5 greatest 150+ ODI innings that ended in defeat

Getting an individual score of more than 150 runs is still not a common occurrence in ODIs. Out of the total of 4,070 ODIs played, there have been only 117 instances when a batsman has crossed that 150-run mark.

Rohit Sharma has achieved this feat seven times, which is the most by any player. He was able to add to his tally courtesy his two recent knocks of more than 150 runs against West Indies in the recently concluded bi-lateral ODI series.

Normally, when a batsman scores such a huge pile of runs, his team members sit comfortably in the dressing room. However, there have been occasions when even these masterful innings could not secure victory for the team.

Out of the 117 individual scores of 150+, only 15 have resulted in defeat. Here, we revisit the five greatest of such innings.

#5 Rohit Sharma (IND), 150 (133) vs South Africa at Kanpur

Helped by a brisk century from AB de Williers and a quickfire cameo by Farhaan Behardien, South Africa managed 303/5 in their first innings.

India began their chase on the right track and at one stage were 191-1 in the 34th over. Rohit Sharma played a blistering knock of 150 that included 13 boundaries and 6 sixes.

Ajinkya Rahane built a partnership of 149 runs with Rohit for second wicket. However, Rahane consumed too many deliveries for his innings of 60 runs, and a rare failure by Virat Kohli left Rohit with not much support from the other end.

At his dismissal, India needed 35 runs off 23 deliveries, and they eventually lost the match by 5 runs. Rohit scored more than half of India’s innings but unfortunately could not take his team to the victory mark.