Top 5 individual ODI scores by associate batsmen

#3 Ed Joyce, 160 vs Afghanistan at Belfast, 2016

Joyce’s 160 proved to be the turning point of the match

At number three, we have an innings which was played quite recently by Ireland’s Ed Joyce. Having played for England from 2006-2007, Joyce is one of the few cricketers to have represented more than one nation at the Cricket World Cup.

A few months back, the Irishman scored the innings of his life when Afghanistan were touring Ireland this year. It was the final ODI of the series at Belfast and Ireland needed to win the match to tie the series.

Put into bat first, Ireland had a poor start to their innings, losing captain William Porterfield and Sean Terry within the first ten overs. Ed Joyce along with Gary Wilson resurrected the Irish innings by building a 134-run partnership for the third wicket.

After Wilson’s departure, the pressure fell back on Ireland as they were 192-5 by the end of the 43rd over and the run rate wasn’t favouring them either. Stuart Poynter was guarding his wicket at the non-striker’s end as Joyce played some aggressive cricket towards the end of the innings, eventually scoring a career-best 160 off 148 deliveries which was also his second century of the series, hitting 19 boundaries and three sixes and helping Ireland reach a respectable total of 265.

His quickfire hitting in the twilight of the innings turned out to be a crucial one as Ireland won the match by just 12 runs. For his monumental efforts throughout the series, Joyce was adjudged the Man of the Series and Ireland managed to tie the series at 2-2.