Top 5 individual ODI scores by associate batsmen

The Associate nations may not have made much of an impact in cricket but have often produced sparks of potential on an occasion or two. For instance, let’s take Kenya’s fairy tale journey to the semi-finals where they justified why they deserved to reach there by beating Sri Lanka by 53 runs after winning against New Zealand by a walkover.

Another few examples of bright associate performances include Kenya’s 73-run win over West Indies in the 1996 World Cup and Netherlands’ perfect record against England in T20Is.

Over the years, several decent batsmen have been produced by the Associate nations and some of them have produced marvelous batting performances on several occasions, with some of these performances coming against the elite nations. Let’s take a look at the top five individual scores made by batsmen from Associate Nations.

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#5 Kennedy Otieno, 144 vs Bangladesh at Nairobi, 1997

Otieno’s 144 against Bangladesh is the highest individual score by a Kenyan batsman in ODIs

The oldest amongst the Obuya brothers, Kennedy Otieno was one of Kenya’s most crucial players in their run to the semi-finals of the 2003 Cricket World Cup, scoring two half centuries including an essential 60 in Kenya’s shock 53-run win over Sri Lanka and making a total of 12 dismissals (8c and 4st) which was the fourth highest of the tournament.

In an ODI career lasting more than 13 years, Otieno scored two centuries for Kenya. The first one of these centuries came against Bangladesh in the opening match of the 1997-98 President’s Cup which was a three-nation tournament featuring Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

The match was played at the Gymkhana Club Ground at Nairobi and the hosts were put in to bat first by Bangladesh skipper Akram Khan. Otieno alongside co-opener Dipak Chudasama put up an opening stand of 225 and they were continuously hitting the Bangladesh bowlers one boundary after another.

Otieno eventually scored 144 off 146 balls, hitting 12 boundaries and a six. Kenya scored 347/3 in their 50 overs and bowled out Bangladesh for 197, thus attaining a 150-run victory. For his valiant effort of 144, Otieno was adjudged the Man of the Match and this score remains the highest individual score by a Kenyan batsman in ODI cricket and the fifth highest for a cricketer representing an associate nation.

#4 Kyle Coetzer, 156 vs Bangladesh at Nelson

Coetzer’s valiant effort wasn’t enough to hand Scotland their first victory at the Cricket World Cup

Scotland had a disastrous outing at the 2015 World Cup as they lost all their matches and ended last among all 14 participating nations. However, Scotland’s Kyle Coetzer produced one of the best innings of the tournament in Scotland’s pool match against Bangladesh at Nelson.

Put into bat first, Callum MacLeod began well for Scotland as he scored a couple of early boundaries before being dismissed in the third over.

From here, opener Kyle Coetzer took charge. Coetzer was single-handedly managing Scotland’s batting and scored his second international century. He eventually scored 156 off 134 balls, hitting 17 boundaries and four sixes. By the time Coetzer departed, Scotland looked in a good position at 269/5 with five overs to spare.

Scotland ended their innings on 318/8 but weren’t able to defend it as some brilliant batting from Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Sabbir Rahman won the match for Bangladesh with 11 balls to spare.

Coetzer’s sole consolation was the Man of the Match award. His score of 156 was the seventh highest individual score of the entire tournament in addition to being the highest individual score by an associate batsman at the Cricket World Cup. It’s also the second highest individual score by a Scottish batsman.

#3 Ed Joyce, 160 vs Afghanistan at Belfast, 2016

Joyce’s 160 proved to be the turning point of the match

At number three, we have an innings which was played quite recently by Ireland’s Ed Joyce. Having played for England from 2006-2007, Joyce is one of the few cricketers to have represented more than one nation at the Cricket World Cup.

A few months back, the Irishman scored the innings of his life when Afghanistan were touring Ireland this year. It was the final ODI of the series at Belfast and Ireland needed to win the match to tie the series.

Put into bat first, Ireland had a poor start to their innings, losing captain William Porterfield and Sean Terry within the first ten overs. Ed Joyce along with Gary Wilson resurrected the Irish innings by building a 134-run partnership for the third wicket.

After Wilson’s departure, the pressure fell back on Ireland as they were 192-5 by the end of the 43rd over and the run rate wasn’t favouring them either. Stuart Poynter was guarding his wicket at the non-striker’s end as Joyce played some aggressive cricket towards the end of the innings, eventually scoring a career-best 160 off 148 deliveries which was also his second century of the series, hitting 19 boundaries and three sixes and helping Ireland reach a respectable total of 265.

His quickfire hitting in the twilight of the innings turned out to be a crucial one as Ireland won the match by just 12 runs. For his monumental efforts throughout the series, Joyce was adjudged the Man of the Series and Ireland managed to tie the series at 2-2.

#2 Callum MacLeod, 175 vs Canada at Christchurch, 2014

MacLeod’s 175 is the highest individual score by a Scottish batsman in ODI cricket

Callum MacLeod is our second Scot in this list due to his mammoth innings of 175 against Canada at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. It was Scotland’s final group game of the first round of the 2015 World Cup qualifiers. Put into field first, Scotland did not have the best of starts as they lost opener Matthew Cross in the fifth over.

However, MacLeod and Matt Machan solidified the Scottish batting with their sensible batting, piling up 144 runs for the second wicket before the latter got dismissed for 68. MacLeod was well set and he began to go for the big shots and kept on punishing the Canadian bowlers time and again.

He eventually scored a career-best 175 off 141 deliveries, hitting 14 boundaries and five sixes. Scotland’s innings ended at 341/9 at the end of 50 overs and the total was simply too much for the Canadians to handle as they were skittled for 171.

MacLeod was presented with the Man of the Match for his innings which is the highest individual score by a Scotland batsman in ODIs.

#1 Paul Stirling, 177 vs Canada at Toronto, 2010

Stirling’s majestic 177 from six years back still remains the highest score by an Associate Batsman in ODI Cricket

And the hard-hitting Irish opener Paul Stirling occupies the top spot with his effort of 177 against Canada in 2010. Ireland were touring Canada in 2010 and came into the second and final ODI of the series being 0-1 down.

Canada skipper Ashish Bagai won the toss and sent Ireland to bat first. Stirling was single-handedly stabilizing the Irish batting with his hard hitting while the other batsmen couldn’t last long.

Stirling completed his maiden ODI century and was bashing the Canadian bowlers to all parts of the ground. He ended up scoring 177 off 134 deliveries, hitting 21 boundaries and five sixes. Ireland scored 325 at the end of their 50 overs and had an easy task defending the total as a five-wicket haul by Albert van der Merwe helped Ireland bowl out Canada for 233, thus tying the series.

Stirling was adjudged the Man of the Match and his innings of 177 still remains the highest individual score by an associate batsman in ODI cricket.