Scoring a century in Tests and ODIs is more frequent than that in T20Is because the number of balls in the first two formats are more compared to the T20I one. In the Test and ODI formats, a batter can take his time to settle in the middle and then he can play some big strokes once he gets settled in the middle.
However, in these two formats, batting in the position of tailenders also has significance. The runs scored by batters from positions 8 to 11 can have a direct impact on the result of the match. Generally, the specialist batters play in the first seven spots, and then the specialist bowlers play in the final four spots.
In so many years of ODI cricket history, there have been only two such instances when a player scored a century while batting at eight, which shows how hard it is for a player to come at that position and score big. Here’s a list of those two players:
1. Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored a century today
Mehidy Hasan Miraz has emerged as a big match-winner for Bangladesh in the 50-over format of the game. He is a spin-bowling all-rounder, but he has turned heads with his stupendous batting performances in the last two matches against the Indian cricket team.
In the first ODI of the ongoing series against India, Miraz stitched up a match-winning partnership of 51 runs for the 10th wicket with Mustafizur Rahman. Now, in the second ODI, he smacked a century when the team’s score was 69/6 at one stage.
2. Simi Singh
Highest score at tailend position (#8 or below) in ODIs:
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) December 7, 2022
100* – Mehidy Miraz🇧🇩 v IND, today
100* – Simi Singh☘️ v SA, 2021#BANvIND
Last year, when the South African cricket team visited Ireland for an ICC Cricket World Cup Super League series, Indian origin all-rounder Simi Singh made a world record. He became the first player to hit a hundred in ODIs while batting at number eight or lower position.
