Top 3 batting performances of Allan Border in ODIs

Allan Border was one of the best batters of his time. He was synonymous with grittiness and had the brittle nature to stay in the middle despite copping severe blows. He mostly batted in an era when Australia did not have as many good batters. Barring the top-order batters, Australia did not have as many good batters. Border played a key role in leading Australia as a captain and as a batter.

The Southpaw was brilliant as a Test batter. He could often play longer innings but played a key role in Australia in the middle order. His batsmanship as a Test batter in the middle order is second to none. However, Allan wasn’t anywhere close to being as good in ODIs as he was in Tests. Yet, he played some good knocks in the shorter format where he not just saved Australia, but also put them in a commanding position in the match.

Here are the three best ODI knocks of Allan Border:

105*(122) vs India

Back in 1980, Border used to bat as an opener. Back in time, opening wasn’t easy in ODIs. The challenge for Australia was to chase a total of 181 runs which could get tricky. At Sydney Cricket Ground, Australia had a task cut out after losing the wicket of John Dyson. Along with Greg Chappell, he took Australia home with ease. This duo did not lose their wickets.

Border batted the tough overs and rotated the strike well. At the other end, Greg played his natural game and put pressure back on the opponents. In his stay in the middle, Border scored an unbeaten 105 in 122 balls and registered his maiden ODI hundred. His knock included 12 fours and a lot of running between the wickets. Australia beat India by 9 wickets.

Also Read: OTD | Former Australian captain Allan Border was born in 1955

118*(88) vs Sri Lanka

1985 was the year where Allan peaked in ODIs. In the same year, he scored his fastest ODI ton. In the 13th match of the Benson and Hedges World Series Cup against Sri Lanka, Border scored an unbeaten 118 in just 88 balls which included 10 fours and 3 sixes. The aggressive knock of the Australian skipper came at a SR of 134.09.

Australia took advantage of the visiting side whose bowling attack wasn’t as experienced. The Southpaw provided the perfect finishing for the home side. The star batter was a bit cautious at the beginning and went after the bowlers for fun after getting set. His knock helped Australia to post 323/2 on the board. Australia won the match by 232 runs.

127*(140) against West Indies

West Indies had the best team in the 1980s. To score a terrific hundred against the best team and its bowlers showed he got the game. The Australian batter helped his side to score 247/6 in the first final of the Benson and Hedges World Series Cup. In 140 balls, the star batter scored an unbeaten 127 with little to no support from the other end.

Border smashed 13 fours and ran a lot between the wickets. He got little to no support from the other end. Against an attack consisting of Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, and Joel Garner, Border registered his career-best score in Sydney. Australia won this match with ease as they dismissed the 2-time world champions for 221 runs.

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