India overcame a tough challenge from Australia in the second one-dayer at Rajkot to square the three-match series 1-1. Batting first, India posted an impressive 340 for 6 on the board courtesy half-centuries from Shikhar Dhawan, skipper Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. While Dhawan was dismissed for 96 from 90, Kohli contributed 78 from 76, and Rahul blazed his way to 80 from 52 balls.
In response, Australia finished on 304 as Steve Smith contributed a wonderful 98 from 102 deliveries. No other Aussie batsman could cross the fifty mark though. Marnus Labuschagne was the next highest scorer with 46 from 47 balls. The Rajkot ODI saw a combined total of 644 runs being scored. This was one of the rare instances of 600-plus runs being scored in an ODI in India without an individual century. Here’s a look at three other times where over 600 runs were registered in one-day international without any batsman scoring a hundred.
643 runs — Asia v Africa, Afro-Asia Cup 2nd ODI (Chennai 2007)
In the second match of the Afro-Asia Cup played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on June 9, 2007, a match aggregate of 643 runs was registered. Asia XI, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, posted an imposing 337 for 7 on the board. Sourav Ganguly was the top-scorer for Asia XI, with a fluent 88 from 112 balls. At the top, Virender Sehwag blasted 52 from 38 balls while Mohammad Yousuf contributed 51 from 44 towards the end. Yuvraj Singh too played a splendid cameo, making an unbeaten 30 from 13 balls.
In reply, Africa XI were bowled out for 306. Mark Boucher was the top run-scorer for them with 73 from 71 balls. Batting at number three, Boeta Dippenaar contributed 67 from 72 deliveries. Opener Vusi Sibanda and Shaun Pollock hit 35 each, but Africa XI fell 31 runs short of the target. For Asia XI, Dilhara Fernando was the standout performer with 4 for 36.
641 runs — India vs England, 1st ODI (Rajkot 2013)
In the first ODI of the five-match series between India and England, played at Rajkot on January 11, 2013, a total of 641 runs were scored without a batsman from either side hitting a hundred. Electing to bat first after winning the toss, visitors England put up a highly challenging 325 for 4 on the board. Opener and captain Alastair Cook scored 75 from 83 while Ian Bell made 85 from 96. The impressive contributions continued as Kevin Pietersen hit 44 from 45, Eoin Morgan 41 from 38 before Samit Patel gave the finishing touches to the innings with a blazing 44 not out from 20.
India were competitive in response, but eventually ran out of steam, losing the contest by nine runs. Openers Ajinkya Rahane (47 from 57) and Gautam Gambhir (52 from 52) added 96 for the opening wicket. Yuvraj Singh contributed 61 from 54 and Suresh Raina 50 from 49. However, England kept chipping away at the wickets, and eventually ended up on top. Off-spinner James Tredwell was named man of the match for picking up 4 for 44 and stalling India’s chase.
637 runs — India vs England, 3rd ODI (Kolkata 2017)
England defeated India by five runs in a high-scoring encounter at Eden Gardens on January 22, 2017. The teams combined to put up 637 runs on the board, yet again with no batsman from either side scoring a hundred. England batted first and put up 321 for 8 on the board. Jason Roy hit 65 from 56 while Jonny Bairstow contributed 56 from 64. Towards the end, all-rounder Ben Stokes blazed his way to an unbeaten 57 from 39 balls while Chris Woakes also impressed with 34 from just 19.
In India’s chase, Kedar Jadhav made a belligerent 90 from 75 balls while skipper Virat Kohli and all-rounder Hardik Pandya contributed 55 and 56 respectively. However, India fell tantalizingly close to the target, finishing on 316 for 9. Stokes sent back both Kohli and Pandya to finish with 3 for 63 and was adjudged man of the match for his all-round brilliance.