The Top 10 Run Scores in Cricket History

Cricket is a sport that is loved by many all over the world. The sport has been around for centuries and has seen many great players dominate the game.

There have been many great innings played in cricket, but which one is the best? In this article, we take a look at the top 10 run scores in cricket history.

Brian Lara’s World Record of 400 Runs

It's hard to believe that anyone could top Brian Lara's world record of 400 runs, set in 2004 against England. But that's exactly what South African batsman, AB de Villiers did in 2015.

De Villiers' innings were nothing short of extraordinary. He reached the milestone in just 341 balls and with 11 sixes and 10 fours. It was a batting masterclass that will go down in cricket history.

When you look at the stats, it's easy to see why de Villiers' innings are so impressive. His strike rate of 153.73 is the highest ever recorded in an innings of 400 or more runs. And his average of 280.00 is the best of all time!

Matthew Hayden’s 380-Run Knock

In March 2006, Australian opener Matthew Hayden bludgeoned his way to 380 runs against Zimbabwe—the highest score in cricketing history. In a marathon knock that spanned over 10 hours, Hayden smashed 43 boundaries and 6 sixes en route to his record-breaking score.

The innings were a testament to Hayden's power and skill as a batsman and announced him as one of the all-time greats in the sport. His knock helped Australia to a total of 551/6 and set the tone for an innings victory over the hapless Zimbabweans.

Sanath Jayasuriya’s Unbeaten 340

You may not know this, but the highest individual score in cricket history is an unbeaten 340. It was scored by a player named Sanath Jayasuriya, back in 1997.

Jayasuriya is a Sri Lankan player and was just 20 years old when he achieved this incredible feat. He played for Sri Lanka in the Test match format, and his innings included an unbelievable 30 sixes and 24 fours.

To put that into perspective, no one has ever hit more than 30 sixes in an entire career. In fact, the record for most sixes in a Test match is currently held by another player, Shane Warne. He hit only 23 in his entire career.

Needless to say, Jayasuriya's innings were one for the history books.

Virender Sehwag’s 319-Run Knock

Virender Sehwag's 319-run knock has become one of cricket's most iconic innings. It was the second double century in the history of Test cricket and took place on March 8th, 2003, against South Africa in Chennai.

The innings were remarkable for a number of reasons. Not only did Sehwag wield his bat in an explosive manner, but he showed remarkable control as well. He played a wide variety of shots, including reverse sweeps, lofted drives, and scoops over midwicket. He also made use of his paddle and uppercut to pick off runs when the opportunity arose.

Moreover, Sehwag was able to maintain a strike rate of 85 throughout the game—a feat that very few batsmen have been able to achieve. His knock proved crucial to India’s victory over South Africa and he earned himself a place in cricketing history.

Chris Gayle’s 317 Runs in a Single Inning

At the fifth spot, we have Chris Gayle's remarkable run of 317 in a single inning. This amazing feat was achieved by Gayle at the IPL 2013 match against Pune Warriors India. In his majestic innings, Gayle scored 18 boundaries and a whopping 14 sixes!

Batting first on a batting-friendly track, Gayle destroyed the Warriors' bowling attack and feasted on their bowling. He scored boundaries at will and kept going for the sixes even when the ball was outside his striking arc. In the process, he also broke many records, including becoming the first batsman to hit four consecutive centuries in T20 cricket.

It was an unbelievable performance from Gayle and it will surely be difficult for any other player to break this record for years to come.

Graeme Smith’s Unbeaten 277

If you’re a fan of cricket, you’ll definitely have heard of South African batsman Graeme Smith. His unbeaten run of 277 against England in the 2003-04 season was an awe-inspiring sight to behold and was especially impressive since it came in his first test match as captain.

Smith faced 555 deliveries in total during the match, engaging in a marathon inning that lasted just over 12 hours. He struck 39 boundaries and one six during his knock and managed to turn a 5-wicket defeat into a 7-wicket win for South Africa.

His score at the time became the highest test score by an individual and he was rightly lauded for his dedication, focus, and skill that it took to reach such an impressive run. It turned out to be the beginning of an illustrious career, with Smith eventually becoming one of the greatest batsmen of all time.

Rahul Dravid’s 270 Versus Pakistan

Rahul Dravid’s 270 Versus Pakistan is one of the most memorable run scores in cricket history. Playing against Pakistan in 2004, Dravid was able to amass what was then the highest Test score ever seen. It also happened to be his career-defining innings.

At the time, Dravid was coming off a mediocre run form, with just 48 runs from his last five innings. But he rose to the occasion and scored a whopping 270 off 495 balls. His outstanding performance helped India beat Pakistan by an inning and 86 runs.

The match also saw top-notch performances from VVS Laxman (148) and Sachin Tendulkar (194). To this day, the game is known in cricket circles as “The Miracle at Eden Gardens” and has gone down as one of the greatest Test matches ever played.

Sourav Ganguly’s 239 Against Sri Lanka

At number 8 on the list is Sourav Ganguly’s 239 against Sri Lanka. Playing at home in India in 1999, Ganguly dominated the Lankan bowling attack, amassing 239 runs in a remarkable inning which is still remembered fondly by Indian fans.

With a strike rate of 61.51 and a total of 37 boundaries and three sixes, it was truly an amazing display of batting prowess. In fact, such was the magnitude of his score that he single-handedly propelled India to a mammoth 537/8 declared score.

Ganguly’s performance that day is made all the more impressive when you consider that his 239 runs comprise nearly 45 percent of India’s total score! His monumental contribution helped secure India’s victory over Sri Lanka in that match and remains one of the highest scores achieved in cricket history.

Sachin Tendulkar’s Unbeaten 241

Speaking of legendary batsmen, no list of record-breaking run scores would be complete without a mention of none other than the God of Cricket himself—Sachin Tendulkar.

In 2010, Sachin set the record for being the only batsman to score an unbeaten double-century, making 241 not out in an innings against South Africa. It was a unique feat that brought the whole stadium to its feet, with fans cheering and applauding this incredible feat.

Of course, Sachin’s 241 runs are even more impressive when you consider the context of his achievement. During his career, he faced some of the best bowlers in cricket history, and yet still managed to reach a score that nobody else had ever achieved before or since.

Clearly, Sachin was blessed with both incredible skill and unbelievable determination to make his mark on cricket history through this one memorable match.

Mohammad Azharuddin’s 224 Run Knock

Sitting in tenth place is the legendary Mohammad Azharuddin’s 224-run knock against South Africa in 1996. Azharuddin was part of a batting line-up that included some of the greatest players to ever play the game, such as Sachin Tendulkar, Navjot Singh Sidhu, and Sourav Ganguly.

Azharuddin had already built a reputation as one of India’s best batsmen, and during this game, he put on an unforgettable display of skill by scoring 224 runs in just 199 balls. His innings included 14 fours and 5 sixes.

Azharuddin’s innings helped India to a commanding total of 440/2, sealing an impressive victory for them over South Africa in the process. He went on to become India’s most capped test player and was widely regarded as one of the finest cricketers of his generation.

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