6 Batsmen with most 150+ scores in ODIs

In ODIs, it has relatively become easier to score hundreds. The pitches are mostly flat to support high scoring encounters. Bats have become thicker and grounds dimensions have become smaller, which allow the players to easily clear the boundaries. A score of 300 is not even considered par these days.

In the currently undergoing ODI series between India and West Indies, India chased down West Indies' target of 323 with more than 8 overs to spare in the first ODI. Batsmen no longer are satisfied with hundreds, they want daddy hundreds which ensures that their team is on the winning side.

AB de Villers scored a century from just 30 deliveries in ODIs. With batsmen scoring at a high strike rate, it allows batsmen to score big runs if they stay at the crease for longer periods.

In the last few years, there has been an increase in the number of big hundreds being scored. In 2016 and 2017, there were 10 instances in each year when batsmen scored more than 150. This year already has already witnessed 7 scores of more than 150 in ODIs.

Let us look the players who have most 150 plus scores in ODIs.

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Sanath Jayasuriya

Sanath Jayasuriya transformed cricket with the way he batted in the 1996 World Cup. He used to attack the bowlers in the power play and provide a good start to the team. He was one of the reasons behind Sri Lanka lifting the trophy in 1996.

Jayasuriya scored more than 13000 runs in ODIs and also scored 28 centuries. Out of those 28 centuries, 4 times he went on to score more than 150.

In the 4th match of the Pepsi Independence Cup in Mumbai, India posted a below-par total of 225/7 in their 50 overs. In reply, Jayasuriya blew away the Indian bowling attack. He alone scored 151 from just 120 balls and took his team over the line. His knock included 17 fours and 4 sixes.

In the final of the Coca-Cola Champions Trophy in 2000 in Sharjah, Indians were again at the receiving end of the Jayasuriya's onslaught. He scored 189 from 161 balls, scoring 21 fours and 4 sixes in the process. He was dismissed in the 49th over and had a chance to score a double century in ODIs. There were not many contributions from the others and Sri Lanka posted 300 as the target for India; Indian batting collapsed and were bowled out for just 54.

In 2006, during the fifth ODI of the SriLankan tour of England, England posted 321/7 batting first on the back of a fantastic hundred from Trescothick. In reply, the opening duo of Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga shared a 286 runs opening partnership. Even after the dismissal of Tharanga, Jayasuriya carried on and went on to score 152 from just 99 deliveries. His knock comprised of 20 fours and 4 sixes. Sri Lanka chased down the total in less than 38 overs.

2 days later Sri Lanka played another match with the Netherlands. Jayasuriya carried from where he left in the previous match against England. He went on to score 157 from just 104 balls with 24 fours and a six. When he was dismissed, a lot of overs were left, and had he continued, he might have become the first man to score 200 in ODIs.

Sri Lanka posted a mammoth 443 in 50 overs. This remained as the highest score in ODIs until England broke it in 2016. It is still the third highest score by a team in ODIs.

Fact: The partnership of 286 runs between Jayasuriya and Tharanga was the highest opening partnership in ODIs for 12 years. Recently, it was scaled down by the opening duo of Fakhar Zaman and Imam ul Haq, when they scored 304 for the opening wicket.

Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle has been one of the most destructive batsmen of this era. He has the ability to hit sixes at will. He has scored a lot of T20 centuries and has 23 hundred in ODIs.

Post the introduction of the T20, the cricketing world witnessed a different Chris Gayle. In the early part of his career, he was not as destructive as he is now.

Out of the 23 centuries in ODIs, four times he went past the score of 150.

In the first match of the West Indies tour of Kenya in 2001, Gayle opened the batting and scored 152 off 150 balls. His knock included 17 fours and just one six!

In the first match of the West Indies tour of Zimambwe in 2003, Gayle played yet another anchor innings. Having batted throughout the fifty overs, the southpaw scored 153 from 160 balls which included 19 fours and 2 sixes. Brian Lara scored 113 from just 82 balls and West Indies posted 347/6.

In the fifth match of the West Indies tour of South Africa in 2004, Gayle yet again batted throughout the 50 overs. He scored 152 from 153 balls with 12 boundaries and 3 sixes. West Indies posted 304 for the loss of just 2 wickets. However, South Africa, on the back of a superb hundred from Kallis, chased down the total with two balls to spare.

The above three knocks look so unlike Chris Gayle as he known for hitting big sixes and scoring quickfire hundreds and fifties.

