Jonny Bairstow and MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: Stu Forster, Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
The ongoing Pakistan-Afghanistan series has ignited new life into ODI cricket. The excitement of 50 overs cricket is back, which many cricket fanatics were supposedly missing amidst T20 leagues. Just prior to the World Cup, the bilateral series being played in Sri Lanka holds importance for both teams.
Both the contests so far produced great rivalry between the two Asian sides. Afghanistan fought back with a thumping score of 300 on the back of a spectacular century from Rahmanullah Gurbaz. With this knock, Gurbaz placed himself as the highest individual scorer as designated wicketkeeper against Pakistan in this format.
The swashbuckling Afghan opener has gone past some of the greats of modern-day cricket. Before his knock, the top position belonged to a certain MS Dhoni followed by McCullam, De Villiers, and Bairstow. Let’s look back at those top innings to cherish this occasion.
5. Jonny Bairstow
Jonny Bairstow (Image source: Twitter)
England’s wicketkeeper batter Jonny Bairstow made a scintillating hundred while chasing a mammoth score of 359 against Pakistan in 2019. Earlier in the game, Imam-ul-Haq put on a show with 151 runs and Pakistan posted 358 runs on the board.
Jonny decorated his 128-run score off 93 balls with eight boundaries and four sixes. Against a pace attack comprising Junaid Khan, Shaheen Afridi, and Faheem Ashraf he scored at a strike rate of 138. This was his seventh ODI hundred, a special one for him as it came after a gap of 15 innings. At the start of his innings, he took his time to settle down.
He constructed his innings convincingly. He first put his foot forward against Junaid and then when spinners came and bowled short to him, his eyes popped out. He carried forward his spin game from the IPL and implemented it quite well. He reached the three-figure mark in 74 balls before getting out to Junaid Khan, by that time England was way ahead in the chase.
4. AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers (Image source: Twitter)
Former South African captain AB de Villiers finds his name in fourth position. His innings of 128 at Johannesburg against Pakistan in 2013 was one of a one-of-a-kind innings. The series was at stake for both the sides as decider saw run feast. Pakistan won the toss and elected to send Proteas to bat first.
AB was designated to bat at number four and came quite early as SA lost two wickets inside the fourteenth over. From there on, Hashim Amla and De Villiers formed a strong partnership that lasted for the next 238 runs. This founded the base for South Africa to finish the first innings on a strong note of 343 runs.
AB being the skipper of the side, consumed the pressure. Then he started unleashing his shots, especially against spinners, be it Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal or Mohammad Hafeez. Though he suffered cramps mid innings but continued to show his dominance. Some of his picturesque shots are still vivid in fans’ memories.
3. Brendon McCullum
Brendon McCullum (Image source: Twitter)
Former New Zealand opener Brendon McCullum’s desert storm of 131 at Abu Dhabi takes third position in this list. The brutal opener struck a century in an important game of the bilateral series against Pakistan. They had to win to stay afloat after a shameful loss in the first match, so McCullum decided to turn up big for his nation.
This innings was unlike his other innings where he muscled balls all over the park. McCullum played throughout the innings as it was a must-win game for the Kiwis. After losing his batting partner early, McCullum had a 126-run partnership with Martin Guptill. But the next two wickets fell in no time, so he had to hold himself back.
He played some crunchy pull shots in his style. He used his backfoot game to attack the spinners on that track. Later he built a partnership with skipper Daniel Vettori which helped NZ post 303 runs on the board. This batting display boosted their confidence which later helped him not only to clinch the series but also the Player of the Series award.
2. MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: Twitter)
India’s most successful white ball captain MS Dhoni’s first international hundred is placed at second position. It was Dhoni’s fifth match in the India jersey and second at home. He was going through a bad batting patch before this game. The story around this match goes something like this; the then Indian captain Sourav Ganguly instructed Dhoni to come up the order at Ganguly’s batting position.
After this inning, Dhoni didn’t have to look back again. India lost Sachin Tendulkar early and with Virender Sehwag, Dhoni had a quick partnership of 96 runs. He showed courage batting at number three, that too replacing someone successful like Sourav Ganguly. MS spent a good amount of time before going after the bowlers.
He brought up an 88-ball hundred which was appreciated by all present in the stadium as well as following from home. His 123-ball innings saw fifteen boundaries and four sixes. India posted 356 runs on the board and secured a massive win of 58 runs. Later MS took two catches with his impressive glove work.
1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Rahmanullah Gurbaz Century. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Afghanistan’s rising star Rahmanullah Gurbaz is continuing his dream run in the 50-over format. During the second match of the series against Pakistan, he became the third quickest to five ODI hundreds (23 innings) after Quinton de Kock and Imam-ul-Haq. His score of 151 broke many records in World Cricket. He became the fourth youngest man to score 150 in ODIs and the youngest wicketkeeper with 150 in ODIs.
While establishing a 227-run opening partnership with Ibrahim Zadran, he became the second-highest individual scorer in ODIs for Afghanistan. After bundling out for a mere 59 runs in the previous match, Afghanistan looked desperate to turn the table. Early in the innings, he took his time against Pakistan’s pace trio to settle down. He waited for loose deliveries to hit the boundaries.
Once he brought up his century in 124 balls, he changed his gear. He accelerated his innings in such a way that he scored the next 51 runs in just 26 balls. The highlight of his innings was when he hit Haris Rauf for four consecutive boundaries. His run-a-ball innings ended when he nicked one off Shaheen Afridi to the keeper. Unfortunately, Afghanistan had a heart-wrenching defeat.