5 Highest Opening Partnerships in ODI's

It was just a couple of days back that Pakistan opening duo of Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq who shared a brilliant partnership of304 runs in the 4^th ODI against Zimbabwe. It was the first time that an opening pair shared a more than 300 runs partnership in 50 overs cricket. It was a sensational display of batsmanship by the duo. They smashed the African minnows all around the Queens Park in Bulawayo.

Ever since the inception of cricket, the openers have played a huge role in getting their team off to a steady start. A team with good openers wins more Test matches than the nations who have a relatively unsettled opening slot. After Imam and Fakhar put up a huge partnership it will only be justified to recall some of the best opening partnerships in ODI cricket.

Now without wasting any time let us have a look at top 5 opening partnerships in the 50 overs format

Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan- 282 runs vs Zimbabwe at Pallekele, 2011 World Cup

The duo was the opening pair of Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup. They impressed all and sundry with their exceptional strokeplay and gave the runners-up ideal starts the in majority of the matches. It was a group match against Zimbabwe that the duo shared a huge partnership of 282 runs between each other. It was a great partnership which saw Sri Lanka thrash Zimbabwe.

They played some exceptional shots and brought up their century stand in just 97 deliveries. Dilshan scored a magnificent 144 and was ably supported by Tharanga who finished with 133. It was Sri Lanka who eventually prevailed in the game by 139 runs.

Quinton de Kock & Hashim Amla: 282* runs vs Bangladesh, Kimberley, 2015

The Bangladesh Tigers had just won an ODI series against the Proteas and was high on confidence when they toured the Rainbow nation. However, the opening duo of Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla gave a lesson to Bangladesh. Bangladesh batted quite well and staked up a good competitive score of 278 runs. They backed themselves to give a fight with the total.

However, South Africa had other ideas in mind. Hashim Amla and De Kock batted quite brilliantly and ensured that none of the South African batsmen had to bat. De Kock struck a stroke filled 168 of 145 deliveries while Amla too scored a brilliant century. South Africa turned out to be overwhelming winners in the end.

David Warner and Travis Head: 284 runs vs Pakistan, Adelaide 2017

It was a historic day for the the left-handed opening duo of Travis Head and David Warner as they put up a huge partnership of 284 runs for the opening wicket against Pakistan. It was the 5^th and the final ODI of the series and the Aussies were victors by 68 runs courtesy the opening partnership. Both played some exceptional shots and ensured the Pakistan bowlers were never in the game.

Warner looked in ominous touch and smashed 19 fours and 5 sixes during his exceptional knock of 179 runs of just 128 deliveries. Head was more of the accumulator. The southpaw was eventually dismissed on 128 of 137 deliveries. The innings was studded with 9 fours and 3 hits over the fence.

Upul Tharanga & Sanath Jayasuriya: 286 vs England, Leeds

Back in 2006, top countries had a tendency of winning the toss and batting first. The scoreboard pressure was quite huge at that time. T20 cricket had just started. However, people never took it seriously. As the years progressed it became one of the integral formats of cricket. It was back in 2006, when Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga scripted history in an ODI against England.

Sri Lanka had played some wonderful cricket in the series and was on the verge of thrashing England at home by a 5-0 margin. However, the hosts put up a total of 321 runs in their allotted 50 overs and gave a tough ask to Sri Lanka. The Lankan openers had a different set of ideas. They started going after the bowlers on a consistent basis and smashed their way to the victory target with disdain.

The openers smashed 100 runs in just 8 overs. The match was pyshologically lost from there and England failed to claw their way back. Jayasuriya smashed 152 of a mere 99 deliveries while Tharanga scored 109 of 102 deliveries. The duo shared a 286 runs as Sri Lanka chased the target down in only the 37^th over.

Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq: 304 runs vs Zimbabwe, Bulawayo 2018

Pakistan have never been known to produce top class batters. However, there has been some talents on occasions which has taken the world by storm. Just a couple of days ago it was Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman who shared a huge partnership of 304 runs against Zimbabwe which proved to be the highest in the 50 overs cricket history.

Fakhar Zaman was at his imperious best. The southpaw smashed the Zimbabwe bowlers all around the park and went on to become the first Pakistan batsman to score an ODI double century. The southpaw struck 24 fours and 5 sixes during his astonishing knock of 210 runs. Imam on the other hand scored a fine century but played 2^nd fiddle to Fakhar.