India v England 2008-09

An underprepared England side conceded their highest total in one-day cricket: India's 387 for five beat Pakistan's 353 for six in Karachi three years earlier, and was also the biggest one-day international total on Indian soil. Gambhir and Sehwag opened with 127 in 20 overs before Yuvraj Singh, stripped of the vice-captaincy because of concerns over his form, hit 138 from 78 balls with 16 fours and six sixes. He did so despite a back injury that forced him to wear a brace and latterly employ a runner. His 64-ball hundred (the second fifty from 22 balls) was the fastest against England. It owed more to scientific hitting through the leg side than raw slogging, though the highlight was a straight six off Flintoff with minimal follow-through.

India raised the 100, 200 and 300 with sixes, and hammered 124 in the last ten overs. England did not bowl as badly as the score suggests - perversely, had they been wilder Yuvraj could not have set himself for his shots - but lacked subtlety and variation; it was hard to recall an innings of fewer appeals and opportunities. India, in contrast, manufactured two slip catches in the first five overs, Zaheer Khan's left-arm angle posing a particular threat. Bopara ran out his captain, but did at least help England avoid their heaviest one-day defeat with an unbeaten 54. He hit five sixes, which did him no harm ahead of the second IPL auction, which valued him at $US450,000.