Highest score in batting positions in ODIs

Our expert looks at the top batting scores at every position in the one-day format. Have a favourite? Let us know in the comments below.

Last week, Ravi Rampaul beat the record for a batsman batting at no.10. So I decided to honour that feat by doing an article on the highest score reached in the 10 batting positions. There is a table followed by potted scores and a brief description.


Coventry’s 194 is the only losing score in the top order. However, the last four positions all have losing scores. 9 out of 10 scores have been played in the first innings. West Indies leads with 3 batsmen. Two of these have come against India in the recent months. India has three, but Dhoni’s innings was not played for India.

1-2. ODI # 2962. India vs South Africa.
Played on 24 February 2010 at Captain Roop Singh Stadium, Gwalior.
India won by 153 runs. MoM: Tendulkar S.R.
India: 401 for 3 wkt(s) in 50.0 overs
   Tendulkar S.R      200*(147)
South Africa: 248 all out in 42.5 overs

Tendulkar, opening the batting, was the first ODI batsman to cross 200 runs. India won comfortably despite a century from de Villiers.

3. ODI # 2873. Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh.
Played on 16 August 2009 at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo.
Bangladesh won by 4 wickets. MoM: Tamim Iqbal.
Zimbabwe: 312 for 8 wkt(s) in 50.0 overs
   Coventry C.K       194*(156)
Bangladesh: 313 for 6 wkt(s) in 47.5 overs

Coventry, batting at no.3, threatened to overhaul Saeed Anwar’s 194 and remained unbeaten at 194 since he lost strike at the end. However, Tamim Iqbal’s 154 was sufficient to win the match for Bangladesh. This remains the highest losing individual score.

4. ODI # 264. England vs West Indies.
Played on 31 May 1984 at Old Trafford, Manchester.
West Indies won by 104 runs. MoM: Richards I.V.A.
West Indies: 272 for 9 wkt(s) in 55.0 overs
   Richards I.V.A     189*(170)
England: 168 all out in 50.0 overs

This is by far the best ODI innings ever played, by any standard. Richards came in 11 for 2, saw the score go to 102 for 7 and then to 166 for 9. He added 106 for the last wicket with Holding.

5. ODI # 2302. New Zealand vs Australia.
Played on 7 December 2005 at Westpac Stadium, Wellington.
Australia won by 2 runs. MoM: Symonds A.
Australia: 322 for 5 wkt(s) in 50.0 overs
   Symonds A          156 (127)
New Zealand: 320 all out in 49.5 overs

Symonds came in at 50 for 3 and took Australia to 322 runs. New Zealand just missed the target by 2 runs.

6. ODI # 216. India vs Zimbabwe.
Played on 18 June 1983 at Nevill Ground, Tunbridge Wells.
India won by 31 runs. MoM: Kapil Dev N.
India: 266 for 8 wkt(s) in 60.0 overs
   Kapil Dev N        175*(138)
Zimbabwe: 235 all out in 57.0 overs

This is the other famous 100 played in the 1980s. Only Richards’ 189 stands ahead. Kapil came in at 9 for 4, saw the score go to 17 for 5, and proceeded to take India to 266 for 8. Possibly the greatest innings played, bar one.

7. ODI # 2589. Africa XI vs Asia XI.
Played on 10 June 2007 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.
Asia XI won by 13 runs. MoM: Dhoni M.S.
Asia XI: 331 for 8 wkt(s) in 50.0 overs

   Dhoni M.S          139*( 97)
Africa XI: 318 for 7 wkt(s) in 50.0 overs

Even though it was an inconsequential match, Dhoni, coming in at 72 for 5, played a blinder and took Asia XI to 331 for 8. Jayawardene scored 107.

8. ODI # 2403. Kenya vs Bangladesh.
Played on 13 August 2006 at Gymkhana Club Ground, Nairobi.
Bangladesh won by 2 wickets.  MoM: Mashrafe Mortaza.
Kenya: 184 all out in 46.3 overs
   Odoyo T.M           84 ( 97)
Bangladesh: 185 for 8 wkt(s) in 46.0 overs

Odoyo, coming in at no.8, at 45 for 6, played a lone warrior innings of 84 and took Kenya to a respectable 184. Bangladesh overhauled this total through a late flourish by Mashrafe Mortaza.

9. ODI # 3161. West Indies vs India.
Played on 11 June 2011 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua.
India won by 3 wickets. MoM: Russell A.D.
West Indies: 225 for 8 wkt(s) in 50.0 overs
   Russell A.D         92*( 64)
India: 228 for 7 wkt(s) in 46.2 overs

Russell, coming in at 96 for 7, blitzed to a quick 92 and took West Indies to 225. India overhauled this score through a stand of 48 by Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar.

10. ODI # 3219. India vs West Indies.
Played on 2 December 2011 at ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam.
India won by 5 wickets. MoM: Kohli V.
West Indies: 269 for 9 wkt(s) in 50.0 overs
   Rampaul R           86*( 66)
India: 270 for 5 wkt(s) in 48.1 overs

This was played last week. Rampaul’s outstanding innings, coming in at 149 for 8, went in vain as India won comfortably.

11. ODI # 1962. England vs Pakistan.
Played on 22 February 2003 at Newlands, Cape Town (.
England won by 112 runs. Mom: Anderson J.M.
England: 246 for 8 wkt(s) in 50.0 overs
Pakistan: 134 all out in 31.0 overs
   Shoaib Akhtar       43 (16)
England scored 246 for 8. Pakistan lost wickets regularly and slumped to 80 for 9.

Then Shoaib Akhtar came in and with nothing to lose scored a cameo of 43 in 16 balls. He was dismissed at 134.

I will do a similar article for Test matches soon.