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Top 5 Highest Individual Scores In ODI World Cup Run-Chases

image-looyhknwAndrew Strauss celebrating his 2011 World Cup ton vs IND (x.com)

The ICC Cricket World Cup, a remarkable tableau within the rich history of the game, possesses a unique ability to orchestrate the synchronized heartbeat of nations. Within this crucible of dreams and destinies, perhaps no feat is as daunting and exhilarating as chasing down a target.

The quintessential essence of an ODI World Cup match and the sheer magnitude of its grand setting transforms every delivery into a trial by fire. In this high-stakes theater of cricket, some batsmen have risen above the rest to etch their names among the history pages by shaping some of the highest individual scores ever recorded under the burning spotlight of a World Cup run-chase.

Here at OneCricket, against the backdrop of Glenn Maxwell’s latest batting bombardment, we turn our gaze to those exceptional individuals who have booked their names among the elite, boasting five of the highest individual scores in the second innings of an ODI World Cup match.

Top 5 Highest Individual Scores in Run-Chases from ODI World Cup matches:


1. Glenn Maxwell - 201* vs AFG, 2023 World Cup

image-looyjd1bGlenn Maxwell in action against AFG at the 2023 World Cup (x.com)

Glenn Maxwell shattered numerous records, and Afghanistan’s semi-final dreams, by gatecrashing their high-flying spinners with an unbeaten 201-run hurricane to pull off a sensational run-chase heist. Turning up for Australia at a near-capacity Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, in one of their final league fixtures of the 2023 World Cup, Maxwell belted his record knock from just 128 deliveries in an innings glittered with 21 surgical boundaries and 10 towering sixes.

The cricketer battled cramps, Afghanistan’s in-form bowlers and team’s top-order jitters to single-handedly lift his side from 91-7 across their 292-run task without further casualty. Capping one of the innings of a lifetime, Maxwell’s carpet-bombing also reduced his skipper Pat Cummins as a mere spectator at the other end, as the tail-ender contributed just 12* in their unbroken 202-run stand.


2. Andrew Strauss - 158 vs IND, 2011 World Cup

image-looylgllAndrew Strauss in action against India at the 2011 World Cup (x.com)

In one of the earliest matches from the 2011 World Cup, England captain Andrew Strauss led his side from the front whilst chasing a monumental target against tournament hosts India in Chennai. In pursuit of 339 for a much-needed win, the elegant opening batsman pumped out 158 imperial runs from his end of the crease and formed notable top-order partnerships with Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell.

Strauss’ untimely dismissal at the hands of old-nemesis Zaheer Khan triggered shockwaves within the English camp, before the lower-order eventually brought them on levelling terms with India’s 338. Capping off a thrilling result, it was the English skipper who ended up overshadowing Sachin Tendulkar’s 120-run epic from the first innings with a ‘Player of the Match’ award.


3. Devon Conway - 152* vs ENG, 2023 World Cup

image-looyn75wDevon Conway celebrating his World Cup 2023 century vs ENG (AP)

New Zealand opener Devon Conway and experimental number three Rachin Ravindra lit up 2023 World Cup opener with majestic run-chase hundreds against defending champions England. Chasing 283 to win at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Conway lost opening partner Will Young up early before he formed an unbeaten 273-run stand with Ravindra that guided New Zealand past the finishing line with time and wickets to spare.

Employing enterprising stroke-play, the left-handed opening batsman produced 19 boundaries and three sixes in his 121-ball 152*. The innings also turned out to be his career-best ODI score, and marked one of only two instances at the time of a batsman scoring above 150 runs in a run-chase of an ODI World Cup game.


4. Dave Houghton - 142 vs NZ, 1987 World Cup

image-looyoksxDave Houghton in action vs NZ at the 1987 World Cup (x.com)

Zimbabwean legend Dave Houghton fought New Zealand’s experienced bowling attack and Hyderabad’s excruciating humidity to pump out 142 runs in a tight run-chase during their 1987 World Cup showdown.

After his side slumped to 104-7 in their victory pursuit of 243, Houghton eventually found an abled partner in tail-ender Iain Butchart as the two shared a counterattacking 117 for the eighth wicket. Houghton’s 137-ball effort, which featured 13 boundaries and six sixes, marked his maiden ODI century before his dismissal at the brink of the finishing line handed New Zealand a narrow three-run win.


5. Scott Styris - 141 vs SL, 2003 World Cup

image-looyq9xeScott Styris celebrating his maiden ODI century at the 2003 World Cup (x.com)

New Zealand batting prodigy Scott Styris unfurled one of the innings of the 2003 World Cup with his 141 in an exquisite run-chase masterclass against an experienced Sri Lankan attack in Bloemfontein. Chasing 273 for a win in their first match of the tournament, the dashing number four batsman arrived to the middle within the second over of the innings, after Pulasthi Gunaratne had blown away New Zealand’s top three for just 15 on the board.

Styris absorbed all the pressure with senior teammates Chris Cairns and Chris Harris with notable partnerships before tonking his maiden ODI century. The cricketer produced 141 runs from his end off just 125 deliveries, and he belted the experienced Sri Lankan attack with three boundaries and six sixes.

Unfortunately for the ‘Black Caps’, Styris received little-to-no assistance following Harris’ dismissal as his career-best ODI score was not enough to take his side to victory.