Mountain of runs: Top 5 highest match aggregates in List A Cricket
One-Day International cricket has evolved leaps and bounds in the last few years. The batting dynamics have improved along with the rules which started to favour the batsmen. This helped in increasing the frequency of 300+ team totals and also 400+ totals. The same is the case with List A cricket. In this article, we will be discussing five List A matches with the highest aggregates in terms of runs scored by both teams.
827 – India A vs South Africa A, 2013
In this match, India A posted a mammoth total of 433/3 while batting first with the help of a double century from Shikhar Dhawan. The left-hander scored 248 runs off 150 balls with the help of 30 fours and 7 sixes. Apart from him, Cheteshwar Pujara also smashed a hundred scoring 109 runs off 97 balls. In response to this total, South Africa A responded well but could not win the game. They got all-out for 394 runs in 48.4 overs with Vaughn Jaarsveld and Reeza Hendricks hitting a hundred. India A thus registered a victory by 39 runs with Ishwar Pandey taking 4 wickets.
834 – Somerset vs Nottinghamshire, 2017
In this match, Nottinghamshire scored 429/9 batting first with the help of a 154-run knock from Brendan Taylor. In chase of the target, Somerset managed to score 405 runs and got dismissed in 48 overs losing the match by 24 runs. For them, Dean Elgar scored 91 runs off 63 balls.
867 – Surrey vs Glamorgan, 2002
In this high-scoring match played in 2002, the Surrey team posted a big total of 438/5 in 50 overs. For them, Ali Brown scored 268 runs off 160 balls including 30 fours and 12 sixes. This is still the record for the highest individual score in a List A innings. In response to this target, the Glamorgan team was dismissed for 429 runs in 49.5 overs and lost the match by 9 runs. Robert Croft and David Hemp smashed hundreds for the Glamorgan side in the match.
870 – Nottinghamshire vs Northamptonshire, 2006
In this game, Michael Lumb and Riki Wessels shared an opening partnership of 342 runs in 39.2 overs. Both of them scored brilliant centuries with the team putting up a total of 445/8. In the chase, the lower batting order of Northamptonshire performed well. The team was all out for 425 runs in 48.2 overs and thus lost the match by 20 runs. Rory Kleinveldt who came to bat at number 7 played a quickfire knock of 128 runs off 63 balls including 10 fours and 9 sixes.
872 – South Africa vs Australia, 2006
The famous 2006 Johannesburg ODI between South Africa and Australia tops the list of highest aggregated List A matches with a total of 872 runs. Australia, who batted first scored 434/4 which was the then highest total in ODIs. Their captain Ricky Ponting hit 164 from only 105 balls with 13 fours and 9 sixes.
South Africa reached 279/2 in only 30 overs as their skipper Graeme Smith smashed 90 runs off 55 balls while Herschelle Gibbs scored 175 from only 111 balls. However, they kept losing wickets regularly but an unbeaten fifty from Mark Boucher took them over the line with one ball and a wicket in hand. South Africa’s successful chase of 435 is still the highest in the ODI format.
