5 Players With Highest Scores Batting At Number Eight Or Lower In ODIs

The lower middle-order players can be very handy at times and that is one of the reasons for teams preferring all-rounders in their squad as their contributions can be very decisive. Bowlers who can bat are a boon to any team and it gives the license for the top order players to start attacking right away.

England is a team that bats very deep and in fact, even the number eleven has been contributing to the team which always puts them above other opponents. This is one of the reasons behind England’s success in the limited-overs format and here are 5 players with the highest scores batting at number eight or lower in ODIs.

5 Players With Highest Scores Batting At Number Eight Or Lower In ODIs:

Nathan Coulter Nile’s 92 vs WI, 2019:

The Australian pace bowler Nathan Coulter Nile is a handy all-rounder down the order and he won the game for his country on his own batting skills in the 2019 Worldcup in a game against West Indies. Put in to bat first, Australia were reeling at 147 for the loss of 6 wickets when Coulter Nile and Steven Smith joined hands. The pair added 102 for the seventh wicket as Coulter Nile top-scored in the batting lineup.

He scored 92 off just 60 balls with 8 fours and four sixes in the innings at a strike rate of 153.33. It is the fifth-highest score by a number eight or lower batsmen in ODI format and eventually, Australia went on to win the game by 15 runs. Coulter Nile was awarded the player of the match for his brilliance with the bat despite not picking up a wicket in his 10 over spell.

Andre Russell’s 92* vs India, 2011:

Andre Russell marked his entry into world cricket as a big player after this match and he pummelled the Indian bowling attack coming in at number nine for the West Indies in 2011 against India. The West Indies were reeling at 96 for the loss of wickets when Russell came into the crease in the first innings.

Russell finished the innings unbeaten on 92 in just 64 balls with 8 fours and 5 sixes in the innings at a strike rate of 143.75. He took the West Indies to a fighting total of 225 on the board for the loss of 8 wickets but it wasn’t enough for them to stop India from winning the game by 3 wickets and 22 balls remaining.

Sam Curran’s 95* vs India, 2021:

The England all-rounder Sam Curran has always shown that he is a phenomenal batsman down the order and the youngster impressed again with a fighting knock against India at Pune in 2021. The men in blue posted 329 on the board in their 50 over quota with half-centuries from Dhawan, Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant.

In reply, England was stuttering at 6 wickets for 168 runs when Sam Curran came in at number eight and he played a blinder of an innings. He almost pulled off a victory and was very unfortunate to end up on the losing side by just 7 runs in the end. His unbeaten 95 comprised of 9 fours and 3 sixes in the innings and is one of the best knocks by a touring player in India.

Chris Woakes 95* vs Sri Lanka, 2016:

Chris Woakes is one of the most underate players in the world and he produced a brilliant inning in 2016 at Nottingham. Sri Lanka batted first and scored 286 for the loss of 9 wickets in their 50 overs with captain Angelo Mathews top-scoring for the side. Woakes picked up two wickets in his 10 over spell giving away 56 runs.

In reply, England was at crisis with a 6 wicket lost at the 82 run mark as Woakes entered the crease alongside Jos Buttler and both stitched a 118 run partnership. Once Buttler was dismissed for 93, the onus was on Chris Woakes to take the side home. He finished with an unbeaten 95 of 92 deliveries with 4 fours in the innings and managed to tie the score with Sri Lanka.

Simi Singh’s 100* vs South Africa, 2021:

The Ireland all-rounder Simi Singh hasn’t lived up to the reputation he had as an all-rounder and this was the best chance to showcase his batting skills. Coming in at number eight against South Africa, Simi Singh played a masterclass knock of unbeaten 100 of just 91 balls.

His knock comprised 14 fours in the innings, and he remained to be the only warrior in the side for Ireland. This was the first time in ODIs when a number eight or low batsman had scored a century but it wasn’t enough as Ireland succumbed to a defeat over South Africa by 70 runs in a massive chase of 347.