ODI cricket has seen a shift in strategy, with sides preferring to chase rather than set targets. Run chases have become the new standard in the 50-over format, with teams fielding players capable of hitting huge strokes at the fag end of the game.
Teams are content pursuing scores of 350 or higher and are confident of winning the game. T20 cricket has given teams confidence in their chasing ability. With his calculated strokeplay, Virat Kohli is the best example of a player who makes chasing appear easy. (You can check out complete stats related to chasing here.)
And in this article, we will delve into the top 10 highest individual scores while chasing a target in an ODI match.
Highest Individual Score while Chasing in ODI
| Player | Runs (Balls) | 4s/6s | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn Maxwell (AUS) | 201* (128) | 21/10 | Afghanistan | Mumbai | 7 Nov 2023 |
| Fakhar Zaman (PAK) | 193 (155) | 18/10 | South Africa | Johannesburg | 4 Apr 2021 |
| Shane Watson (AUS) | 185* (96) | 15/15 | Bangladesh | Mirpur | 11 Apr 2011 |
| MS Dhoni (IND) | 183* (145) | 15/10 | Sri Lanka | Jaipur | 31 Oct 2005 |
| Virat Kohli (IND) | 183 (148) | 22/1 | Pakistan | Mirpur | 18 Mar 2012 |
| Ross Taylor (NZ) | 181* (147) | 17/6 | England | Dunedin | 7 Mar 2018 |
| Martin Guptill (NZ) | 180* (138) | 15/11 | South Africa | Hamilton | 1 Mar 2017 |
| Fakhar Zaman (PAK) | 180* (144) | 17/6 | New Zealand | Rawalpindi | 29 Apr 2023 |
| Jason Roy (ENG) | 180 (151) | 16/5 | Australia | Melbourne | 14 Jan 2018 |
| Quinton de Kock (SA) | 178 (113) | 16/11 | Australia | Centurion | 30 Sep 2016 |
Key Insights
201: Glenn Maxwell broke Fakhar Zaman’s record of 193 runs and went past him by scoring 201* against Afghanistan, making his knock the highest individual score while chasing in ODIs as well as the World Cup.
193: Fakhar Zaman became Pakistan’s first player to achieve 150+ runs while chasing. Fakhar Zaman also beat Shane Watson’s previous record of 185* by scoring 193 runs, making it the highest individual score while chasing at that time.
1: Fakhar Zaman is the only batter who has scored two 180-plus knocks while batting in the second innings of an ODI match.
150: Virat Kohli, Jason Roy, Quinton de Kock, Sanath Jayasuriya, Rohit Sharma and Zaman are the only players who have notched up 2 or more 150-plus scores while chasing.
180: Jason Roy’s 180-run inning against Australia was crucial in England’s victory as they chased down 305 runs at the MCG. This knock was England’s highest individual score at that time until Ben Stokes surpassed it in 2023.
181: Ross Taylor’s stunning 181 against England demonstrated his remarkable batting prowess while chasing a large target of 336, leading his team to a memorable victory. Moreover, this is Taylor’s highest score in the 50-over format and New Zealand’s second-highest score.
438: Herschelle Gibbs’ famous 175-run innings against Australia occurred in 2006, while the team was chasing a mammoth 435-run target. His knock was the foundation upon which South Africa achieved the biggest run chase in 50-over history.
192.70: The strike rate achieved by Shane Watson while hammering an unbeaten 185 off 96 balls against Bangladesh in pursuit of a 230-run target. Thanks to his carnage, the Aussies sailed towards the target in just 26 overs.
