Flashback: The only instance of No 11 batter top-scoring a T20I innings

A no.11 player top-scoring for his side in any format is the rarest of rare sights in cricket. A team just can’t depend on their no.11 players to score the runs for them. Last week on 13th August, West Indies fast bowler Obed McCoy created a unique record of top-scoring for his side batting in the final position in a T20I innings.

The West Indies fast bowler has had some good times in T20 internationals this year. In the recently-concluded series against India, he delivered the best and also the worst figures for the Caribbean side in the shortest international format. And now, he became the first-ever player to top-score for his team batting at no.11.

Already 1-0 down against New Zealand in the three-match T20I series, the Men in Maroon had to win the second encounter to keep the series alive at Sabina Park in Kingston in Jamaica. The Kiwis batted first and posted a massive total of 215/5 in their allotted 20 overs, the highest total at the venue in T20I games.

Chasing a mammoth target of 216, West Indies faltered miserably in their run-chase. The batting has been their Achilles heel across formats for quite some time now and it was again evident against the Blackcaps. Top-four batters Kyle Mayers, Shamarh Brooks, skipper Nicholas Pooran and wicketkeeper batter Devon Thomas amassed just four, seven, one, and one respectively.

Shimron Hetmyer and Jason Holder scored 14 and 11 respectively while hard-hitter Rovman Powell mustered 21. All-rounders Romario Shepherd made 18 while Odean Smith managed to score just nine. Hayden Walsh, who batted at no. 10, scored as many runs but it was Obed McCoy, who batted on the last spot and top-scored for his side. He struck an unbeaten 23 off just 15 with the help of three fours and a maximum. The hosts got restricted to just 125/9 as they lost the clash by a huge margin of 90 runs.