Stats: Expensive overs in ODI cricket

Here, we will take a look at the top 5 most expensive overs in ODI cricket.

5) 30 runs - Aamer Sohail (Pakistan vs Sri Lanka)

There are as many as 6 instances of 30 runs being scored in an over, the latest being our very own Ishant Sharma being thrashed by James Faulkner (6, 6, 2, 6, 6, 4). However, this feat has been achieved by Sanath Jayasuriya twice, once of Pakistan bowler Aamer Sohail (4,0,6,6,6,6,2) and the other time against New Zealander Chris Harris(6,6,,6,6,4,2).

Yuvraj Singh was also hit for 5 consecutive sixes by England all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas (0, 6, 6, 6, 6, and 6). Abdur Razzak had also been handed the same humiliation by Ross Taylor (4,6,W,6,W,2,4,6) and the last was when Mark Boucher (4,1) and Jacques Kallis (2,W,5,6,6,6) teamed up against lesser known van Troost of Netherlands to melt out similar treatment.

4) 31 runs - Rizwan Cheema and Baidwan (Canada vs New Zealand)

When Canada faced New Zealand at the MCA in 2011, one expected the Black Caps to thrash them black and blue. And that is exactly what James Franklin did as he hit as many as two Canadian bowlers who bowled the over for 31 runs. After Kane Williamson took a single off the 1^st ball against Baidwan who retired hurt then, Franklin went all out against Rizwan Cheema whom he hit for 6, 6, 4, N6, N4, 2. Franklin raced to 31 runs of 8 balls and New Zealand to a comfortable 97 run victory.

LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 31: James Franklin celebrates with Martin Guptill of New Zealand after Martin Guptil hit a four to make a century and win the match for New Zealand giving him a total of 103 runs during the first Natwest Series One Day International match between England and New Zealand at Lord

3) 32 runs - CM Bandara (Sri Lanka vs Pakistan)

This time it was a Sri Lankan at the receiving end of some sensational hitting. When little known leg spinner CM Bandara came to ball to hard hitting Shahid Afridi, all he would have hoped is a quiet over to save his face. But, Afridi, as he plays was in no mercy mode as he plummeted the young bowler for 32 runs in an over which began with 2 boundaries followed by 4 successive humongous sixes (4,4,6,,6,6,6). Unfortunately, Bandara career was cut short as this ended being his last tournament for the Lankans.

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – MARCH 03: Shahid Afridi of Pakistan drives for a boundary during the 2nd T20 match between South Africa and Pakistan at SuperSport Park on March 03, 2013 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

2) 35 runs - Robin Peterson (South Africa vs Sri Lanka)

They say that spinners are easy pickings in the power play overs. Try explaining that to South African skipper Graeme Smith. He handed the ball to spinner Robin Peterson hoping to confuse the batsman with his clever rotation of bowlers but little did he know that explosive all-rounder Thisara Perera was in such sublime touch that anything and everything would have flown off his bat in that over. Perera hit 5 sixes and a boundary in that over that went 6, wide, 6, 6,6,6,4. No wonder, Peterson wasn’t asked to bowl any more in the match.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 26: Thisara Perera of Sri Lanka hits a six to win the match during game one of the Twenty20 international match between Australia and Sri Lanka at ANZ Stadium on January 26, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/Getty Images)

1) 36 runs – Daan van Bunge (Netherlands vs South Africa)

The feat had never before been achieved in a one-day international until Hershelle Gibbs went berserk in the 2007 World Cup match against the lowly Dutch by smashing six sixes off a Daan van Bunge over in South Africa’s 221-run victory. While balls 1, 2 & 3 were driven straight over the bowler, ball 4 was a full toss and was pulled over midwicket. Ball 5 saw a flat-batted long hop over long-on while the 6^th delivery was a short ball and rightly smashed over long-off. And all 33 year old had to say after that mauling was “if it’s your day, it’s your day.”

Gibbs in action

* Updated on May 26, 2014