Scoring a century for a batsman is paramount as it is considered a yardstick for measuring the success of a batter. It is a rare achievement for many batters as in their entire career there are only a few innings in which they are able to score a century. Now imagine a batter remaining unbeaten on 99 and the overs getting finished, for a batter it is a bitter-sweet feeling as he has batted superbly but still hasn’t achieved that 3 digit mark. In this we will discuss the list of players who remained not out on 99 in ODI
Mohammad Yousuf – The Pakistani legend batter who has played many match-winning innings for his team in both tests as well as in ODIs is one of those few unlucky players who remained unbeaten on 99. In a match against India at Gwalior during Pakistan tour of India in 2007 Yousuf played a brilliant innings of 99* on 104 balls but was unfortunate to score a ton in that match. In the same match Sachin also missed the century and got out on 97. Pakistan lost the match by 6 wickets otherwise Yousuf would have got the Man of the Match award.
Brad Hodge – One of the unluckiest players of Australia considering the talent and ability he possessed. Brad performed really well in very limited opportunities that he got to represent Australia.In a match against New Zealand in the 2007 Commonwealth Bank series, he and Ricky Ponting added more than 150 runs for the 4th wicket. While Ricky managed to score a century, Hodge was unlucky as he scored 99* and Australia chased down the score in 48.2 overs. Had he scored one run more, it would have been his 2nd century in ODIs.
Michael Clarke – The former Aussie captain under whose captaincy Australia lifted the 2015 World Cup Trophy had been a solid middle-order batter for many years in both tests and ODIs. While playing against England in 2010 at the Old Trafford, Australia batted really well and scored 290 in 50 overs with significant contributions from Ponting and Clarke. Michael played beautifully but fate was not on his side as he could not score a 100 and went unbeaten to the dressing room.Australia easily won the match by 78 runs with a five-fer from Ryan Harris.
Virendra Sehwag – The Swashbuckling Indian opener who used to smash the bowlers from the very first ball has been one of the best openers to have played the game. He remained unbeaten on 99 in a match against Sri Lanka in the 2010 Tri-series. While Sri Lanka managed to score only 170 in the 1st innings, the Indian batters chased it very easily due to a brilliant innings played by Sehwag of 99* on 100 balls. With 15 overs left, Sehwag was quite unlucky as he could have easily scored a ton given the form he was in.
Evin Lewis – The latest player who missed out on a century in ODIs is Evin Lewis from West Indies. During the 2020 Ireland tour of West Indies in the first ODI, Ireland put up a total of 180 on board. West Indies chased it down in 33.2 overs and won by 5 wickets. Evin opened the innings and played it till the end and took his team home but was unlucky as he couldn’t score the century. But still it was a match winning innings played by him because West Indies kept losing wickets after wickets but he stood his ground till the end
