Ranking the top 5 men's ODI batting performances of 2024 ft. Pathum Nissanka

As 2024 draws to a close, we look back at the year, trying to acknowledge the players who lit up the international stage. There were several top performers with the bat to choose from, and one was left with the impression that it was not easy to bring the list down to five.

A lot of fascinating encounters took place this year, perhaps the highlight of which was Pathum Nissanka's swashbuckling double-century against Afghanistan in Pallekele in February. Qualitative measures such as the importance of the knock and the opposition standard were considered.

In this listicle, we rank the top five men's ODI batting performances of 2024:

#5 Kusal Mendis' 143 vs New Zealand

Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis is fifth on this list thanks to the stroke-filled 143 he piled up against New Zealand in Dambulla in November earlier this year. Mendis faced just 128 balls during his innings which consisted of 17 boundaries and two sixes. Lanka could pile up 324-5 riding on his knock.

Avishka Fernando, who opened the innings, also scored a century (100). Rain played a part in this game during the second innings, and New Zealand were set a total of 221 to chase in 27 overs by the DLS method. However, the Kiwis were restricted to 175-9 thanks to some economical bowling by the hosts.

#4 Milind Kumar's 155* vs UAE

USA batter Milind Kumar, who played first-class cricket for Delhi and Sikkim in India before shifting base, comes fourth on this list. His claim to fame is the 155 not out he scored against the United Arab Emirates in Windhoek, Namibia, in September earlier this year. His innings was studded with 16 boundaries and five sixes.

Saiteja Mukkamalla too scored a stellar century (107) to help the USA pile up the misery on the UAE bowlers and end up with a total of 339-4 in their quota of 50 overs. In response, UAE were bowled out for just 203 in 36.2 overs, handing their opponents a massive 136-run victory.

#3 Travis Head's 154* vs England

Australian batter Travis Head, who has been among the best in the world over the last couple of years, comes third on this list through his unbeaten 154 against England at Trent Bridge in Nottingham in September. England batted first in this game and set Australia a target of 316 to chase.

Opening the innings, Head blasted away and remained unbeaten on 154 off 129 deliveries to help his team cross the line in just 44 overs. Head's swashbuckling knock included 20 boundaries and five sixes.

#2 Azmatullah Omarzai's 149* vs Sri Lanka

Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai comes second on this list owing to the blistering 149 not out he scored against Sri Lanka in an ODI in Pallekele in February. Set a daunting target of 384 to chase (thanks to Pathum Nissanka's double-century), Afghanistan seemed down and out at 5-55.

However, this is when Omarzai stitched together a brilliant partnership of 242 runs with compatriot Nabi and took the Afghans to sniffing distance of chasing down the target. Omarzai remained unbeaten on 149 off just 115 balls while Nabi teed off to score 136 off 130 balls. However, Afghanistan fell short by 42 runs in the end.

#1 Pathum Nissanka's 210* vs Afghanistan

Pathum Nissanka's unbeaten 210 against Afghanistan comes first on this list for the sheer variety of strokes employed by the opener. The Lankans batted first and seemed to be making merry throughout their innings, eventually ending with 381-3 in 50 overs owing to Nissanka's knock, which came off just 139 deliveries and consisted of 20 boundaries and eight sixes.

Avishka Fernando (88) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (45) too played vital innings for the Lankans and helped prop their total up. In response, despite Azmatullah Omarzai's stunning 149 not out and Mohammad Nabi's 136, the Afghans could not chase this total down and were restricted to 339-6.