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.
Also Read: All-time XI of Associate Nations
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.
#5 Kennedy Otieno, 144 vs Bangladesh at Nairobi, 1997
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.