In a group stage match against Zimbabwe in World Cup 2015 against Zimbabwe, West Indies lost Devon Smith for a duck and in walked Marlon Samuels. Chris Gayle, along with Samuels, stitched together the best partnership in ODI history.

They shared a partnership of 372 runs. Samuels scored 133 from 156 balls. Chris Gayle played the best ODI knock of his career. He scored 215 from 147 balls which included just 10 fours but 16 massive sixes. He became the first non-Indian batsmen to score a double hundred. He reached 200 from just 138 balls which is the fastest 200 in ODIs.

Hashim Amla

The word Monk is best suited for Hashim Amla. He is very calm on the field and shows no signs of aggression while batting, and still manages to scores so many runs.

Off late, there has been a dip in his form but still, he averages close to 50 in ODIs. He has scored close to 8000 runs in ODIs including 26 centuries. On four of the 26 occasions, he has converted his 100 into a 150+ score.

In the second match of South Africa's tour of England on a tough pitch, while batting first, Hashim Amla showed his class. He scored 150 from just 124 balls. His knock included 16 fours. Graeme Smith was the only other batsmen who scored more than 50 in that match.

In the second ODI during the West Indies tour of South Africa, while batting first, South African batsmen went berserk. AB Devillers, Rillie Rossow and Hashim Amla got hundreds. Amla anchored the innings and carried his bat through the 50 overs, scoring 153 from 142 balls which included 14 boundaries. But, it was AB's day, as he scored 149 from just 44 balls. He broke the record of fastest hundred in this match, he scored 100 off just 30 balls.

In the group stage match against Ireland in 2015 World Cup, he scored yet another 150+ score. The innings of 159 runs from just 128 balls included 16 fours and 4 sixes.

In the fifth ODI of Sri Lanka's tour of South Africa in 2017, the opening pair of Hashim Amla and Quinton De Kock provided an excellent start. Both scored hundreds, and Hashim Amla went on to score his fourth 150+ score in ODIs. He scored 154 from 134 balls which included 15 fours and 5 sixes.

David Warner

Pocket-sized dynamite from Australia, David Warner is one of the most destructive openers of the current generation. He has scored close to 4500 runs in ODIs and has scored 14 hundred in ODIs. He has a knack of scoring big hundreds. Out of those 14 hundreds, five have been in excess of 150 runs.

In 2012, during the first final of the Commonwealth Bank series, David Warner single-handedly took Australia to a good total. He batted the entire 50 overs and got out off the last ball.

Warner scored 163 from 157 balls which included 13 fours and 2 sixes. It was very unlike Warner's knock as generally, he blows the opposition away. Austria posted 321/6 and Sri Lanka came close, but fell short by 15 runs.

In a group stage match against Afganistan in 2015 World Cup, David Warner went all guns blazing. He scored 178 from just 133 balls. His knock included 19 fours and 5 sixes. He got out in the 38 over and lost an excellent opportunity to score a double hundred.

In the fifth ODI of the Australia tour of South Africa in 2016, while batting first, South Africa posted 327 runs on the board. Warner played a great knock but he didn't get much support from the other batsmen. He got run out on a score of 173 from 136 balls which included 24 fours. Australia fell short by 31 runs in the end. Still, he was awarded the Man of the Match award for his brilliant knock.

In the 3rd ODI of the New Zeland tour of Australia in 2016, at Melbourne on a difficult pitch, Australia decided to bat first. Warner yet again played an anchor innings and got out on the last ball of the innings. He scored 163 from just 128 balls which included 13 fours and 4 sixes. It looked like Warner was batting on a different pitch as no other batsman from either team scored a fifty. It was one of his best knocks in ODIs.

In the fifth ODI of the Pakistan tour of Australia in 2017, Australian openers- Travis Head and David Warner, shared a huge partnership of 284 runs for the first wicket. This is currently the third highest opening partnership.

David Warner was the aggressor in the partnership. Out of the opening stand of 284 runs, David Warner scored 179 off just 128 balls which included 19 fours and 5 sixes.

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar, who holds most of the batting record, has scored more than 18000 runs in ODIs and has 49 centuries to his name. He was one of the best batsmen of his generation. Out of those 49 centuries, five times he went past the score of 150.

In the year 1999, during the second ODI of the New Zeland tour of India, India lost Sourav Ganguly early. Sachin built a record-breaking partnership of 331 runs for the second wicket with Rahul Dravid. This record was broken by Samuels and Gayle when they shared 372 run partnership against Zimambwe in 2015 World Cup.

