10 Most Destructive One Day International innings of all time

#8 Saeed Anwar’s 194 against India at Chennai in 1997

Saeed Anwar's 194 at Chennai will be remembered for a long time

This was a must-win qualifying match of the Pepsi Independence Cup to commemorate the 50th anniversary of India’s independence. Pakistan lost Shahid Afridi early in the innings. When Afridi walked back to the pavilion, little did he know that he had an active role to play even after his dismissal.

Saeed Anwar, the tormentor of Indians on so many earlier occasions, was at it yet again. When in form, Saeed Anwar was one of the most stylish left-hand batsmen of his time and a real treat to watch.

Anwar first put on 89 runs for the second wicket with Rameez Raja. Then he added 116 runs with Ijaz Ahmed for the third wicket. Anwar was the dominant partner. In between, he had Shahid Afridi as the runner from the 19th over which made his job much easier. All he had to do was to smack the ball around and watch Shahid Afridi run all those runs for him. To Anwar’s credit, most of his runs came in boundaries.

Anwar was elegant in his off-side drives and with his graceful lofted shots on the on-side. Anwar took a special liking to Anil Kumble whom he hit for 26 runs in one over including 3 sixes. Anwar made 194 off 146 balls with 22 fours and 5 sixes.

During the course of his innings, Anwar broke Vivian Richards 13-year-old record for the highest individual ODI score of 189 and was about to become the first player to score a double century in ODI. However, he missed the mark narrowly when he got out for 194 in the 47th over. When he was finished, he got a standing ovation from the sporting Chennai crowd. Pakistan won that match by 35 runs. Anwar’s record for highest individual ODI score remained intact for 12 years.

The use of runners came under severe criticism after Anwar’s Chennai innings in which he batted with a runner for almost 30 overs. But it took another 14 years for ICC to do away with the employment of runners for injured batsmen.