1). Sachin Tendulkar (India): 200* vs South Africa in Gwalior on Feb 24, 2010 - Tendulkar carried his bat as he became the first batsman in the history of one-day internationals to score a double century. He faced 147 balls in his innings and hit 25 boundaries and 3 sixes as India posted an imposing 401 for 3 on the board. In reply, South Africa was all out for 248 in 42.5 overs with only AB de Villiers (114*) offering any resistance, but this match was all about Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
2). Charles Coventry (Zimbabwe): 194* vs Bangladesh in Bulawayo on Aug 16, 2009 - Coventry was an unknown quantity in international cricket before this knock, and he has hardly done anything worth a mention since; but he wrote his name in cricket's record books with a 156 ball-194*, which contained 16 boundaries and 7 sixes. The next highest score in Zimbabwe's total of 312 for 8 was Stuart Matsikenyeri's 37. Despite Coventry's heroics, Zimbabwe lost the match thanks to Tamim Iqbal's 154 as Bangladesh won by four wickets and 13 balls to spare.
3). Saeed Anwar (Pakistan): 194 vs India in Chennai on May 21, 1997 - Anwar broke Sir Viv Richards' 13-year old record for the highest score in ODIs at the time and his 194 (146 balls, 22x4, 5x6) helped Pakistan score 327 for 5; and despite Rahul Dravid's 107, India lost the match by 35 runs.
4). VIV Richards (West Indies): 189* vs England in Manchester on May 31, 1984 - This is easily one of the greatest ODI innings of all time. Sir Viv walked in with the score at 11 for 2 and then watched from the other end as West Indies collapsed to 166 for 9. He then decided to impose himself on the English attack and did so in style as Richards and Michael Holding (12*) put on an unbroken 106-run partnership for the last wicket. Richards hit 21 boundaries and 5 sixes in his memorable knock to help West Indies score 272 for 9 in 55 overs. His assault must have broken the England team's spirit for they hardly put up a fight and were bundled out for 168 with Richards taking 2-45 in his 11 overs.
5). Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka): 189 vs India in Sharjah on October 29, 2000 - Jayasuriya had established himself as one of the most intimidating opening batsmen in world cricket by this time and in the Coca-Cola Champions Trophy final against India, he carted the Indian bowlers all over the stadium and sent the fielders on a leather hunt en route to a 161-ball 189 that contained 21 hits to the fence and four over it. Jayasuriya's assault meant India had to chase 300 to win the tournament, but Chaminda Vaas (5-14) and Muttiah Muralitharan (3-6) bundled the opposition out for 54 in 26.3 overs to give Sri Lanka victory by 245 runs.
6). Gary Kirsten (South Africa): 188* vs UAE in Rawalpindi on Feb 16, 1996 - This World Cup clash was always going to be a mismatch and Kirsten treated the UAE bowling attack with utter disdain as he carried his bat to remain 188 not out (159 balls, 13x4, 4x6) as South Africa amassed 321 for 2 and went on to thrash the minnows by 169 runs.
7). Sachin Tendulkar (India): 186* vs New Zealand in Hyderabad on Nov 8, 1999 - This match is mainly remembered for Tendulkar's unbeaten 186 (150 balls, 20x4, 3x6); but it is often forgotten that he shared a 331-run partnership with Rahul Dravid, who made 153 in as many deliveries. Tendulkar and Dravid's partnership saw India post an imposing 376 for 2 on the board. New Zealand was never in the run chase as they lost wickets at regular intervals before being bowled out for 202 in 33.1 overs.
8). Shane Watson (Australia): 185* vs Bangladesh in Dhaka on April 11, 2011 - In a savage attack on the Bangladesh bowling attack, Watson hit 15 boundaries and 15 sixes (a record in ODIs) in his 185* off only 96 deliveries. Watson's knock was also the highest by an Australian in ODIs. He completed his sixth one-day hundred off just 69 balls, the third-fastest by an Australian after Matthew Hayden (66 balls) and Adam Gilchrist (67 balls).
9). MS Dhoni (India): 183* vs Sri Lanka in Jaipur on Oct 31, 2005 - Kumar Sangakkara's 138* and his 151-run partnership for the third wicket with Mahela Jayawardene (71) saw Sri Lanka post a total of 298 for 4. Sri Lanka may have thought they had done enough to win the match, but a young upstart by the name of MS Dhoni had other ideas as he led India's run-chase with a fabulous 183* off 145 balls (15x4, 10x6) as the hosts overhauled the score with six wickets to spare in 46.1 overs.
10). Sourav Ganguly (India): 183 vs Sri Lanka in Taunton on May 26, 1999 - Another match in which Rahul Dravid made a century, but his innings was overshadowed by a magnificent ton from somebody else. That somebody else, in this match, happened to be Ganguly who scored 183 in 158 balls with 17 boundaries and 7 sixes. Ganguly and Dravid (145) added 318 runs for the second wicket as India amassed 373 for 6. Robin Singh's 5-31 saw Sri Lanka bowled out for 216 as India won this World Cup Group A match by 157 runs.
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