Top 5 ODI partnerships in a losing cause

Partnerships are always key to a team’s victory in cricket. Over the years there have been numerous partnerships in ODI Cricket which have gone down in the history books and have been crucial to a team’s victory.

However, there have been many big partnerships which have resulted in defeat for the respective team.

Here are the 5 biggest ODI partnerships in a losing cause.

#5 Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed - 224 vs India at Dhaka, 2012

This partnership came during the Asia Cup in 2012. It was the much awaited India-Pakistan encounter. Pakistan batted first and were off to a flier thanks to openers Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed. The duo added 224 for the first wicket and both players scored centuries. This was the second double-century partnership within 6 months that Mohammad Hafeez was a part of, having been a part of Pakistan's highest opening partnership in ODIs of 228 with Imran Farhat against Zimbabwe in 2011.

Pakistan’s innings ended at 329/6. However, Virat Kohli’s majestic 183 blew away the Pakistan bowlers as India chased the target with 13 balls to spare. Nevertheless, that partnership between Hafeez and Jamshed was the highest ODI partnership of 2012.

#4 Andrew Strauss and Andrew Flintoff - 226 vs West Indies at Lord’s, 2004

The then highest ODI partnership for England came in a losing cause

It was during the NatWest Series between England, New Zealand and West Indies in 2004. England batted first and were struggling at 54/3. However, Andrew Strauss and Andrew Flintoff revived the England innings through their centuries and stitching what at that time was the highest ODI partnership for England. The duo added 226 and England ended their innings at 285/7.

England began their defence well by getting an early wicket in Devon Smith. However, Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan stitched a partnership of 187 to keep the Windies on track. Sarwan was dismissed for 89 but Gayle continued to bat and reached his century. Ricardo Powell’s 22-ball 33 gave great assistance to Gayle as West Indies won the match by 7 wickets with 5 balls to spare.

#3 William Porterfield and Kevin O’Brien - 227 vs Kenya at Nairobi, 2007

The mammoth partnership between Porterfield and Kevin O'Brien went in vain

This partnership features an all-associate match back then. It was the 8th match of the ICC World Cricket League Division 1 at Nairobi. Ireland batted first but they lost three early wickets and were 57/3. However, Kevin O’Brien and William Porterfield batted brilliantly and added 227 for the fourth wicket. It was the then highest partnership by any associate nation. Porterfield was unbeaten at 104 while O’Brien was dismissed in the final delivery for a 125-ball 142.

In reply, a fifty by Nehemiah Odhiambo and chippings from David Obuya and Tanmay Mishra put Kenya in a decent position but they were losing wickets quickly. However, a swift 61 from 36 deliveries by Thomas Odoyo won the match for Kenya with a wicket left and an over to spare.

#2 Saeed Anwar and Ijaz Ahmed - 230 vs India at Dhaka, 1998

Pakistan's highest 3rd wicket partnership in ODIs came in a losing cause

It was the 3rd final of the Silver Jubilee Independence Cup between India and Pakistan. Pakistan batted first and lost a couple of early wickets. However, Saeed Anwar and Ijaz Ahmed batted beautifully to put Pakistan in a strong position. The duo added a partnership of 230 for the third wicket which was broken with Saeed Anwar’s dismissal for 140.

Ahmed was soon dismissed for 117 and Pakistan ended their innings at 314/5. In reply, India were off to a flier thanks to Sachin Tendulkar’s 26-ball 41. Following his dismissal, Robin Singh joined Sourav Ganguly at the crease. The duo put up 179 runs for the second wicket to solidify India’s position.

Singh was dismissed for 82 but Ganguly went on to score a century. By the time, the future Indian skipper was dismissed for 124, the match was pretty much in India’s bag. India eventually won the match by 3 wickets. The partnership between Anwar and Ahmed was the then-highest ODI partnership in a losing cause.

#1 Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs - 235 vs India at Kochi, 2000

This majestic partnership was not enough to prevent South Africa from a defeat against India

It was the first ODI of the ill-fated India-South Africa ODI series in 2000. Kochi was the venue and the visitors batted first. South Africa were off to a great start thanks to openers Herschelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten. The duo added 235 for the first wicket which was a South African record for any wicket at the time. Both players reached their hundreds with Gibbs scoring 111 while Kirsten scored 115. South Africa’s innings ended at 301/3.

In reply, India were not in the best of positions at the beginning as their batsmen weren’t able to stay in the crease for long. However, a 92 from Ajay Jadeja and scores of 42 from Mohammad Azharuddin helped India win the game by 7 wickets. The opening stand between Gibbs and Kirsten broke a 2-year long record for the highest ODI partnership in a losing cause.