 2011, Virender Sehwag played one of the greatest innings by a captain in One Day International cricket. Incidentally, it had also become the highest-ever score by a captain as well (in ODI cricket).
It was the 4th ODI vs. West Indies at Indore when Sehwag annihilated the West Indian attack to all corners of the Holkar Cricket Stadium. Sehwag smashed 219 of just 149 deliveries as the innings was studded with 25 fours and 7 monstrous sixes. He had an opening partnership of 176 runs with Gautam Gambhir as India posted a whopping 418 for 5 in 50 overs.
Later, the Indian spinners comprised of Rahul Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Suresh Raina came to the party and picked up nine wickets among themselves as India was victorious by 153 runs. India went 3-1 up in the 5-match series with that win, and Virender Sehwag was selected as the player of the match for his sensational innings!
4. Virat Kohli 133*
In the penultimate match of the Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series in 2012, India was up against Sri Lanka in a crucial match. It was literally a do-or-die match for India as were needed to win big in order to keep their chances of making the final. Sri Lanka batted first and scored 320 for 4 in 50 overs, all thanks to Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 160* and Kumar Sangakkara’s 105. India was set a daunting target, and they had to chase it down within 40 overs to keep their chances alive. And then came Virat Kohli into the limelight with a swashbuckling 133* off just 86 balls.
His terrific knock, which included 8 fours and 2 sixes, helped India chase down the target inside 37 overs. It was a special day because a young Virat announced himself at the International level. His knock received immense praise, especially for how he played Sri Lanka’s premier bowler Lasith Malinga. He took Malinga to the cleaners and hit him all over the park with some brutal hitting. A truly incredible inning it was!
5. AB De Villiers 149
AB De Villiers is regarded as one of the best batters the world has ever seen. And whenever he comes out to bat, you expect fireworks by the South African. But on 18th January 2015, in the 2nd ODI vs. West Indies, AB De Villiers was in beast mode. After a terrific 247 runs opening partnership by Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw, De Villiers walked in to bat at 3 in the 39th overs. He was dismissed about 10 overs later, but what he did in those 10-odd overs is something nobody can describe.
De Villiers faced 44 balls in that innings and scored a humongous 149 runs! WOAH! 149! Studded with 9 four and 16 sixes, it was simply a jaw-dropping knock by AB. During his spectacular knock, AB De Villiers broke the record for the fastest-ever ODI hundred when he scored his in just 31 balls. South Africa scored 439 for 2 in their 50 overs, and later kept the Windies down to 291 for 7, thereby winning by 148 runs. Amla scored an unbeaten 153, and Rossouw scored 128, but AB’s scintillating 149 off 44 was out of this world, and hence, he took home of player of the match award.
