Simple question (too many possible answers to make an effective poll):

In your opinion, the single greatest ODI innings thus far by any batsman.

My own choice would be Herschelle Gibbs' 175 in last year's 438 match. Until then it used to be Kapil Dev's similar effort in the group match against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup, but Gibbs' innings pipped it considering the near-impossibility of the task on hand at the time.

What about Viv Richards' 180odd v England at Old Trafford, where he marshalled the tail from a perilous position to set up a winning score.

Some of the shots he played were out of this world. i.e. stepping a foot to leg against a lively medium pacer, getting bowled a low full toss outside leg stump and still hitting through the covers.

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Mark.

The best innings ever will be a 60-70 runs (possibly devoid of boundaries) in a match where the ball dominated and no other batsman could cope with the dominant bowling. Find a match where Ambrose, Walsh and Marshall bowled brilliantly on a greentop and lost and you'll get your answer

Paul Collingwood's ton v Australia when we were in deep doodoo was one of the best i have seen.

I have to admit though that one day innings don't stay in my mind like test match ones do.

Not the best but close Collis King 1979 World Cup final. Changed the match in a handful of overs. And the brilliant thing about it is he did very little on the World stage before it and very little after. One of the headlines after was Kingdom.

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"Checkout the big brain on Brett" Pulp Fiction

I cant quite find that but what about "Dirk" Pringle 39 out of a score of 186 off 55 overs.


The bowling was thus:

Walsh 11 0 39 1
Ambrose 7 2 19 1
Marshall 9 1 29 2
Bishop 11 1 32 2
Simmons 9 2 30 2
Richards 8 0 33 0

England then bowled the Windies out to win. Oh and this was at Leeds in May so it must of been a green top.


Somehow that doesnt compare to Richards 180odd though

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Mark.

The Old Trafford 189* by Richards is the clear winner of this one Rachael (if it had been a 70 it would fit your criteria, it was a big hundred instead). It was 100-7 when he opened up his shoulders. The ball did dominate the bat in this game, but IVA showed he was just head and shoulders above the rest.

The innings that made Symonds was also a cracker. His big hundred against Pakistan in the World cup when they were in serious trouble was a gem.

Well, I think there are just too many and u cant really compare them. Rachael correctly said that most of them probably would be less than 100 scores.

I remember

#Sachin Tendulkar single handedly demolish the Australian bowling line up in successive matches in Sarjah. Those two were majestic innings from Sachin.
#The Richards 189 pointed out by Milo. Only a master can play that kind of an innings.
#Saourav Ganguly's century against Pakistan in Dhaka under very bad light. India successfully chased 326 in that match. The light was so bad that the fielders and umpires left field, but had to comeback as the batsmen refused to leave and insisted on playing.
#Kapil Dev's 175 against Zimbabwe.
#Gibbs for that magic historic innings.
#Tendulkar's match winning innings against Pakistan last WC.
#Steve Waugh's innings in WC semi final of 99 WC againt SA.
#Sachin Tendulkar's innings against Srilanka in quarter final of 96 WC. The ball was literally turning square in that match and Tendulkar showed why he is the best in the business. Alas India lost that match.

#Saed Anwar's 194 against India.

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My computer can beat me at chess.....but its no match for me at kick boxing.

For me, it would be some of the numerious innings Bevan has played in and won the game with his batting with the tail.

The best I can recall was against New Zealand, who had made 245 runs batting first - then had us at 6-82 in the 21st over. Only Warne, Lee, Bichel and McGrath left to bat with and Australia end up winning the game with 3 balls left and 2 wickets in hand.

Beven finishing unbeaten on 102 from 95 with only 7 fours.

There was a game just as good as that one against the West Indies, But I dont remember the game - but another time we where in trouble and he batted with the tail to win the game - the winning shot was a horizontal smash back over the bowlers head for four.

I remember watching that game. At the time IMO it was a dead cert that NZ would win.

I couldnt believe how well Bevan batted. He even said at the time that he never thought Aus would lose. Although he scored a ton surely this must be up there as one of the best and the type of innings Rachael was after.

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Mark.