Glovesmen at the top: Five highest ODI individual scores by wicketkeepers
Being a wicket-keeper is an interesting proposition. The art is not only about collecting the ball safely into the hands but it’s also about being your captain’s deputy on the field. The skill requires stupendous circumspection which takes no less than a contribution of a star batsman, bowler or an all-rounder. Until the 1990s, it was always the primary skill (wicketkeeping) which upheld an influence regarding a player’s selection over his secondary skill (batting). But now when there’s a plethora of white-ball cricket being played, wicket-keepers do score big and quick. Hence here’s a list of 5 highest ODI scores by wicket-keepers.
5. Luke Ronchi’s 170* against Sri Lanka (2015)
Ronchi’s 170* against Sri Lanka was a pure depiction of NZ’s brand of cricket. The match-winning knock had taken shape during the fifth ODI at Dunedin where the hosts were restricted to a score of 93-5 inside 20 overs. But there was a complete flip-flop when Luke Ronchi and Grant Elliot produced a record partnership of 267 runs which took NZ’s score to a splendid total of 360. Ronchi’s 170* from 99 balls included fourteen fours and nine sixes.
4. Adam Gilchrist’s 172 against Zimbabwe (2004)
Irrefutably one of the greatest wicket-keepers who have played the game, Adam Gilchrist’s 172 against Zimbabwe is one of most elegant knocks of his career. It was the fourth match of the Tri-Series (IND, AUS, ZIM) between Australia and Zimbabwe where Gilchrist’s majestic innings helped Australia post a total of 344. His innings included a fine score of 13 fours and three sixes. His overall performances also yielded him a player of the series medal.
3. Liton Das’s 176 against Zimbabwe (2020)
It was this dexterous knock from Liton Das in 2020 which eventually became the series-defining performance. His innings took its course when Bangladesh were asked to bat first. Das and Tamim Iqbal, the openers, stitched a colossal first wicket partnership of 292. Das’s knock of 176 was fetched from 143 balls which included sixteen fours and eight immaculate sixes.
Congratulations to Liton Das for scoring the highest ODI score (176) for Bangladesh in the third ODI against Zimbabwe.#BANvZIM #RiseOfTheTigers pic.twitter.com/IBq27mhCAh
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) March 6, 2020
2. Quinton de Kock’s 178 against Australia (2016)
Quinton de Kock, ever since his establishment in the South African team, has been a kind of player who can play a free-flowing innings along with his ability to counter-attack at the same time. Such kind of a similar display was well excavated by De Kock when he played a 113-ball 178-run knock against the dull attack of the Australians. It was the first ODI of the five-match series where South Africa had to chase a par total of 294 runs. De Kock’s monstrous innings included sixteen fours and eleven galvanizing sixes.
1. MS Dhoni’s 183* against Sri Lanka (2005)
MS Dhoni’s Highest ODI Score#OnThisDay in 2005, @msdhoni gone berserk against Sri Lanka at Jaipur when he smashed 183 (145b, 15×4, 10×6). pic.twitter.com/xWpwTkwBpC
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) October 31, 2020
Although the Dhoni Phenomena had got unravelled when he first played a swashbuckling innings (148) against Pakistan. But his finishing eminence was first unveiled when he played this astonishing masterclass. It was the third ODI of the seven-match ODI series against the Sri Lankans held at Jaipur where the visitors had amassed a superior target of 298. Dhoni, on the other hand, was promoted at no.3 and after that, it was his robustness with the bat which sealed the deal for team India. His innings of 183* off 145 balls included fifteen fours and ten huge sixes.
