On May 21, 1997, Saeed Anwar slammed 194 off 146 balls against India in Chennai, breaking Viv Richards' 13-year-old record (189 not out vs England 1984) for the highest individual score in an ODI. He hit 22 fours and 5 sixes and used a runner for half of his innings.
Anwar had emerged as one of the world's best openers since the early 1990s and had a particular love for the Indian crowds. Viv Richards' 189 not out at Old Trafford (May 1984) had stood for thirteen years.
It was the league stage of the Pepsi Independence Cup, marking 50 years of Indian and Pakistani independence. Anwar was suffering from cramp from the early stages of his innings; Shahid Afridi came on as a runner. From the first over Anwar went after Anil Kumble, Venkatesh Prasad and Abey Kuruvilla, dispatching short balls behind square and over extra cover. He reached fifty in 47 balls, a hundred in 91, and accelerated. He cleared the rope three times against Kumble in successive deliveries late in the innings. He fell finally for 194 off 146 — caught by Sachin Tendulkar at mid-off off Sachin's own bowling — six runs short of becoming the first ODI double-centurion. Pakistan made 327 for 5; India 292 in reply. Pakistan won by 35 runs. Anwar was Player of the Match.
Anwar takes guard with Shahid Afridi as runner
Reaches fifty in 47 balls
Hundred in 91 balls
Hits Kumble for three sixes in an over late on
Out for 194 off 146 caught Tendulkar b Tendulkar
Pakistan 327/5 — India fall short by 35
May 21, 1997 — afternoon
Anwar opens with Rameez Raja; uses Afridi as runner for cramp.
Mid-innings
Reaches 100 off 91 balls.
Closing overs
Smashes Kumble for three sixes in an over.
Final over
Out for 194 off 146; Pakistan 327/5; eventually win by 35.
“It was the innings of my life. I was on auto-pilot from the very first ball.”
“I have never seen anyone hit Anil Kumble like that. He took the bowling apart.”
Pakistan won the league match by 35 runs. Anwar's 194 was hailed as 'the most destructive ODI innings in history' (Wisden Asia). It stood as the world record for over twelve years.
The highest ODI score for the next twelve years, until equalled by Charles Coventry of Zimbabwe in 2009 and finally broken by Sachin Tendulkar's 200* against South Africa in 2010.
The 194 marked a decisive shift in ODI batting — for years afterwards Anwar's score was the high-water mark for individual ODI brilliance. Tendulkar broke it in February 2010 with 200* in Gwalior. Anwar himself called it 'the innings of my life'.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
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