Top 5 scores by a No.8 Batsman in ODI Cricket

by Karthik Atchuta

Sam Curran’s 95* in 83 balls against India is now the joint highest score by a No.8 batsman in ODI cricket. His countryman Chris Woakes registered the same score in 92 balls against Sri Lanka in Nottingham 2016.

Sam Curran walked in to bat at 168/6 with England needing 162 runs to win in 146 balls. Curran’s knock had 9 fours and 3 sixes as he got the team close to the win but couldn’t cross the finishing line. He could have set the record No.1 score but he denied a single off the last ball he faced in disappointment that he couldn’t help his team across the line.

Chris Woakes‘ knock of 95* in 92 balls came in real dire situation as England were reduced to 82/6 by Sri Lanka in the chase of 287 runs to win. He along with Jos Butter (93) put a 138-run partnership to put England back in the chasing game. The match ended in a tie with Liam Plunkett scoring a SIX off the last ball.

At No.2 is Nathan Coulter-Nile who scored 92 at Nottingham in the ICC World Cup 2019 fixture against West Indies. This is the highest score by any No.8 batsman in World Cup history! Coulter-Nile walked in to bat with the team at 147-6 in 30.4 overs and helped Australia to 288 in 49 overs. Australia won the match by 15 runs.

At No.3 is Thomas Odoyo’s knock of 84 came against Bangladesh in 2006 when Kenya were struggling at 45/6 in 13.5 overs. Odoyo’s knock took Kenya to 184 all out in 46.3 overs. The Kenyan all-rounder came back in the Bangladesh innings to pick 4 wickets for 36 runs but that couldn’t stop Bangladesh from winning the match by 2 wickets.

We have 3 batsmen sharing the No.4 spot in this list. Lance Klusener walked in to bat at 66/6 when South Africa needed 158 more runs to win against Australia. Klusener (8 fours & 2 sixes) waged a lone battle with little aid from Nicky Boje to bring his team close to win but Australia prevailed with brilliant spells from Nathan Hauritz, Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath as Proteas were bowled out for 204 (Target: 224) with 32 balls remaining in the innings. The Proteas all-rounder scored 83 runs in 77 balls.

Also at No.4 are two New Zealand batsmen – Daniel Vettori’s 83 in 77 balls against Australia at Christchurch in 2005 and Jacob Oram’s scintillating 83 in 40 balls against Bangladesh at Napier in 2010. While Vettori’s knock came in a losing cause – Oram’s knock powered New Zealand (336-9) to a 146 run win against their opponents. Oram returned to pick 2 wickets for 33 in Bangladesh innings.

At No.5 is Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga’s unbeaten knock of 80 in 60 balls. The Lankan all-rounder walked into bat at 151/6 in 31.5 overs and helped his team to 274-6 in 50 overs. This couldn’t stop West Indies from chasing down the target – thanks to a century by Darren Bravo and half centuries from Shai Hope and Captain Pollard.

Top 5 scores by a No.8 Batsman – ODI Cricket

Rank	Batsman	Runs	Balls	Opponent	Venue & Year
1	Sam Curran	95*	83	India	Pune 2021
1	Chris Woakes	95*	92	Sri Lanka	Nottingham 2016
2	Nathan Coulter-Nile	92	60	West Indies	Nottingham 2019
3	Thomas Odoyo	84	97	Bangladesh	Nairobi 2006
4	Lance Klusener	83	77	Australia	Johannesburg 2002
4	Daniel Vettori	83	77	Australia	Christchurch 2005
4	Jacob Oram	83	40	Bangladesh	Napier 2010
5	Wanindu Hasaranga	80*	60	West Indies	North Sound 2021