In One Day International (ODI) cricket, the achievement of both openers scoring hundreds in the same innings is a very rare and impressive feat. It shows great teamwork and skill by the opening batsmen, giving their team a strong start. This article looks at the top 10 matches where both openers scored hundreds, ranked from 10th to 1st based on significance and impact.
List of 10 Most ODI Matches with Both Openers Scoring Hundreds
10.India
in the match between India and England at Colombo (RPS) on 22 September 2002, both openers scored hundreds to set a strong foundation. Their centuries helped India post a competitive total, which proved enough to beat England comfortably. The solid opening partnership gave India control from the beginning, highlighting the importance of both openers scoring hundreds to secure victory.
| Team | Score | Innings | Result | Opposition | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 271/2 | 2 | Won | England | 22 Sep 2002 |
READ MORE: Top 10 Best ODI Innings with Most Hundreds Scored
9. India
Ranked 9th is the game between India and Kenya in Paarl on 24 October 2001. Here, both openers scored hundreds, giving India a commanding position early on. This solid start made it easier for India to maintain momentum and win the match. The performance demonstrated how vital it is for teams to have both openers scoring hundreds to dominate the opposition.
| Team | Score | Innings | Result | Opposition | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 351/3 | 1 | Won | Kenya | 24 Oct 2001 |
8. India
The India vs South Africa match in Johannesburg on 5 October 2001, both openers scored hundreds in the first innings. Despite this outstanding effort, India lost the game. This shows that even when both openers score hundreds, cricket remains unpredictable and requires support from the whole team.
| Team | Score | Innings | Result | Opposition | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 279/5 | 1 | Lost | South Africa | 5 Oct 2001 |
7. South Africa
South Africa vs India at Kochi on 9 March 2000. Here, both openers scored hundreds, but the team still lost the match. Their centuries were a remarkable individual achievement. The game proves that even with both openers scoring hundreds, the final result depends on team effort throughout the innings.
| Team | Score | Innings | Result | Opposition | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 301/3 | 1 | Lost | India | 9 Mar 2000 |
6. India
The 6th ranked match is India versus Sri Lanka in Colombo (RPS) on 7 July 1998. Here, both openers scored hundreds, providing a strong platform that led India to a win. This match highlights how important it is for teams to have both openers scoring hundreds to build momentum early in the innings.
| Team | Score | Innings | Result | Opposition | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 307/6 | 1 | Won | Sri Lanka | 7 Jul 1998 |
5. Kenya
Kenya versus Bangladesh at Nairobi (Gymkhana) on 10 October 1997 saw both openers scoring hundreds. This outstanding performance helped Kenya set a big total and win comfortably. The match underlines how both openers scoring hundreds can be the foundation for team success.
| Team | Score | Innings | Result | Opposition | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | 347/3 | 1 | Won | Bangladesh | 10 Oct 1997 |
4. Pakistan
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka at Sharjah on 30 October 1993. In this game, both openers scored hundreds, contributing heavily to a winning total. Their strong start shows how crucial it is to have both openers scoring hundreds for building large scores in ODIs.
| Team | Score | Innings | Result | Opposition | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 313/3 | 1 | Won | Sri Lanka | 30 Oct 1993 |
3. Pakistan
Pakistan versus Sri Lanka at Sharjah, earlier on 4 February 1993. Both Pakistani openers again scored centuries, setting up the team for a successful chase and win. This match confirms the consistent value of both openers scoring hundreds in creating winning opportunities.
| Team | Score | Innings | Result | Opposition | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 281/3 | 1 | Won | Sri Lanka | 4 Feb 1993 |
2. Pakistan
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka game at Adelaide on 17 February 1990. Here, both openers scored hundreds, leading the team to a commanding total and a successful win. The centuries gave Pakistan a strong start, emphasizing the importance of both openers scoring hundreds in international matches.
| Team | Score | Innings | Result | Opposition | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 315/3 | 1 | Won | Sri Lanka | 17 Feb 1990 |
READ MORE: Top 10 Players with the Most Sixes in ODI World Cup History
1. Australia
Australia vs India in Jaipur on 7 September 1986, the earliest recorded instance in this list where both openers scored hundreds. Although Australia lost, the achievement was remarkable and rare at the time. This match remains memorable as it underlines how significant it is to have both openers scoring hundreds to give the team the best chance to win.
| Team | Score | Innings | Result | Opposition | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 250/3 | 1 | Lost | India | 7 Sep 1986 |
In conclusion, both openers scoring hundreds in an innings is an extraordinary event in ODI cricket. It reflects excellent batting skill and teamwork right from the start of the innings. While sometimes the team wins and other times it doesn’t, the impact of both openers scoring hundreds is clear it gives the team a powerful foundation to build on. These top 10 matches highlight how rare and valuable this achievement is in the history of ODI cricket.