5 greatest 150+ ODI innings that ended in defeat

Getting an individual score of more than 150 runs is still not a common occurrence in ODIs. Out of the total of 4,070 ODIs played, there have been only 117 instances when a batsman has crossed that 150-run mark.

Rohit Sharma has achieved this feat seven times, which is the most by any player. He was able to add to his tally courtesy his two recent knocks of more than 150 runs against West Indies in the recently concluded bi-lateral ODI series.

Normally, when a batsman scores such a huge pile of runs, his team members sit comfortably in the dressing room. However, there have been occasions when even these masterful innings could not secure victory for the team.

Out of the 117 individual scores of 150+, only 15 have resulted in defeat. Here, we revisit the five greatest of such innings.

#5 Rohit Sharma (IND), 150 (133) vs South Africa at Kanpur

Helped by a brisk century from AB de Williers and a quickfire cameo by Farhaan Behardien, South Africa managed 303/5 in their first innings.

India began their chase on the right track and at one stage were 191-1 in the 34th over. Rohit Sharma played a blistering knock of 150 that included 13 boundaries and 6 sixes.

Ajinkya Rahane built a partnership of 149 runs with Rohit for second wicket. However, Rahane consumed too many deliveries for his innings of 60 runs, and a rare failure by Virat Kohli left Rohit with not much support from the other end.

At his dismissal, India needed 35 runs off 23 deliveries, and they eventually lost the match by 5 runs. Rohit scored more than half of India’s innings but unfortunately could not take his team to the victory mark.

#4 Charles Coventry (Zim), 194* (156) vs Bangladesh at Bulawayo

Charles Coventry equaled Saeed Anwar's world record with his 194* innings

Charles Coventry equaled the then world record of the highest individual ODI score in this thriller of a match.

Prior to this innings, Coventry had managed only two scores of 50+ in 12 innings. This knock, however skewed all his previous batting stats.

Coventry completed his century in 110 balls and then shifted gears to score his next 94 in just 46 deliveries. His onslaught helped Zimbabwe add more than 100 runs in their final 10 overs.

Unfortunately for Coventry though, he could not get much support from the other end. He scored approximately 62% of his team’s total, managing to hit 16 boundaries and 7 sixes.

Bangladesh, however, snatched victory from Zimbabwe's jaws, assisted by Tamim Iqbal’s 154 runs. And almost six months later, Sachin Tendulkar snatched his world record as well.

#3 Ricky Ponting (Aus), 164 (105) vs South Africa at Johannesburg

Ricky Ponting hammered Proteas to every corner in his innings of 164

If Coventry’s innings came in one of the less remembered matches, Ricky Ponting’s knock was part of one of the most legendary ODIs of all time.

Ponting massacred almost every bowler in his blazing 164-run innings which included 13 boundaries and 9 sixes. He added 158 runs with Mike Hussey in less than 16 overs.

Ponting's knock left everybody thunderstruck and helped Australia score a then world record 434 runs in 50 overs. The match seemed all but over before South Africa had even begun their chase. But Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith had some other plans.

They launched a destructive counterattack and showed no mercy on the Australian bowling line-up. A cameo from Johan van der Wath and a belligerent half century by Mark Boucher meant Australia held the world record for just four hours.

Ponting was, however, jointly awarded the Man of the Match along with Gibbs for his powerful knock.

# 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL), 160 (124) vs India at Rajkot

Dilshan silenced the Rajkot crowd with his counterattacking 160

When India finished their innings at 414/7, they didn't know that this match would turn out to be one of the greatest thrillers of all time.

On the run-belter pitch of Rajkot, Virender Sehwag hit an aggressive 146 to help India go past 400. Sri Lanka responded with a partnership of 188 runs for the opening wicket between Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upal Tharanga.

After Tharanga’s dismissal, Rajkot witnessed fire-works from both ends for the next 13 overs, with Kumar Sangakkara himself scoring 90 runs off only 43 deliveries. Dilshan hit 20 boundaries and 3 massive sixes in his innings of 160.

However in the last 10 overs, some poor batting by the Sri Lankan middle order allowed India to make a comeback and eventually win the match by 3 runs.

#1 Sachin Tendulkar (Ind), 175 (141) vs Australia at Hyderabad

Sachin Tendulkar thrilled everyone with his master class stroke play at Hyderabad

A century from Shaun Marsh and some powerful knocks from the Aussie top order batsmen set India a target of 351 runs.

Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar responded by adding a brisk 66 for the first wicket but after the former's dismissal, the next three wickets fell cheaply.

Tendulkar, however, was playing at an entirely different level at the other end. With support from Suresh Raina in the middle order, the Little Master brought India to within inches of victory. His masterclass was studded with 19 boundaries and 4 sixes.

But unfortunately, when India needed 19 runs off 18 balls, he got out to debutant Clint McKay, leaving the entire Deccan stadium in pin-drop silence. Ultimately, India got all out for 347 runs with two balls to spare, leading to a heart-break moment inside dressing room and in the entire country.