Over the years we have seen numerous match winning performances by players from different countries, in Tests and One-Day Internationals. Some are well fought, patient and intelligent innings, while others may be an outcome of berserk batting display.
But there are some special cases where a particular batsman has dominated the whole innings and scored the lion’s share of runs while wickets toppled at the other end of the 22-yards.
Recently, during the final ODI of the series between Australia and South Africa, the former had to achieve a total of 328 runs, southpaw David Warner’s spirited innings of 173 runs was of no use as they were all-out for 296. For the record, Warner scored 58 % (approx.) of the total runs in the chase.
Let us have a look at 5 batsmen who scored the maximum percentage of runs in an innings:
#5 VVS Laxman (167 out of 261, 63.98%) vs Australia, Sydney, 2000
(Video Courtesy: robelinda2 YouTube)
VVS Laxman is best remembered for his flawless batting display at the Eden Gardens against Australia in 2001. But apart from that, he was involved in many other special innings against the mighty Australians, who were his favourite opponents.
The right-hander has scored 10 International centuries versus against Australia, and the one which he scored in the Third Test during the 1999-2000 tour to Australia was not memorable, yet it was significant. India was bundled out in the first innings for 150 runs at the esteemed Sydney Cricket Ground, and the hosts piled on more misery by scoring a massive 552 runs in reply with the help of a double century from Justin Langer.
To save a match when trailing by more than 400 runs is no easy task and the Indian’s batting display failed. Fierce bowling from Glenn McGrath ripped apart the opposition's batting line save one, who fought hard till the end, only to see his innings of 167 runs go in vain. Though the century could hardly save India from the blushes as they were all-out for 261 and was handed an innings defeat.
#4 Kapil Dev (175* out of 266/8, 65.78%) vs Zimbabwe, Tunbridge Wells , 1983
Kapil Dev is considered the greatest Indian all-rounder and led India to a World Cup triumph, inflicting a memorable defeat on the mighty West Indies in the final at the Lord’s. He held the record for most wickets by a bowler in Tests for many years before Courtney Walsh overtook him.
Though he has scored 8 centuries in Tests, he reached the three-figure only once in his limited-overs career which is the reason he makes it to this list. A group stage match during the 1983 Cricket World Cup against Zimbabwe and what looked like a cake walk for India, turned out to be a nightmare at the beginning.
India lost 5 wickets for 17 runs, and then the “Hurricane from Haryana”, with nerves of steel, steadied the Indian ship. Along with Syed Kirmani, the right-hander put up a stand of 126 runs for the ninth wicket and ended the innings to a respectable 266 in their 60-over quota, with Dev scoring 175 of those runs.
India won the match by 31 runs as they wrapped up the Zimbabwean innings for a score of 235 runs.
#3 Michael Slater (123 out of 184, 66.84%) vs England, Sydney, 1999
Michael Slater had an exquisite variety of strokes which helped the Australian team make huge scores during his 74 match Test career. The New South Wales player has 14 centuries to his name with an impressive average of 42.83.
The 5th Test of the 1998-99 Ashes series was poised at 2-1 in the favour of the Aussies with all to play for in the Sydney Test. The hosts rode on Mark Waugh’s century to gain a 102-run in the first innings, but things didn’t go too well for them in the second innings.
(Video Courtesy: robelinda2 YouTube)
But the only silver lining was Slater’s innings, who stood firm at one end from the beginning and scored 123 runs before falling prey to Dean Headley’s delivery. The team total was a meager 184, which meant the English batsmen needed 287 runs to level the series. The visitors were demolished by Stuart McGill, who took 7 wickets and were bowled out with 188 runs on the scoreboard.
#2 Charles Bannerman (165* out of 245, 67.34%) vs England, Melbourne, 1877
When we talk about Charles Bannerman, we take a ride through the history of Test cricket and most importantly the first International match ever played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground in March 1877. In that match, the right-handed batsman faced the first delivery, scored the first run and also the first century in the Test history.
Having won the toss, Australia decided to bat first but except for Bannerman every other batsman failed to impress. He scored an unbeaten 165-run innings before he retired hurt. Only 4 other batsmen got into double figures and Australia ended their innings on 245 runs, the bulk being scored by the Kent-born Australian cricketer.
He played only a couple of Test matches after that, but he will always be remembered for the match he played against England, which set the tone for the mesmerising sport to be cherished till the present day by millions of followers around the globe.
#1 Vivian Richards (189* out of 272/9, 69.48%) vs England, Manchester, 1984
Vivian Richards is widely regarded as the greatest ODI batsman and it is quite justified when we look through his records in the limited overs format. Out of the many breath-taking innings, the unbeaten 189-run innings which he scored against England at Old Trafford, Manchester stands above the rest.
It was the first match of an ODI series and West Indies lost the lethal opening pair of Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes cheaply, and it was the man from Antigua’s turn to be the saviour. Even when wickets were tumbling at the other end, Richards did not hesitate to play his natural hard-hitting game.
(Video Courtesy: robelinda2 YouTube)
The right-hander scored a mammoth innings of 189 runs in which he scored 21 boundaries and 5 maximums. Unfortunately, only two other players from the side reached double figures, but Richard’s contribution to the team pushed the total to a competitive 272 runs.
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