The 4 best ODI centuries in a losing cause since 2010

One of the biggest brutalities of a team sport is when a piece of individual brilliance ends up in a losing cause.

However, many a time, such innings are remembered for a long time due to the sheer brilliance of the player, be it under conditions of great pressure or simply a tough situation.

Scoring a century in ODIs is no mean feat, especially when the pitch is favouring the bowlers or simply the other batsmen have failed to put up a show. Also, sentimentally, such innings create greater impact for the fans who feel the pain more when such great innings go in vain.

While there have been quite a few innings in this decade, those mentioned in the forthcoming slides take into consideration the magnitude of the game; be it a series decider or even a crucial World Cup encounter.

Here, we look at 4 of the best centuries of this decade that were produced on tough pitches and in an important moment against strong opposition, yet ended up in a losing cause:

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#4 MS Dhoni (113 vs Pakistan, Chennai, 2012)

MS Dhoni put on one of the best rearguard actions ever seen

On a gloomy Sunday, with an early morning start, Pakistan won a good toss and put India into bat. With the ball swinging and seaming prodigiously, the Indians were reduced to a disastrous 29-5 and were in danger of being bowled out for a paltry total in front of a packed house at the M.A. Chidambaram stadium.

Enter MS Dhoni, with the burden of being the captain and having to resurrect the team from dire straits on a terrifying pitch against an in form and magnificent Pakistan bowling attack. He started out by showing tremendous discipline and technique, combined with excellent awareness outside the off stump, confidently seeing out the initial stages.

Slowly, as the pitch eased out and the spinners came in, he started milking the singles and two's, establishing a base for the final launch. The Indian captain played right through the 50 overs ensuring India reached a respectable total of 227 which seemed impossible at 29-5.

Though, with the pitch easing out, Pakistan chased the target with reasonable ease, this innings from MS Dhoni was a masterclass given the situation, magnitude, pitch and attack, all of which were at its extreme toughest.

It is still spoken about as one of the greatest ODI innings of all time against all odds and justified by the fact that Dhoni, despite being on the losing side was awarded the Man of the match award.

#3 AB Devilliers (112 vs India, Chennai, 2015)

ABD put up a batting clinic rarely seen by a foreign batsman on a spinners paradise

The 4th ODI between India and South Africa was a crucial game for both teams with India in a must-win scenario, having gone down 1-2 in the 5-match series. For South Africa, it represented a great opportunity to register their first ever series win in India.

India won a good toss and decided to bat first on a square turner, that turned right from the start of the match. Virat Kohli rose to the occasion and produced a batting masterclass with a brilliant 138 leading India to a daunting score of 299-8.

In reply, South Africa started well against the pacers only to be knocked back once the spinners came on and spun a web around the batsmen reducing the Proteas to 88-4.

AB de Villiers entered the crease right in the middle of Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra's superb spells on a wicket turning viciously and produced strokeplay of authority and variety with immaculate footwork rarely seen by foreign batsmen on Indian soil.

With wickets falling around him and fellow batsmen looking clueless against the spin, de Villiers produced an innings for the ages of 112 that had South Africa in contention for an unlikely victory until finally being dismissed.

Although defeated, the innings by de Villiers was a show of genius and maintained South Africa's belief in the series resulting in a stupendous batting display in the very next match to clinch their first ever series win in India.

#2 Mahela Jayawardene (103 vs India, 2011 World Cup Final, Mumbai)

Mahela Jayawardene at his classical and elegant best in the World cup finals 2011

The big day of the 2011 World Cup final had arrived with Asian giants India and Sri Lanka locking horns in front of a packed Wankhede Stadium. Batting first, Sri Lanka were up against an inspired and disciplined bowling performance from India who suffocated the Sri Lankans to 60-2 in 18 overs.

Then, the experienced pair of Sangakkara and Jayawardene took charge in restructuring the innings, but when Sangakkara fell on 49, it triggered a mini-collapse leaving Sri Lanka perilously placed at 182-5.

From that point on, Mahela took charge and in his inimitable and classical way timed his way to one of the greatest innings in World Cup finals, propelling Sri Lanka to a highly competitive 274-6, thereby silencing the Mumbai Crowd.

However, the night clearly belonged to India who chased the target and celebrated a World Cup triumph at home. But, every single ardent cricket lover will always remember this innings of Mahela Jayawardene as one of the most classically destructive innings played with such composure and style on the biggest of stages.

#1 Kane Williamson (112 vs England, Wellington, 2018)

King Kane so nearly conquered England with a single-handed century of the highest quality

With the series locked at one apiece, England and New Zealand battled out on a difficult surface that had help for both pacers and the spinners. Batting first, England huffed and puffed their way to 234 which given the surface seemed largely competitive.

In the run chase, the Kiwis were reduced to 103-6 and the result seemed a foregone conclusion when Kane Williamson with his impeccable and tight technique was joined by Santner to lead the recovery.

With a solid defence and the odd calculated risks, Kane got New Zealand close to victory with an unthinkable 112* on a pitch where no other batsman from both teams had even reached the half-century mark.

Though he stumbled in the final hurdle having to do it all by himself, this knock by Williamson will go down as one of the greatest one-man innings in cricket.