Top 3 most expensive overs in ODI cricket
Bowlers usually face the tough task of containing the batters in white-ball cricket who look to punish even the slightest error in line and length by the bowler. Somedays, it gets even worse as the batters are in the mood to destroy the hapless bowlers, and the introduction of T20 cricket hasn’t helped the bowlers’ cause either, as the batters are given full license to play their shots even in 50 overs format.
We look at the most expensive overs ever bowled in ODI cricket.
3) Jason Holder against South Africa, 2015 – 34 runs
South Africa squared up against West Indies in the 19th match of the 2015 ICC World Cup in Sydney. The match was made memorable by AB de Villiers’ majestic 166 off just 66 deliveries, one of the greatest innings ever played in ODI history, let alone in a World Cup match. The West Indies bowlers were powerless against the South African skipper’s batting prowess and could do nothing to contain him. Jason Holder went for 34 runs in the 48th over of the innings as he bowled two no-balls in the over to a menacing South African skipper, the second most expensive over in World Cup history.
2) Robin Petersen against Sri Lanka, 2013 – 35 runs
Sri Lanka hosted South Africa for the third ODI of a five-match series at Pallekele after defeating the visitors in the first two matches and were eyeing a series victory against the Proteas. Sri Lanka were reduced to 93/7 in the 31st over in pursuit of South Africa’s 223. The hosts were staring down an embarrassing loss at home, but that’s when Thisara Perera unleashed his full wrath on South Africa’s Robin Peterson as he launched the spinner for five sixes and a boundary in an over, which yielded 35 runs in total.
1) Gaudi Toka against the USA, 2021 – 36 runs
The United States of America took on Papua New Guinea in a day-night game at Al Amerat. Papua New Guinea invited the USA to bat first after winning the toss. Jaskaran Malhotra scored a brilliant century as he single-handedly demolished the opposition bowlers. But the batter saved his best for the last as took apart Gaudi Toka’s medium-pace bowling as he smacked him for six maximums in the last over. Toka’s 36-run over is the joint most expensive over bowled in ODI cricket.
Daan van Bunge against South Africa, 2007 – 36 runs
South Africa faced minnows Netherlands in the seventh match of the 2007 World Cup. The Proteas were heavy favorites heading into the clash and were in a strong position of 114/2 after the 19th over. Herschelle Gibbs came into bat after the departure of skipper Graeme Smith and was watchful early on in the innings. But the explosive batters’ patience eventually ran out as he took on Daan van Bunge and launched six gigantic sixes in the 30th over. Gibbs created history by becoming the first man to hit six maximums in an over in a World Cup match.
