Last Updated on 12 months by Charbel Coorey
David Warner dominates the highest individual scores list for Australia in men’s ODI World Cups. The left-hander notched his 21st ODI century – and fifth in World Cups – at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the crucial clash against Pakistan.
He took advantage of early fortune on 10 courtesy of Usama Mir’s horror dropped catch, going on to make a superb 163 off 124 balls to set Australia up for a big score at Bengaluru.
But, where does the 163 rank among the highest individual scores for Australia in World Cups? Here is a look at the top five.
Top 5 highest scores for Australia in men’s ODI World Cups
5. 153 by Aaron Finch vs Sri Lanka, 2019
There were question marks around Aaron Finch’s form heading into the 2019 World Cup. However, the Australian captain put those doubts to the side with his 132-ball 153 against Sri Lanka at The Oval.
Finch struck 15 fours and five sixes, combining for a 173-run stand with Steve Smith (73 off 59 balls) to set up Australia’s total of 334/7. In the end, it was 87 too many for the Sri Lankans.
4. 158 by Matthew Hayden vs West Indies, 2007
Australia blew everyone away in the 2007 World Cup, including West Indies. The hosts had no answers to the great Matthew Hayden, who played a trademark innings of authority at Antigua.
Hayden’s 143-ball 158 set up Australia’s 322/6, a total the Windies didn’t get close to despite fifties from Brian Lara and Denesh Ramdin. Australia’s 103-run win was their 22nd victory out of their previous 23 World Cup matches dating back to 1999, confirming an incredible period of dominance.
3. 153 by David Warner vs Pakistan, 2023
Warner’s 153 comes in at third. As he launched sixes (nine of them), particularly in the midwicket region, the left-hander had visions of beating Shane Watson’s famous 185* in 2011, which remains the highest individual score by an Australian in all ODIs.
The innings came as welcome relief to Warner, who had made a slow start to the 2023 World Cup. His love affair with the M Chinnaswamy Stadium continued, taking advantage of magnificent batting conditions and some ordinary Pakistani bowling to register a big score.
2. 166 by David Warner vs Bangladesh, 2019
Warner again. Bangladesh were on the end of an onslaught in the 2019 tournament, with only Mehidy Hasan Miraz (0/59 off ten overs) conceding less than seven an over. Australia piled on 381/5, with Warner’s 147-ball 166 setting the foundation of the innings.
Warner combined with Aaron Finch (53) for a 121-run opening stand, followed by a mammoth 192-run stand with Usman Khawaja (89) to all but bat Bangladesh out of the contest. The Tigers did well in reply to notch up 333/8, but the result was never really in doubt.
1. 178 by David Warner vs Afghanistan, 2015
No other player has more than one 150+ score in men’s ODI World Cups. Warner has three. His 178 against Afghanistan in Perth in 2015 remains the highest for Australia, which set up a mammoth total of 417/6 where Steve Smith (95 off 98 balls) and Glenn Maxwell (88 off 39 balls) also delivered.
Warner and Australia showed no mercy to the World Cup debutants. The left-hander struck 19 fours and five sixes in his memorable innings, before Australia wrapped up a huge victory by 275 runs.
