Five memorable batting performances by batsmen from Associate Nations

The center of attraction of the Cricket world is currently set in Europe. The shocking defeat of the number one ranked ODI team at the hands of the 13th ranked nation has sparked discussions and debates all over the world.

Despite the scare of the never-ending English batting tail, the Scottish nation prevailed and pulled off the greatest win of their lives. Man of the Match for his stellar effort of 140 runs in the first innings was unquestionably Calum MacLeod.

Throughout the history of ODI cricket, there have been several instances of a batsman from an associate nation teaching a lesson to the full member bowlers. Here is the account of the five most audacious innings played by such batsmen in ODIs

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John Davison 111(76) vs West Indies, Centurion, 2003

Although Kenya gatecrashed into the semifinals of the World Cup 2003, the familiar routine of the other associate nations at the World Cup was simple. Turn up, get walloped by a full member nation and repeat. There were a few sparkling interventions though, one of the most famous is this gem by John Davison.

In the group stage match at the Supersport Park, Centurion, West Indies asked Canada to bat first. After a sedate start of six runs from the first three overs, Davison broke his shackles and launched a brave onslaught.

He was simply unstoppable that day, even the destiny sided with him as one of the balls he played ricocheted on the stumps but displayed the care of not dislodging the bails. John Davison reached his fifty in just 30 balls and cantered to his century in only 67 balls thus earning the merit of slamming the fastest ever World Cup century at the time.

Although Canada inevitably lost the game, the innings by Davison proved to be a milestone and still remains the most celebrated moment of Canadian Cricket. His 111(76) with eight boundaries and six sixes is till this date the sole ODI century for Canada against a Test-playing nation.

Ryan Ten Doeschate 119(110) vs England, Nagpur, 2011

The mercurial all-rounder originating from South Africa is without a doubt the most accomplished and the most respected player from the Associate nations. His enduring ODI batting average of 67.00 is a testimony to the previous sentence.

Before Ten Doeschate dedicated himself to Essex duties, he had been turning up regularly for his country, Netherlands. Playing against their neighbor and the supreme European nation, England, Ryan Ten Doeschate dished out his exemplary batting skills in this match.

Batting first in the foreign unforgiving heat of Nagpur, Ten Doeschate was sent to bat in the 12th over and was fittingly the last man dismissed for the Netherlands in the 49th over. In between, he carved out a perfect and chanceless ODI knock of 119(110) with nine fours and three sixes.

Despite Ten Doeschate’s bowling efforts of 2/47, the much accomplished English team managed to chase off the required 296 runs and won the 2011 World Cup group stage match. The magnificent batsman later added one more World Cup century to his stellar career as he scored 106 against Ireland at Kolkata.

Dave Houghton 142(137) vs New Zealand, Hyderabad, 1987

We see Zimbabwe today as a Test nation which has fallen from its glory days but before their Test debut in 1992, they competed as an associate nation. In the 1987 World Cup, Dave Houghton playing for Zimbabwe produced one of the most spectacular ODI innings which is much forgotten today.

In the extremely hot and humid conditions of Hyderabad, Zimbabwe had to chase 243 against a well-oiled New Zealand side. The conclusion appeared obvious as the African nation slipped to 104/7. The wicket-keeper, who had earlier kept wickets for 50 overs in the gruesome conditions assumed the mantle in his hands.

Essaying the very best of the strokes, Dave Houghton single-handedly kept Zimbabwe alive in the match. The fact that only two other Zimbabwean batsmen went beyond the double-figures mark speaks volumes.

Houghton’s 142 from 137 balls studded with 13 boundaries and six sixes carried Zimbabwe in the vicinity of an extraordinary upset. This was then the highest score by an associate nation batsman against a full member. Houghton was out when the team needed 22 runs to win and they eventually fell short by 4 runs.

Kyle Coetzer 156(134) vs Bangladesh, Nelson, 2015

While Calum MacLeod has rightfully hogged the headlines for his devastating 140 against England recently, the fact cannot be overlooked that the record for the highest score by an associate batsman against a full-member nation is held by his captain, Kyle Coetzer.

On the quaint ground of Saxton Oval, Nelson, Bangladesh asked Scotland to bat first in the group match of the World Cup 2015. Not making the best of the starts, Scotland was placed precariously at the halfway stage with the scoreline reading 116/3.

The surviving opener Kyle Coetzer then combined with the captain Preston Mommsen to put out a stirring batting display. Although Coetzer kept running out of partners at the other end, he ensured that Scotland never ran out of the steam with his breath-taking input of boundaries.

The European nation finished with 318/8 in their 50 overs with Kyle Coetzer scoring 156 out of them. This innings set a new benchmark and it showed the hunger of Scotland for playing top-class cricket. Sadly for them, Bangladesh chased the tall target with 11 balls remaining.

Kevin O’Brien 113*(63) vs England, Bangalore, 2011

No account of Associate nation’s batsmanship is complete without mentioning this epic inning played by one of the most dashing batsmen in the cricketing world, Kevin O’Brien. It is no surprise as to which innings we are going to look back at.

At the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore, in the Group B game of the World Cup 2011, England batting first had raised a total of 327/8. In reply, the green nation was tottering at 111/5 at the half-way stage. Amidst the collapse, out walked a warier with pink hair.

The towering all-rounder, who was frequently the architect of the most memorable victories for Ireland, set about making himself immortal. On the batting-friendly ground of Bangalore, Kevin O’Brien demonstrated his crisp stroke-making skills.

By the time his typhoon ended, ‘Kev’ had notched the then fastest century in the history of the World Cup as his ton came up in exactly 50 balls. As John Mooney later completed the fairy tale chase with a boundary at midwicket, Kevin O’Brien’s 113(63) with 13 fours and six sixes reserved its space in the hall of fame.