Top 5 Best ODI Innings Of 2021

Because of the fact that the T20 World Cup 2021 was scheduled for this year, fans didn’t witness teams playing a lot of one-day internationals. No team played more than 15 one-day internationals this year. Sri Lanka played the most with 15 ODIs to their name. India played only 6 ODIs in 2021 and won 4 out of them. England and Australia played 9 and 3 matches respectively.

Ireland’s most Paul Sterling scored the most runs in ODIs this year. He played 14 matches and scored 705 runs at an average of 54.23. J Malan and Tamim Iqbal are the second and third highest run-scorers with 509 and 464 runs respectively. Amidst all this, the fans witnessed some outstanding knocks in 2021 this year. As 2021 comes to a close, we take a look at the 5 best ODIs innings of 2021.

Top 5 Best ODI Innings Of 2021

Andy Balbirnie: 107 off 117 against South Africa, 2nd ODI

South Africa toured Ireland this year for three ODIs and as many T20 internationals. After the first ODI got abandoned, Ireland created history in the next game as they registered their first-ever ODI win against the Proteas.

Skipper Andy Balbirnie starred with the bat. His outstanding knock of 102 off 117 balls ensured Ireland of notching a formidable 290-run total in the first innings. Balbirnie stitched crucial partnerships with Stirling and Andy McBrine, denying South Africa of picking quick wickets. South Africa, in reply, were bowled out for 247 in the second innings, handy Ireland a 43-run win.

Balbirnie’s knock is ranked fifth in our list of top five ODI knocks of 2021.

James Vince: 102 off 95 against Pakistan, 3rd ODI

The third ODI between Pakistan and England on 13^th July in Birmingham saw a couple of sensational knocks with the bat. Babar Azam scored an outstanding 158 in the first innings to power Pakistan to a mammoth 331-run total in the first innings, However, his knock was later overshadowed by James Vince, who took the Pakistan bowlers to a leather hunt in the second innings.

England didn’t get off to a great start in the second innings as they lost the first two wickets for just 53 runs. However, James Vince then joined hands with Zak Crawley to revive England’s innings. The duo added 51 runs for the third wicket and got England back into the contest. Crawley got out after scoring 39 in the 13^th over but Vince was in no mood to get out easily. Ben Stokes and John Simpson too got out early but Vince kept taking England closer to the target.

He went on to score a match-winning century and finished his innings on 102 off 95 balls. His knock was laced with as many as 11 fours. By the time he got out, Australia had already reached past 290-mark in just 43 overs. England eventually chased down the total in 48 overs and thereby won the game by 3 wickets.

Jonny Bairstow: 124 off 112 against India, 2nd ODI

England played a three-match ODI series against India earlier this year. Jonny Bairstow was sensational in the series. He played a stellar knock of 94 runs off 66 balls in the first ODI but his knock went in vain as India won that game by 66 runs. However, it didn’t happen in the second match.

India notched a 336-run total in the second ODI. In pursuit of the total, Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy gave the team a powerful start. The duo took on the attacking route right from the onset of the innings. Roy and Bairstow amassed 110 runs for the opening wicket before Roy was sent back to the hut in the 17^th over.

Bairstow, however, carried on and went on to score an outstanding century. He scored 124 off just 112 balls, including 11 fours and 7 sixes. He helped the team reach 280-mark in just 36 overs. England eventually chased down the score in just 43.3 overs and thereby level the series 1-1.

Ben Stokes: 99 of 52 against India, 2nd ODI

In the aforementioned 2^nd ODI against India in Pune, Jonny Bairstow wasn’t the only player who starred with the bat for England. Bairstow was supported brilliantly by Ben Stokes in pursuit of the big chase. Stokes was, in fact, the aggressor of the two as he tore apart Indian batters with shots all around the ground.

Striking at over 190, Ben Stokes produced a sensational knock of 99 runs off 52 balls. He hit as many as 10 sixes and 4 fours during his stay at the crease. Unfortunately, he fell for one run short of his hundred but not before leaving his team on the driver’s seat. Thanks to his whirlwind knock, England chase down a 337-run target in just 43.3 overs.

Fakhar Zaman: 193 off 155 against South Africa, 2nd ODI

Pakistan visited South Africa for three ODIs and 4 T20 internationals in April. Pakistan began the tour on a high after winning the first ODI by 3 wickets. South African batsmen sent the Pakistan bowlers to a leather hunt in the second one-day internationals. A combined batting effort from the batsmen helped the team notch a gigantic 341-run total in the first innings.

Pakistan, however, kept South Africa on its toes in the second innings, thanks to an outstanding knock from Fakhar Zaman. South Africa bowlers picked wickets in regular intervals, however, Fakhar Zaman ripped apart the bowling at the other end. He singlehandedly took the team to the 300-run mark and kept the hopes alive for the visitors till the very end.

He scored a sensational knock of 193 runs in just 155 deliveries, including 18 fours and 10 sixes. However, despite his knock, Pakistan fell 17 runs short of the target. Nevertheless, it’s, unarguably, the best ODI knock in 2021.