GREATEST ODI INNINGS – II

THE IMPACT
Pakistan had slinked to 136-5 requiring 287 to win when Abdur Razzaq walked in to bat.
They needed to equalise the series by winning this 2nd ODI versus SA at Abu Dhabi in 2010.
In a buoyant mood, not really intimidated, he walloped 10 sixes & 7 fours in his 72-ball 109. Shahid Afridi 49 & Fawad Alam 48 had tried lifting the spirits but couldn’t really put the innings on course.
Lagging behind, overs not well spent Razzaq took it into his own hands, scored 63 out of the last 65 runs.
Pakistan overhauled the target with 1 wicket to spare.
Abdur Razzaq’s 109 had a major impact on the context of the match.

Now let’s explore the one played on March 12th, 2006.
I was privileged to see the innings live at the Wanderers in South Africa in Johannesburg.
Australia had posted a world record breaking 434-4 in 50 overs & I wondered if anyone could bat better than Ricky Ponting’s 164 in 105 balls.
I recall, SA lost Boeta Dippenaar early and Herschelle Gibbs was in at number 3.
Joining Graeme Smith, he launched into robust stroke making.
The two were involved in a 187 run partnership.
Smith was the next to go followed by Herschelle falling to my late friend Andrew Symonds not before he had hoisted a breathtaking 175 in 111 balls with 21 fours & 7 sixes.
Such was the impact, SA with minor contributions from Van Der Watch, Justin Kemp & Roger Telemachus romped home with 1 wicket & 1 ball to spare.

Next best I saw was Saeed Anwar’s 194 versus India in the Pepsi Independence Cup in 1997. Batting first Pakistan dominated with Saeed in an unsparing form. Ironically, set to become the first ever batsman to topple 200 in an ODI he fell to an ominous looking Sachin Tendulkar.
His 194 were assembled in 146 balls with 22 fours & 5 sixes. Pakistan posted 327 & Aaqib Javed with a fiver ended it all, winning by 35 runs.

(TO BE CONTINUED) – In lieu of the impact, Glen Maxwell’s 201 not out yesterday still remains at number 1.

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