While in Tests, it is okay to not score a boundary for a long time, this is not recommended in ODIs. With a limited number of deliveries to play, batters need to take the maximum toll of a ball. That said, a lot depends on the situation of the game and the nature of the opposition and the track. At times, scoring runs by taking singles and doubles could suffice the team requirement. If not a six, a boundary is a basic necessity in a batter’s innings. In some cases in the past, though, many players have actually hit a fifty and even got close to a hundred in ODIs without hitting a boundary. On that note, here, we take a look at the top 3 highest ODI scores without scoring a single boundary.
3) 82 – Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 2001
One of the most popular players to get a good score without a four is former South African cricketer Jacques Kallis. It was in Cape Town against Sri Lanka.
Interestingly, he just took 79 balls to make this score. The all-rounder’s knock, while batting at No.4, included four sixers. This inning is one of the memorable ones in the player’s career.
2) 84 – Zaheer Abbas (Pakistan) – 1982 || Kim Barnett (England) – 1988
It was in 1982 against Australia at Melbourne that Zaheer Abbas scored 84 runs without a boundary. He took 113 deliveries to get to this score.
A similar score was attained by Barnett without hitting a four in 1988. This game was against Sri Lanka at the Oval. Barnett took 146 balls to complete his innings.
1) 96 – Adam Parore (New Zealand) – 1994
96 stands at the top of the list when it comes to the top 3 highest ODI scores without scoring a single boundary. It was former Kiwi international Adam Parore who owns this feat.
Batting at No.3, the wicket-keeper batter took 138 deliveries to score 96 runs. He helped the Kiwis make a total of 269/4 against India at Vadodara. India won the game easily. Had Parore shown more intent, maybe the Kiwis could have won the game.
