Cricket is a team game, but individual brilliance often defines its most unforgettable moments. In ODIs, when openers scored centuries, it typically sets the tone for a dominant performance. A century at the top is usually the launching pad for a massive total or a clinical chase. However, cricket’s cruel irony sometimes flips the script when openers scored centuries, only for their teams to crumble later and lose the match. These instances are bittersweet: they underline the beauty of the game, where even flawless innings at the start can’t guarantee a win if the rest of the side falters or the opposition pulls off something remarkable.
In this article, we revisit the Top 10 ODI Matches Where Openers Scored Centuries but the Team Still Lost. These are stories of blazing beginnings and tragic endings, where the efforts of openers went in vain. Each match showcases how even the best-laid foundations can fall apart under pressure, reminding us that cricket is a game of fine margins.
10. Virender Sehwag (114) & Gautam Gambhir (102) vs Pakistan – Karachi, 2006
In a match loaded with pressure, India’s openers scored centuries to chase down 349. It was a thrilling start as Sehwag and Gambhir played with flair and aggression. But Pakistan struck back through their spinners, and the Indian middle order collapsed. Even though the openers scored centuries, India lost by 5 runs.
Match Summary (India vs Pakistan – Feb 13, 2006, Karachi):
| Openers | Individual Scores | Partnership Runs | Target | Team Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sehwag, Gambhir | 114, 102 | 202 | 349 | 343/9 | Pakistan won by 5 runs |
9. Chris Gayle (135) & Evin Lewis (108) vs England – Grenada, 2019
This was pure carnage by the West Indies. Gayle and Lewis obliterated England’s bowling. Openers scored centuries and took the Windies close to a record chase of 419. But Stokes and Woakes nailed their yorkers at the end, and wickets tumbled. West Indies fell short despite a dream start.
Match Summary (West Indies vs England – Feb 27, 2019, Grenada):
| Openers | Individual Scores | Partnership Runs | Target | Team Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gayle, Lewis | 135, 108 | 232 | 419 | 389/10 | England won by 29 runs |
8. Andrew Strauss (158) & Alastair Cook (109) vs India – Bangalore, 2011 WC
In one of the most thrilling World Cup matches ever, Strauss and Cook put on a show. Strauss’s 158 in particular stood out. England came close to chasing 338, and despite their openers scoring centuries, the game ended in a heart-stopping tie. A draw feels like a loss when openers score so big.
Match Summary (England vs India – Feb 27, 2011, Bangalore):
| Openers | Individual Scores | Partnership Runs | Target | Team Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strauss, Cook | 158, 109 | 192 | 339 | 338/8 | Match Tied |
7. Fakhar Zaman (138) & Imam-ul-Haq (113) vs South Africa – Centurion, 2021
In a record-breaking chase of 342, Fakhar Zaman and Imam scored brilliant centuries. It was one of those rare matches where both openers scored centuries, yet the team never quite seized full control. Rabada’s late surge and a flurry of wickets in the last 10 overs resulted in a narrow loss.
Match Summary (Pakistan vs South Africa – Apr 2, 2021, Centurion):
| Openers | Individual Scores | Partnership Runs | Target | Team Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fakhar, Imam | 138, 113 | 227 | 342 | 331/9 | South Africa won by 10 runs |
6. Jason Roy (101) & Jonny Bairstow (111) vs India – Pune, 2021
England was chasing a stiff target of 337, and Jason Roy and Bairstow looked unstoppable. They added 135 in no time, and both openers scored centuries with incredible flair. But once they fell, England’s innings spiralled out of control. Thakur and Bhuvneshwar bowled brilliantly, and England crumbled under pressure, losing by 7 runs.
Match Summary (England vs India – Mar 26, 2021, Pune):
| Openers | Individual Scores | Partnership Runs | Target | Team Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roy, Bairstow | 101, 111 | 135 | 337 | 330/10 | India won by 7 runs |
5. Hashim Amla (119) & Quinton de Kock (108) vs Pakistan – Centurion, 2013
South Africa’s golden pair, Amla and De Kock, both scored majestic tons against Pakistan, taking their side to 299. It looked like enough, especially at home. But Afridi’s explosive 88* off 48 balls turned the game on its head. Even though openers scored centuries, Pakistan stole the show with just one wicket in hand.
Match Summary (South Africa vs Pakistan – Nov 30, 2013, Centurion):
| Openers | Individual Scores | Partnership Runs | Target | Team Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amla, De Kock | 119, 108 | 212 | 300 | 299/5 | Pakistan won by 1 wicket |
4. Martin Guptill (114) & Colin Munro (103) vs England – Hamilton, 2018
England set a big target of 335, but New Zealand’s openers scored centuries in a commanding response. Guptill and Munro gave them the perfect start, but poor middle-order contributions and excellent death bowling from Chris Woakes turned the tide. New Zealand lost by 6 runs in what should’ve been a memorable win.
Match Summary (New Zealand vs England – Feb 25, 2018, Hamilton):
| Openers | Individual Scores | Partnership Runs | Target | Team Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guptill, Munro | 114, 103 | 204 | 336 | 329/9 | England won by 6 runs |
3. Upul Tharanga (111) & Dilshan (106) vs India – Rajkot, 2009
In a high-octane run fest, Sri Lankan openers Tharanga and Dilshan toyed with the Indian attack, racking up centuries in their 213-run opening stand. Chasing 415, Sri Lanka came heartbreakingly close but lost momentum after both openers fell. They ended on 411, losing by just 3 runs in one of the closest matches where openers scored centuries.
Match Summary (Sri Lanka vs India – Dec 15, 2009, Rajkot):
| Openers | Individual Scores | Partnership Runs | Target | Team Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tharanga, Dilshan | 111, 106 | 213 | 415 | 411/8 | India won by 3 runs |
2. Tamim Iqbal (128) & Liton Das (121) vs Zimbabwe – Sylhet, 2020
In what seemed like a one-sided contest at first, Bangladesh’s openers scored centuries and built a mammoth total of 321. However, Zimbabwe launched a shock counterattack through Chakabva and Williams. The middle overs saw some sloppy fielding and bowling from Bangladesh, and despite their openers scoring centuries, they succumbed in a last-over thriller.
Match Summary (Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe – Mar 6, 2020, Sylhet):
| Openers | Individual Scores | Partnership Runs | Target | Team Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das | 128, 121 | 292 | 323 | 322/7 | Zimbabwe won by 3 wickets |
1. David Warner (124) & Aaron Finch (153) vs India – Rajkot, 2020
The Australian openers, David Warner and Aaron Finch, were in devastating form chasing 341. The duo stitched a monstrous 200+ partnership, and both openers scored centuries in style. Yet, as soon as they departed, the middle order collapsed. India clawed back through disciplined bowling from Bumrah and Saini. It was a masterclass in pressure handling by India despite Australia being ahead for most of the chase.
Match Summary (Australia vs India – Jan 17, 2020, Rajkot):
| Openers | Individual Scores | Partnership Runs | Target | Team Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Warner, Aaron Finch | 124, 153 | 225 | 341 | 304/10 | India won by 36 runs |
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