We all love it when the underdogs topple the giants, don’t we? There’s a reason why the good old David vs Goliath stories are admired so much. In cricket, very rarely do we see such instances of a David defeating the Goliath but when it happens, it creates a buzz like nothing else.
Reliving such great matches with unbelievable results, here are the 10 greatest upsets in ODI cricket history:
#10 Scotland vs England (2018)
’10th of June 2018′ is a date that’ll forever be entrenched in Scottish sporting history. The English squad visited Scotland for a single ODI and fair to say; they didn’t have as great an outing as they would’ve liked.
On a flat surface that facilitated fierce stoke-making and quick-fire scoring, England won the toss but elected to field first on a surprising note. Making full use of the supportive pitch and quick outfield, Scottish openers (Captain Kyle Coetzer and WK Matthew Cross) stitched a fiery 100-runs partnership in less than 14 overs. However, both the openers were dismissed in quick succession after reaching the century partnership, and the onus of taking the innings forward was on the experienced shoulders of Calum Macleod.
Forming praiseworthy partnerships with Berrington (39) and Munsey (55), Calum played an aggressive-yet-controlled knock of 140 not out in mere 94 balls. ‘The MacLeod Masterclass’ took Scotland to a daunting total of 371/5 in their allotted 50 overs.
In reply, Jonny Bairstow played a sublime knock scoring 105 runs off 59 balls striking at over 177, thereby achieving a unique world record. Roy (34), Hales (52) and Ali (46) chipped in with valuable contributions, but couldn’t continue the momentum given by Bairstow. Towards the end, Plunkett showed some respite but he was left stranded on 47* off 45 as the team lost 10 wickets at the score of 365. Mark Watt was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets whereas Shafyan Sharif picked up the final wicket to script a famous win for the hosts.
Brief Scores: Scotland – 371/5 (50 overs) (Calum MacLeod 140*, Kyle Coetzer 58, George Munsey 55); England – 365 a/o (48.5 overs) ( Jonny Bairstow 105, Mark Watt 3/55, Alasdair Evans 2/50)
Result: Scotland defeated England by 6 runs
Man of the Match: Calum MacLeod (Scotland)
#9 Kenya vs West Indies (1996)
When West Indies faced Kenya in 1996 World Cup league game, it was expected to be a one-sided affair. And it was. But, to everyone’s surprise, it was the Kenyan side who outplayed the Windies.
Winning the toss, West Indies decided to field first, and their bowlers justified the decision with complete conviction. Kenya bundled out for 166 runs as Courtney Walsh and Roger Harper claimed 3-wicket hauls each.
167 for a star-studded Windies batting line-up surely didn’t look threatening, but the Kenyan bowlers had other ideas. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (19) and Roger Harper (17) were the only batsmen to score in double figures as West Indies succumbed to Kenya’s bowling attack. Maurice Odumbe and Rajab Ali scalped 3 wickets each dismantling the Caribbean line-up for a paltry total of 93.
Brief Scores: Kenya – 166 a/o (49.3 overs) (Steve Tikolo 29, Roger Harper 3/15, Courtney Walsh 3/46); West Indies – 93 a/o (35.2 overs) (Chanderpaul 19, Odumbe 3/15, Rajab Ali 3/17)
Result: Kenya defeated West Indies by 73 runs
Man of the Match: Maurice Odumbe (Kenya)
