West Indies skipper Shai Hope on Sunday joined the elite list of top five fastest batters to score 5000 ODI runs as he equaled Virat Kohli and Viv Richards as the third fastest to reach the coveted milestone.
Shai Hope played a phenomenal unbeaten knock of 109 runs off 83 balls against England in North Sound Antigua on Sunday which earned him a place in the glittering list.
In a thrilling chase against England, Hope’s remarkable innings led the West Indies to a successful pursuit of a 326-run target in the first ODI of the series.
Let’s delve into the top five batters who reached the 5000-run milestone in the fewest ODI innings:
Shai Hope – 114 innings
The latest entrant in the coveted list, Hope now boasts a tally of 5049 runs in 119 ODI matches, maintaining an impressive average of 51.52. He has scored 16 centuries and 24 half-centuries in ODI cricket.
In the ongoing year, he’s achieved 741 runs in 15 matches at a remarkable average of 74.10. Over the years, his averages have fluctuated, ranging from 61.13 in 2019 to 35.45 in 2022.
Virat Kohli – 114 innings
Virat Kohli, recognized as one of the greatest ODI players, reached the 5000-run mark in 114 innings back in 2013. He has amassed a staggering 13848 runs in 280 innings at an exceptional average of 58.67 and a strike rate of 93.58.
Kohli during recent ODI World Cup broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most ODI centuries and became the first batter to score 50 ODI centuries.
Viv Richards – 114 innings
Legendary Viv Richards, achieved the 5000-run milestone in 114 innings back in 1987 and remained the the fastest to reach the landmark for over 25 years.
He amassed 6721 runs in his ODI career at an average of 47 and a strike rate of 90.20. He was one of the most fearsome batter during those days, which is evident by his strike-rate in an era where strike-rate over 80 was a rarity.
Hashim Amla – 101 innings
Hashim Amla holds the unique record of being the fastest to 3000, 4000, 6000 and 7000 runs in the ODI format. He achieved the 5000-run mark in 101 innings during a match against West Indies in 2015.
Amla’s ODI career included 8113 runs at an average of 49.46 and a strike rate of 88.39 with 27 ODI centuries, making him an invaluable asset since his debut in 2008. He is also the second-fastest to 2000, 5000 and 8000 runs in ODI cricket.
Babar Azam – 97 innings
Pakistan’s batting maestro Babar Azam broke Hashim Amla’s eight-year old record to become the fastest batter to score 5000 ODI runs. He also became the first batter to score 5000 runs in ODI cricket in less than 100 innings.
He has amassed 5729 runs in 114 ODI innings at a brilliant average of 56.72 with 19 centuries. He is also the second-fastest to 4000 ODI runs after Hashim Amla.
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