In One-Day Internationals, has anyone amassed as many runs at a greater strike rate as Heinrich Klaasen?
Was 50 the other day, Sri Lanka’s total, the lowest ever in an international final? asked Indian Vivek Naik
The lowest all-out total in a major international final was achieved by Sri Lanka last weekend when they collapsed to 50 all out in the Asia Cup final in Colombo, surpassing the 54 that India scored against Sri Lanka in the Champions Trophy final in Sharjah in October 2000. Only nine one-day internationals have had fewer all-out totals.
The lowest score in the 1999 Lord’s 50-over World Cup final between Pakistan and Australia was 132. When West Indies memorably lost the 1983 final to India, also at Lord’s, they only managed 140.
Ireland’s 71 against Afghanistan in the Desert Challenge event in Dubai in January 2017 stands as the lowest score in a Twenty20 international competition final. Sri Lanka’s 101 against the West Indies in Colombo in October 2012 is the lowest score in the T20 World Cup final.
Last week, Heinrich Klaasen dominated 174 at a strike rate of 209. Has anyone ever scored more runs faster in an ODI? asked South African Nick van Vuuren
Heinrich Klaasen of South Africa hit 174 from 83 balls at a strike rate of 209.63 during that vicious knock he had the other day against Australia in Centurion.
In one-day internationals, no one has ever scored more runs faster than Shane Watson, who hammered 185 not out from 96 balls for Australia against Bangladesh in Mirpur in April 2011 with a strike rate of 192.70.
The two instances of 162 not out, by AB de Villiers from 66 balls (strike rate 245.45) for South Africa against the West Indies during the 2015 World Cup in Sydney and by Jos Buttler from 70 balls (strike rate 231.42) for England against the Netherlands in Amstelveen in June 2022, are the only innings over 150 in ODIs that came at a faster rate than Klaasen managed.
When considering all ODI innings lasting 100 balls or longer, de Villiers tops the list with an incredible strike rate of 338.63, which he achieved while hitting 149 off just 44 balls against the West Indies in Johannesburg in January 2015. After hitting 16 sixes and nine fours, he entered the field in the 39th over and was removed in the 50th.
At Centurion, Adam Zampa gave up 113 runs in an ODI that was quite high scoring. Was this something on file? asked Australian Billy McAlpine
Legspinner Adam Zampa of Australia shared first place in the chart of most runs conceded in an innings of one-day international cricket after a miserable day against South Africa in Centurion last week, which was capped off by a tenth over that cost 26 runs. Zampa matched seamer Mick Lewis, another Australian, who also scored 113 in the historic March 2006 872-run match in Johannesburg.
There have now been sixteen men’s ODI bowler incidents when a bowler has given up 100 runs or more. Andrew Tye is the only other Australian who has done so, having gone 0 for 100 (in just nine overs) against England at Trent Bridge in 2018.
Was Ben Stokes’ 182 against New Zealand the highest or lowest one-day international score for a number four? inquired of Englishman Jeremy Newman
September 13 at The Oval saw Ben Stokes smash 182 against New Zealand over a thrilling few days for international cricket. Viv Richards’ 189 not out for the West Indies against England at Old Trafford in 1984—an innings that lasted 55 overs—is the only greater score from No. 4 in any ODI.
In the 2017–18 New Zealand vs. England match in Dunedin, Ross Taylor amassed 181 runs without conceding a wicket, while Richards similarly amassed 181 against Sri Lanka in Karachi during the 1987 World Cup. Click here to view the list of the top ODI scores from No. 4 and down.
Stokes’ 182 against Australia in Melbourne in 2017–18 surpassed Jason Roy’s 180 to become the highest score for England in an ODI.
A footballer from Sussex with seven forenames was featured in a previous piece here, but a few years ago, there was also a chap from my county, Northamptonshire, who had multiple initials. Sadly, I can’t remember his name! What was it? questioned Northampton resident Ted Richardson
George Arthur Adam Septimus Carter Trenchard Sale Pennington played for Northamptonshire in 1927, so you can probably forget about him. That was almost a century ago. He participated in 12 games that season as a hitter, and on his debut against Glamorgan in Northampton, he recorded his top score of 47.
In addition to being a gifted rugby player, Pennington was the son of a vicar. During the First World War, he fought in the Royal Naval Air Service, which was the precursor to the Royal Air Force. It is claimed that he sank a German submarine in the Mediterranean. After the war, he kept on flying, but he passed away in September 1933 at the age of 34 when the plane he was piloting crashed on takeoff close to Doncaster in Yorkshire. Among his six passengers was the well-known jockey Gordon Richards, who escaped with just minor wounds.
Some of the answers above were assisted by ESPNcricinfo’s stats team member Shiva Jayaraman.
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