Scored 150+ runs but the team lost; these words define some of the most heartbreaking yet unforgettable moments in ODI history. Cricket may be a team sport, but occasionally, one player delivers a performance so extraordinary that it seems destined to seal victory. However, in rare and cruel twists of fate, even when a batter scores 150+ in an innings, the team still ends up on the losing side. This article explores those astonishing ODIs where individual brilliance clashed with collective failure, highlighting the paradox of valiant efforts in vain.
Each entry in this list is a testament to a player’s resilience and class, even when the result didn’t go their way. Whether it was due to a lack of support from the other end, a record-breaking chase by the opposition, or simply cricket’s cruel unpredictability, these matches show that even greatness isn’t always enough. Here are the Top 10 ODIs Where a Player Scored 150+ Runs But The Team Lost.
10. Travis Head – 152 vs England (2018)

In a high-scoring thriller at The Gabba, Travis Head scored 150+ runs but the team lost, despite a stunning counterattack during Australia’s chase. England had posted a massive total, and Head anchored the response with a mix of composure and flair. His 152 was studded with clean strokes and timely aggression, but with wickets tumbling at the other end, Australia fell short.
Stat Table:
Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Opposition | Venue | Year | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Travis Head | 152 | 130 | 16 | 5 | England | Brisbane | 2018 | England won |
9. Rohit Sharma – 150 vs South Africa (2015)

Rohit Sharma is no stranger to big scores, and in Kanpur, he scored 150+ runs but the team lost as South Africa clinched a thriller. Despite Rohit’s classy knock, India’s lower-middle order failed to capitalise, handing the Proteas a narrow win.
Stat Table:
Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Opposition | Venue | Year | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rohit Sharma | 150 | 133 | 13 | 6 | South Africa | Kanpur | 2015 | South Africa won |
8. Marcus Stoinis – 156* vs New Zealand (2017)

Stoinis came agonizingly close to pulling off a miracle as he scored 150+ runs but the team lost by just 6 runs. Batting at number 7, he struck fear into Kiwi hearts, smashing 9 sixes and almost pulling off an impossible chase before running out of partners.
Stat Table:
Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Opposition | Venue | Year | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marcus Stoinis | 156* | 117 | 9 | 11 | New Zealand | Auckland | 2017 | New Zealand won |
7. Andrew Strauss – 158 vs India (2011 World Cup)

In a high-stakes World Cup game, Andrew Strauss played one of the best knocks of his career, guiding England’s chase of 338. He scored 150+ runs but the team lost, settling instead for a rare tie. Strauss was calm, composed, and dominant, but victory remained elusive.
Stat Table:
Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Opposition | Venue | Year | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andrew Strauss | 158 | 145 | 18 | 1 | India | Bengaluru | 2011 | Match Tied |
6. Ricky Ponting – 164 vs South Africa (2006)

One of the greatest ODIs ever played, the 438 game in Johannesburg saw Gibbs score 150+ runs, but his team did not lose instead, it was Ricky Ponting who played a gem of 164 and scored 150+ runs but the team lost. Ponting’s blitz nearly sealed it for Australia, but South Africa pulled off the greatest chase in history.
Stat Table:
Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Opposition | Venue | Year | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ricky Ponting | 164 | 105 | 13 | 9 | South Africa | Johannesburg | 2006 | South Africa won |
5. Evin Lewis – 176* vs England (2017)

Evin Lewis was in sublime touch when he scored 150+ runs but the team lost against England in a rain-affected match. His unbeaten 176 helped West Indies to a challenging total. But England’s revised target (DLS method) and powerful top order proved too much, handing Lewis a cruel loss after a stunning solo show.
Stat Table:
Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Opposition | Venue | Year | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Evin Lewis | 176* | 130 | 17 | 7 | England | The Oval | 2017 | England won |
4. David Warner – 173 vs South Africa (2016)

David Warner’s explosive 173 off just 136 balls nearly took Australia to victory in Cape Town. However, he became another player who scored 150+ runs but the team lost, as South Africa’s attack held firm at the death. Warner’s innings was full of aggressive intent, but it lacked support and depth from the lower order.
Stat Table:
Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Opposition | Venue | Year | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
David Warner | 173 | 136 | 24 | 1 | South Africa | Cape Town | 2016 | South Africa won |
3. Sachin Tendulkar – 175 vs Australia (2009)

This match at Hyderabad is one of the most heart-wrenching for Indian fans. Sachin Tendulkar, chasing 351, played an epic knock of 175. Despite the masterclass, India crumbled under pressure in the final overs. It was one of the earliest instances where a player scored 150+ runs but the team lost, and it remains etched in cricket folklore.
Stat Table:
Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Opposition | Venue | Year | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sachin Tendulkar | 175 | 141 | 19 | 4 | Australia | Hyderabad | 2009 | Australia won |
2. Fakhar Zaman – 193 vs South Africa (2021)

In a dramatic chase against South Africa, Fakhar Zaman gave cricket fans one of the greatest solo efforts in recent memory. Chasing 342, Zaman scored 150+ runs but the team lost, falling just short after a controversial run-out on 193. His innings was filled with majestic strokes and brave running, but a lack of support from the middle order ensured Pakistan fell short.
Stat Table:
Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Opposition | Venue | Year | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fakhar Zaman | 193 | 155 | 18 | 10 | South Africa | Johannesburg | 2021 | South Africa won |
1. Charles Coventry – 194* vs Bangladesh (2009)

Zimbabwe’s Charles Coventry played one of the most astonishing innings in ODI history when he scored 150+ runs but the team lost. His unbeaten 194 equalled Saeed Anwar’s then-world record for the highest individual score in ODIs. Coventry carried his bat through the innings, demolishing the Bangladeshi bowling lineup with 16 fours and 7 sixes. Yet, Zimbabwe’s total of 312 wasn’t enough, as Bangladesh chased it down with some inspired batting.
Stat Table:
Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Opposition | Venue | Year | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charles Coventry | 194* | 156 | 16 | 7 | Bangladesh | Bulawayo | 2009 | Bangladesh won |
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