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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.

Top 5 scores by a No.8 Batsman in ODI Cricket - Sam Curran of England 95*
Sam Curran valiant knock of 95* v India (PC: Getty Images)

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.

England's Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett celebrate Plunkett hitting a final ball six to tie the match during the 1st Royal London ODI between England...
Last ball SIX by Liam Plunkett which tied the match (PC: Getty Images)

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.

Nathan Coulter-Nile of Australia drives the ball to the boundary during the Group Stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between Australia and...
Nathan Coulter-Nile’s 92 v West Indies (PC: David Rogers/Getty Images)

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.

Kenyan cricketers Thomas Odoyo and C.O. Obuya celebrate the dismissal of Bangladeshi batsman Khaled Mashud during the third One Day International...
Thomas Odoyo followed up his knock with 4-33 (PC: Getty Images)

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.

Lance Klusener of South Africa hits out, during the One Day match between Australia A and South Africa, played at the Adelaide Oval, Adelaide,...
Lance Klusener’s battle against Australia (PC: Getty Images)

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.

Jacob Oram of New Zealand drives the ball away for four runs during the first one day international match between the New Zealand Black Caps and...
Jacob Oram v Bangladesh (PC: Getty Images)

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.

Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka hits 4 as Shai Hope of West Indies watch during the 3rd and final ODI match between West Indies and Sri Lanka at...
Wanindu Hasaranga 80*(60) v West Indies (PC: Getty Images)

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

RankBatsmanRunsBallsOpponentVenue & Year
1Sam Curran95*83IndiaPune 2021
1Chris Woakes95*92Sri LankaNottingham 2016
2Nathan Coulter-Nile9260West IndiesNottingham 2019
3Thomas Odoyo8497BangladeshNairobi 2006
4Lance Klusener8377Australia Johannesburg 2002
4Daniel Vettori 8377AustraliaChristchurch 2005
4Jacob Oram8340BangladeshNapier 2010
5Wanindu Hasaranga80*60West IndiesNorth Sound 2021
Top 5 scores by a No.8 batsmen (Data Source: ESPNcricinfo)

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My dream team will feature Marcus Trescothick and Anil Kumble

Karthik Atchuta

My dream team will feature Marcus Trescothick and Anil Kumble