Dravid scored his career-best 153 from 153 balls. Sachin scored his then highest score of 186 from just 150 balls. His knock included 20 fours and 3 sixes. He remained not out and could have scored a double hundred. India posted 376 for the loss of just 2 wickets.

2003 World Cup remains in the memory of every Indian cricket fan. Tendulkar was at his very best throughout the tournament. In a game against Namibia, Sachin and Ganguly shared a 246 run partnership. Sachin played an innings of 152 off 151 balls. His knock included 18 boundaries. This was Sachin's second 150+ score in ODIs.

In the third ODI of India's tour of New Zeland in 2009, India, while batting first, posted a huge total of 392 on the back of a brilliant century from the Little Master. Sachin scored 163 from 133 balls and had to retire hurt. He had an excellent opportunity to score a double hundred that day. His knock included 16 fours and 5 sixes.

In the fifth ODI of the Australia tour of India in 2009, Australia, while batting first, posted a huge total of 350. Tendulkar single-handedly took India to the doors of victory, but unfortunately, India lost by 3 runs.

Tendulkar scored 175 from just 141 balls and was at his very best that day. His knock included 19 fours and 4 sixes. He got out when India needed just 19 runs from 3 overs. If he would have got some support from others, it would have been one of the best knocks in a successful run chase.

In the second ODI of South Africa's tour of India in Gwalior, India elected to bat first. Sachin Tendulkar played throughout the 50 overs yet another time and scored the first double hundred in the history of ODIs. He scored 200* from just 147 balls. His knock included 25 fours and 3 sixes. He played a flawless innings that day as India posted 401/3.

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma, popularly known as the Hit-Man, is one of the best openers in ODIs and T20s. Ever since he started opening for India, his fortunes changed for good.

He averages more than 57 while opening and has scored 18 out of 20 centuries while opening for India. Out of these centuries, 6 times he has crossed the 150 run mark which is most for any player.

In the 7th match of the India - Australia series of 2013 in Hyderabad, India won the toss and elected to bat first. Rohit Sharma scored 209 off just 158 balls and took India to 383 for 6. His knock included 12 fours and 16 sixes. This is the maximum number of sixes hit by any batsman in an ODI match. This was Rohit's first double century and was he was the third player to score a double hundred in ODIs after Sachin and Sehwag.

In 2014, during the 4th ODI against Sri Lanka, the Eden Gardens got to witness another Rohit Sharma's class innings. He scored a record-breaking 264 from just 173 balls. This is the highest score in ODIs by a player. His knock included 33 fours and 9 sixes. India posted yet another 400 plus score on the back of Rohit's huge score. This was his second double hundred and is the only player to do so.

In the first ODI of South Africa's tour of India, South Africa posted 303/5 while batting first. AB Devillers scored a brilliant 104* from just 73 balls. In reply, Rohit played a brilliant knock of 150 from 133 balls. His knock included 13 fours and 6 sixes. Unfortunately, he was not able to take India home. India lost the match by 5 runs.

In the first ODI of India's tour of Australia in 2016, India opted to bat first. Rohit Sharma batted through the fifty overs and played an anchor innings of 171 from 163 balls. His knock included 13 fours and 7 sixes. Virat Kohli scored 91 from 97 balls and India posted 309/3. Steve Smith and Geroge Bailey's hundred helped Australia chase the total with 4 balls remaining.

In 2017, during the second ODI of Sri Lanka's tour of India, India opted to bat first. Rohit Sharma yet again batted through the fifty overs and scored his third double century in ODIs. He is the only batsmen to score to more than 1 double century. Sharma scored 208 from 153 balls including 13 fours and 12 sixes. On the back of Rohit's knock, India posted 392/4.

In the first match of the ongoing series between India and West Indies, the visitors, on the back of brilliant hundred from Hetmyer, posted 322 while batting first. India lost Dhawan early, but Sharma and Virat built a brilliant partnership of 246 runs.

Kohli scored 140 from just 107 balls. After his dismissal, Rohit continued on and took India home. His innings of 152 from 117 balls included 15 fours and 8 sixes.

This was Rohit's six 150+ score which is the most for any batsmen. Earlier, he shared it with Sachin and David Warner.

In the fourth ODI between the two sides in Mumbai, Rohit smashed his way to a 162 run knock. He put on 211 run partnership with Ambati Rayudu for the third wicket. This was his 7th 150+ score in ODI crick