5 greatest 150+ ODI innings that ended in defeat

#3 Ricky Ponting (Aus), 164 (105) vs South Africa at Johannesburg

Ricky Ponting hammered Proteas to every corner in his innings of 164

If Coventry’s innings came in one of the less remembered matches, Ricky Ponting’s knock was part of one of the most legendary ODIs of all time.

Ponting massacred almost every bowler in his blazing 164-run innings which included 13 boundaries and 9 sixes. He added 158 runs with Mike Hussey in less than 16 overs.

Ponting's knock left everybody thunderstruck and helped Australia score a then world record 434 runs in 50 overs. The match seemed all but over before South Africa had even begun their chase. But Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith had some other plans.

They launched a destructive counterattack and showed no mercy on the Australian bowling line-up. A cameo from Johan van der Wath and a belligerent half century by Mark Boucher meant Australia held the world record for just four hours.

Ponting was, however, jointly awarded the Man of the Match along with Gibbs for his powerful knock.