Top 10 brutal innings in ODI cricket

8. Kevin O’Brien (113 v/s England, 2011)

Ireland continued their trend of upsetting more fancied teams in World Cup games as they pulled off a magnificent last-over victory over England, shocking every spectator in the stands.

It almost became a no-contest when the Shamrocks lost five wickets during the mammoth run-chase, but thanks to a stocky, purple-haired all-rounder who produced the fastest century in the World Cup, they were kept in the hunt.

Kevin O’Brien, Ireland’s best hope in the middle order, unleashed a brilliant spectacle of controlled brutality as he spearheaded the green brigade’s charge towards the 300-plus target. To put it simply, his innings was breath-taking.

Not many would have dared to thump Graeme Swann through the covers off only their second ball, but Kevin really doesn’t care about reputations when he is in the zone. In fact, he went on to tonk successive sixes off the bemused off-spinner, and from then on, Ireland’s innings got a new lease of life.

Without a care in the world for fielding restrictions, O’Brien dispatched Tim Bresnan over cover – the best shot of his innings – and clobbered both James Anderson and Stuart Broad with impunity. In the process, he rocketed to his century off just 50 deliveries, with 13 fours and six monstrous hits into the stands.

He fell with his side close to victory, but by then, he had done enough damage to England’s target, confidence and reputation, and it was only a matter of time before the Shamrocks rounded off the win, bringing St Patrick’s Day early into Bangalore!