DEHLI. − “The greatest ODI knock of all time, without any doubt.”
Michael Vaughan was adamant.
Just moments earlier, Glenn Maxwell smashed his 10th six to complete an extraordinary double century and seal an astonishing win over Afghanistan that put Australia in the World Cup semi-finals.
“You are probably going to get people saying it is the greatest innings of all time,” former England captain Vaughan said on BBC Test Match Special.
Set 292 to win, Australia were 49-4 when Maxwell walked in to face − and just about survive − a hat-trick ball from Azmatullah Omarzai.
Australia then slumped to 91-7.
But is it the best in men’s ODIs?
To help narrow it down we have selected nine other sensational ODI centuries in a winning cause.
Kapil Dev – 175* for India v Zimbabwe, 1983 World Cup
India were 17-5 shortly after Dev arrived at the crease, but the all-rounder struck a then record ODI score of 175 not out off 138 balls at Tunbridge Wells. It remained the highest score by a batter at number six or below in ODIs until Maxwell’s exploits against Afghanistan.
Viv Richards – 189* for West Indies v England, 1984
Widely regarded as one of the greatest ODI innings, Richards clattered a then record individual score, which would stand until 1997, despite wickets falling around him at Old Trafford. Richards was on 96 when West Indies fell to 166-9 but put on 106 with last man Michael Holding to finish unbeaten on 189 off 170 balls.
Aravinda de Silva – 107* for Sri Lanka v Australia, 1996 World Cup final
Sri Lanka fell to 23-2 early on when chasing 242 to beat the favourites Australia in Lahore. But Aravinda de Silva calmly compiled the only century made while chasing in a World Cup final, against an attack featuring Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, to lead Sri Lanka to glory.
Herschelle Gibbs – 175 for South Africa v Australia, 2006
In one of the greatest ODIs of all-time, Australia set South Africa 435 to win the deciding fifth and final match of the series in Johannesburg. Gibbs smashed 175 off 111 balls to set the Proteas on their way to a thrilling one-wicket win in what remains the highest successful chase in ODI history.
Adam Gilchrist – 149 for Australia v Sri Lanka, 2007 World Cup final
Australia opener Adam Gilchrist smacked 149 off 104 balls to put the final beyond Sri Lanka in Bridgetown. It remains the highest score in a World Cup final, with the left-hander famously batting with a squash ball lodged in his left glove to help his top hand dominate.
Kevin O’Brien – 113 for Ireland v England, 2011 World Cup
Ireland were 106-4, chasing a then record World Cup target of 328 in Bengaluru, when a pink-haired O’Brien arrived to cause one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history. He reached his century off just 50 balls − a World Cup record until South Africa’s Aiden Markram and then Maxwell bettered that mark in this year’s tournament.
Rohit Sharma – 264 for India v Sri Lanka, 2014
India opener Rohit holds the record for the highest individual ODI score for his outstanding 264 off 173 balls in Kolkata. After reaching his century off exactly 100 balls, Rohit accelerated thrillingly, thumping 33 fours and nine sixes. It was the second of his three ODI double centuries to date – no other player has hit more than one.
Martin Guptill – 237* for New Zealand v West Indies, 2015 World Cup
New Zealand opener Guptill hit the highest individual score in World Cups and second highest in all ODIs − crucially in a World Cup quarter-final in Wellington. His stunning 163-ball onslaught featured 24 fours and 11 sixes.
AB de Villiers – 149 for South Africa v West Indies, 2015
The South Africa star struck the fastest ODI century, from only 31 balls, showing his ability to hit 360 in spectacular style in Johannesburg. De Villiers crashed a then joint-ODI-record 16 sixes in an innings that lasted just 44 balls overall. One of the greats at his destructive best. − BBC Sport.