Top 10 Batsmen with highest average in successful run chases in ODIs

Top 10 Batsmen with highest average in successful run chases in ODIs: Batting in the 1^st innings is considered relatively easier since there in no pressure of the required rate at which you are expected to score the runs, and there have been many batsmen who have done well batting in the first half of the match. But those who have the nerves of steel, the character of a leader and the courage of a warrior, stick ahead and lead the team home while chasing a target.

Here we have Top 10 Batsmen with the highest average in successful run-chases in ODIs: (minimum 1000 runs).

10. Arjuna Ranatunga (Sri Lanka) – 69.20:

Sri Lankan legend Arjuna Ranatunga can be credited for being the man who taught the Island nation what it needed to win the match. Ranatunga was a genuine stroke player and, loved to take on the bowlers; in his career spanning 269 ODIs, he helped Sri Lanka chase targets in 56 innings, and scored 2007 runs at an average of 69.20 with the best score of 131*. Arjuna accumulated 13 half-centuries and 1 hundred while leading Sri Lanka through successful run-chases.

Also Read – Top 10 Most successful captains in international Cricket

9. Allan Border (Australia) – 69.80:

Allan Border better known to be the Australian skipper who opened the World Cup win account for Australia back in 1987 is also one of the most famous batsmen from the country. Border was an amazing batsman, with limitations but the temperament that ensured he overhauled it. He played 46 innings in successful chases for the Aussies, scored 1815 runs, and carried an average of 69.80 while doing so. The legend scored 18 fifties and 1 hundred while successfully chasing targets for his team and did so at a strike rate of 73.24 which definitely stood towards the top in his era.

8. Martin Crowe (New Zealand) – 70.00:

New Zealand’s Martin Crowe was a delightful batsman to watch, the array of shots he had in his batting arsenal and the time he had to play them, made him a class act. He was played a part in 32 successful run chases for the Kiwis, during which he hit 1470 runs at an average of exactly 70. Crowe’s best performance in successful run-chases was 107*, he also scored 12, 50s and 2, 100s in those 32 innings.

7. Hansie Cronje (South Africa) – 70.08:

The tainted South African skipper Hansie Cronje was a part of 54 matches in which South Africa successfully chased the target and played a key role in 43 innings out of it. Cronje who was a quality stroke maker scored 1682 runs with a best score of 94 and made those at an average of 70.08. He also had 15 half-tons to his credit.

6. Eoin Morgan (England /Ireland) – 70.47:

The Ireland born England cricketer is the captain of the English limited overs squad at present. The man has played international cricket for Ireland and is playing for England now. Eoin Morgan had a role to play in 41 successful run-chases for his teams. He has scored 1339 runs at an average of 70.47, with 7 fifties and 4 hundreds in his account. If we have recently seen a lot of characteristic evolution in England’s ODI team these days, changing approach and gears, a lot of credit of it should go to Morgan’s positive and aggressive intent.

5. Michael Clarke (Australia) – 73.86:

Michale Clarke arrived in the era where legends were ruling Australian cricket but did good enough to make a place for himself in the team that underwent a huge transition. At the time he retired from ODI cricket he held the world cup trophy in his hands. Clarke played a crucial role in chasing down a score successfully for Australia in 53 innings from 68 matches, he scored 2142 runs in those chases at an average of 73.86 and hit 17 half-centuries and 3 centuries.

4. AB de Villiers (South Africa) – 81.48:

The South African ODI skipper is literally considered to be a man from some other planet, the confidence that he carries, the way he bats and the manner in which he thrashes the bowlers ruthlessly makes him one of his kind. AB de Villiers has played a part in 57 successful run-chases for South Africa batting in 50 innings, he has scored 2363 runs at a superlative average of 81.48. His best score while taking his team through a successful chase is 136*; AB has also struck 17 half centuries and 5 centuries in those matches and has scored his runs at a strike rate of 96.17.

3. Michael Bevan (Australia) – 86.25:

Michael Gwyl Bevan is the man who first fitted into the term ‘finisher’ in limited overs cricket. A batsman who was never affected by nerves, carried enough confidence to pull off unlikely victories with tail enders for support. Bevan was a part of 75 successful run-chases for Australia off which he batted in 45 innings, he scored 1725 runs at an average of 86.25. He also got to 12 fifties and 3 hundreds while doing so and made sure the Aussies always had someone to take them over the line.

2. Virat Kohli (India) – 90.10:

If people already call him a modern day limited overs cricket legend, they are not wrong. This man at the age of 27 has already shown enough to the world of what he carries. A class batsman Kohli likes to score his runs with authority. He has been a batting mainstay for India since he settled down in the team and is not just good while batting 1st but is an even better chaser. Kohli has scored 3514 runs in successful run-chases for India, which is the most and has collected them at an average of 90.10. He has scored 15 fifties and 14 hundreds which are the most number of hundreds by any batsman in the top 10.

1. MS Dhoni (India) – 101.16:

A wicket keeper, a captain and the finisher, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has played at least 3 roles for his team in most matches that he has played in his career. Easily the best finisher that has emerged from India and arguably also the best in the world MS Dhoni never had problems taking his team through to a win while chasing totals. The man has the best average in the list standing way ahead of his contemporaries at 101.16. Dhoni has over the years batted at various positions, under various circumstances and with different partners but the result has hardly varied. In the 88 matches and 62 innings that he has played in successful run chases for India MSD has scored 2428 runs which includes 16 fifties and 2 hundreds.

Also Read – Top 10 Batsmen with Highest Batting Average in ODI Cricket

(All Stats Updated Till 24th October 2016)