Last ball glory: Batsmen who struck six on the last ball to complete ODI century
Middle-order batsmen score centuries way less frequently than the top 3 batsmen in ODI cricket. In recent times, the three-figure scores have been mostly limited to the players in the top three batting positions in the One-Day format. Many times, players are unfortunate to end up remaining stranded in the 80s or the 90s. However, some players have had the privilege of bringing up their tons by hitting a six off the final ball of the team’s innings.
5. AB de Villiers vs India, 2015
This match was played at Kanpur in the first ODI of South Africa’s tour of India, 2015. de Villiers walked into bat at number 4, with South Africa at 104/2 in 23.2 overs. He completed his half-century in 54 balls. AB then took off in the death overs. From 60 runs at run-a-ball at 44th over, he scored 38 more runs in the next 11 balls, taking his score to 98 runs off 71 balls. Farhaan Behardien smashed Umesh Yadav in the final over for 4,4,6 in the next balls before giving de Villiers the strike. He failed to connect the second last ball, but ended the innings with six over long-on. This brought up his 21st ODI hundred. South Africa ended up defeating India by 5 runs.
4. Mohammad Yousuf vs Zimbabwe, 2002
This match was played at Harare Sports Club, Harare in Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe. Yousuf was in excellent form going into the series. He came into bat in the 30th over after a 154-run opening partnership between Taufeeq Umar and Saleem Elahi. Yousuf brought up his half-century in 46 balls in the 44th over of the innings. He then took on the bowlers, reaching 87 runs off just 64 balls. In the final over, he hit a 4 and ran a double of Sean Ervine before flicking him over long-leg for a six to score a 68-ball century. Pakistan won the match by 48 runs.
3. Craig McMillan vs Pakistan, 2001
New Zealand were up against Pakistan in Christchurch in the 4th ODI. McMillian came in to bat at number 5 after the dismissal of Jacob Oram. He brought up his half-century in as many deliveries, maintaining the run-rate. He changed gears after bringing up his 50, scoring 35 runs in the next 20 balls. He was on 85 off 70 balls before the start of the 49th over. Saqlain Mushtaq was handed over the ball in the final over, and McMillian did not fail to make the most of this opportunity. He smashed him for a six over midwicket of the final ball, taking his score to 104* off just 75 balls. New Zealand decimated Pakistan by 138 runs.
2. Kevin Pietersen vs South Africa, 2005
This match was played between England and Pietersen’s home country, South Africa in East London. Pietersen walked into bat with the score at 117/2 in the 27th over while chasing a mammoth 312 runs. He took on the challenge and tried his best to chase down the improbable target. He raced to a half-century in just 38 balls. He was on 63 off 44 balls when England needed another 98 runs in the last 10 overs with 6 wickets in hand. However, the fall of wickets from the other end meant that he could only do so much. The equation came down to 23 in the final over, and 14 off the final ball. Pietersen smoked Nel over the cow-corner to bring up a 100 for himself off just 69 balls. South Africa won the match by 7 runs.
1. Mohammad Yousuf vs India, 2000
Yousuf is the only player to have achieved this feat twice in his ODI career. This time it was against arch-rivals India in a must-win match in the Asia Cup. He came in at number 3, but this time playing a more subdued knock. He crawled to the 50-run mark in 90 deliveries. After that, he started the assault on the Indian bowling attack. He hit boundaries in every over, taking his total to 95 before the final over. He then took a single in the only ball he faced in the first 5 balls of the over, before hitting a six over long-on off Thiru Kumaran. Pakistan won the match by 44 runs, knocking India out of the tournament.
