Generally, when a batsman scores more than 150 in an ODI game, you would think he would end up on the winning side. But, it has happened quite a few times in the history of ODI cricket that even after a batsman has crossed 150, his team has lost the game.
Here are the 5 highest ODI scores ever which have come in a losing cause –
1 Charles Coventry (194)
The first on the list is Charles Coventry, the top-order batsman from Zimbabwe. In an ODI against Bangladesh in 2009 in Bulawayo, Coventry batted at no. 3 for Zimbabwe and scored 194 runs off just 156 balls with 16 fours and 7 sixes, on the back of which Zimbabwe posted 312 on the board which was a fairly big score in those days.
But, Bangladesh managed to hunt down the total eventually and the hero for them was their left-handed opener Tamim Iqbal who also scored a hundred for the visitors.
2 Matthew Hayden (181)
In an ODI against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2007, Matthew Hayden scored 181 runs with 11 fours and 10 sixes opening the batting for Australia and at one point of time, it seemed as if Hayden would become the first player ever to score a double hundred in a One Day International, but he remained short by a few runs.
Everyone thought Hayden’s knock of 181 was enough to fetch Australia a victory in that game, but it wasn’t to be. The Kangaroos put the Kiwis under pressure with some early wickets, but a tremendous rearguard action by Craig McMillan and Brendon McCullum down the order made sure that New Zealand successfully chased down the 347 run target set by Australia.
3 Evin Lewis (176)
This ODI took place only a couple of years back at Oval in England between West Indies and England. Batting first, Evin Lewis smashed the English bowlers to all corners on a very flat pitch. Before getting retired hurt in that game, Lewis scored 176 runs off just 130 balls with 17 fours and 7 sixes and powered West Indies to a huge score of 356.
It was always going to be a very close game after that as England had a very powerful batting line-up as well, but just when the game was hanging in balance at the 35th over mark with England being 258 for the loss of 5 wickets, rain interrupted the game and the game eventually had to be abandoned. The Duckworth-Lewis score at that stage was 253 and hence, England won the game by 5 runs.
4 Sachin Tendulkar (175)
It was a historical game between India and Australia in Hyderabad in 2009 where the Kangaroos batted first and put 350 on the board which, despite the fact that the pitch was very flat, was a tough score to chase.
But, Tendulkar found his timing right from the word go in that game and almost fought the lone battle for India until he got the support of Suresh Raina down the order who scored a run a ball half-century.
Even after Raina’s dismissal, it seemed Tendulkar would see India home, but he was dismissed by Clint McKay at an individual score of 175 and India fell short of the target by just 3 runs.
5 David Warner (173)
In this ODI in Cape Town against South Africa in 2016, Australia fielded first and South Africa, with the help of a sparkling hundred from Rilee Rossouw, posted 327 on the board.
But, considering the fact that it was a small ground, the target was very chaseable and the way David Warner started, the target appeared well within Australia’s reach. However, as the innings progressed, nobody stayed at the crease long enough with Warner to win the game for Australia.
Although Warner tried his best and scored 173 runs off 136 balls, Australia fell short of the target by quite a margin.
