Highest score away from home in ODI: The first ODI was played in 1971 and since then the format has undergone a lot of changes. Batting has become much easier with each passing decade and average team totals have also steadily increased. Despite all the advantages a batsman has in the modern-day game, scoring away from home is still considered a tough task. Here we will analyze the top five individual scores away from home in ODI.
#6 Shane Watson 185* vs Bangladesh, Dhaka
In 2011, Australia were in Bangladesh for a three-match ODI series. The Aussies won the first game and in the second game, they were set a target of 230. The low target gave Watson the freedom to play his natural game from the very first ball.
He scored three fours in the first over and got to his fifty in the sixth over of the innings. The highlight of the innings was four consecutive sixes against left-arm spinner Shuvo. The experienced Razzak was also hit for three sixes and a four in a single over. Watson totally hit 15 sixes in this knock, a world record at that time.
#5 Martin Guptill 189* vs England, Southampton
New Zealand toured England in 2013 right before the Champions Trophy. In the second game of the series, they opted to bat first and Guptill played an absolute blinder. Guptill was cautious at the beginning but did not fail to put away the bad balls.
He paced his hundred to perfection and reached the milestone in 111 balls. Guptill played only proper cricketing shots throughout the innings as he tried to pierce the gaps with minimum fuss. He finished the innings with three consecutive fours off Jade Dernbach and the Black Caps posted a total of 259.
#4 Viv Richards 189* vs England, Manchester
This was a 55 over game but that does not take away the sheer brilliance of Viv’s 189. This game took place far before the era of heavy bats and small boundaries and that is why this knock is special. Richards came to bat with West Indies reeling at 11/2.
Wickets kept going at the other end but Richards did not shy away from playing shots. West Indies were 166/9 at one point and Richards somehow added another 100 runs almost by himself. This knock is proof that Viv Richards was far ahead of his time in every aspect of batting.
#3 Fakhar Zaman 193 vs South Africa, Johannesburg
Although Zaman’s double is at the top of the list, this is a better knock in many aspects. Firstly, this innings came during a big run chase and with wickets falling regularly at the other end. Also, Zaman was up against a quality pace attack comprising Rabada, Ngidi, Nortje.
His first fifty came off 70 balls, however he took just 37 balls from there to reach his century. His acceleration rate kept going up and soon he was nearing the first ever double century in an ODI chase, However, a schoolboy error resulted in a run out and he fell seven short of the landmark.
#2 Saeed Anwar 194 vs India, Chennai
Richards’ record was broken 13 years later by Pakistan’s greatest ever white ball batsman. Anwar was elegance personified in this innings and could have easily made the first double century in ODI history.
He was injured in the 19th over of the game and Afridi acted as a runner for the rest of the innings. Anwar scored 22 fours and five sixes in the game while 118 runs were run by Afridi. Kumble was the biggest victim of Anwar’s assault as he was hit for a hat-trick of sixes.
#1 Fakhar Zaman 210 vs Zimbabwe, Bulawayo
210 from Fakhar Zaman is the Highest score in ODI away from home. This knock came in a dead rubber as Pakistan had already won the series. Zimbabwe definitely did not have any world-class bowler but it does take some special effort to reach a double irrespective of the opposition.
Zaman switched gears after reaching his century but refrained from playing any rash shots. A boundary off Masakadza in the 40th over brought about the highest opening partnership in the history of ODI. He completed his double century with a sweetly timed cover drive. Anwar and Zaman’s knocks have many similarities as both are left-handed openers and their best came away from home.
