5 bowlers who conceded the most runs in an ODI innings

Before 2006, the 400-run mark in ODIs was never breached, not even once in its 35-year history. In the last one decade, the barrier has been violated as many as 18 times.

The bat has become mightier than the ball, and “off-days” for bowlers are increasingly becoming a regularity now. As a bowler, you sometimes cannot do much at all when the batsman goes berserk, especially in this new age of compulsive hitting.

Here’s a list of five bowlers who conceded the most runs in an ODI innings:

#5 TIM SOUTHEE vs India, 2009

The Kiwi pacer has been an integral part of the national side for close to a decade now. Known for his speedy action and the ability to bowl full at the death, Southee has garnered 135 wickets in 99 ODI matches for the Black Caps.

However, he lost his touch during one of the ODIs against India in 2009, going for 105 runs in his quota of 10 overs. The Indian batting lineup, riding on Sachin Tendulkar’s 163, stacked up a massive 392 on the board.

Southee looked uncharacteristically listless, feeding full deliveries to the batsmen, who were quick to dismiss them to the leg side. The short boundaries in New Zealand further helped the Indian batting’s cause.

#4 MARTIN SNEDDEN vs England, 1983

Snedden became an adminstrator post his cricketing career

This cricketer-turned-administrator was part of the three-pronged Kiwi pace attack, joining Richard Hadlee and Ewan Chatfield through the golden period in the 1980s. However, the right arm pacer holds an unwanted record, becoming the first bowler to concede more than 100 runs in an ODI. It’s a small consolation that he bowled 12 overs instead of 10, the over-limit at that time.

In the first match of the World Cup in 1983, England amassed 322 with the help of Allan Lamb’s century. Snedden and Crowe were meted out special treatment, with both going for more than 8 runs per over. The match had little impact on Snedden’s career, that continued till 1990.

#3 BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR vs South Africa, 2015

Uncharacteristically, Bhuvi leaked a lot of runs during the ODI against South Africa

Known for being miserly in the initial overs, and tight in the final few, Bhuvneshwar Kumar had a rare off day in the Indian jersey during an ODI against South Africa last year.

Unsurprisingly, it was an AB de Villiers’ onslaught towards the end of the innings that damaged India’s bowling performance beyond repair. Before the ABD show , it was the combination of Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock that helped the team go past 300, and eventually 400 on their way to their highest ODI score. Bhuvneshwar conceded 106 runs from his quota of 10.

#2 WAHAB RIAZ vs England, 2016

Wahab Riaz joined this list during the recently concluded series against England

The latest entrant to this list is the 31-year old left arm pacer, who finds himself here after a torrid outing against the Englishmen late last month.

In a brazen display of batting, Alex Hales carted the Pakistani bowlers all over the park, and in the company of Joe Root and Jos Buttler, took England to the highest ODI score ever.

Riaz ended with figures of 10-0-110-0, helped along by poor fielding and catching by the outfielders. To rub salt in his own wounds, he took two wickets, both off no balls.

#1 MICK LEWIS vs South Africa, 2006

After the match, Lewis never played for Australia again

The list is topped by the little known medium pacer from Victoria, who was caught in the carnage that took place at Johannesburg on March 12, 2006. 400 was breached twice in a single day, and bowlers were but spectators during a batting assault from both South Africa and Australia.

At the 50-over mark, no one would have given South Africa a semblance of a chance to take down the then highest score of 434 set by the Australians. However, the way the Proteas took to the chase, and eventually usurped the score, makes this one of the greatest ODIs of all time.

A hapless Lewis conceded 113 runs from 10 overs, and never played for Australia again.