It’s December 1997, and the cricket world hasn’t yet imagined someone batting through an entire ODI innings to score 200 runs.
The very idea seemed almost impossible. Then Belinda Clark walked onto the field in Mumbai and rewrote history.
The Australian opener didn’t just break the barrier she obliterated it with an unbeaten 229 against Denmark in the Women’s World Cup.
This wasn’t just the first women’s ODI double century. It was the first ODI double century, period. Male or female.
And it would take another 13 years before any male cricketer could match what Clark achieved that day.
Which Cricketer Scored the First ODI Double Century?
The Historic Knock That Changed Everything
Australia batted first in that World Cup group match, and Clark opened the innings with a purpose that seemed unstoppable.
Facing Denmark’s bowling attack, she constructed an innings that combined technical brilliance with sustained aggression, a balance that’s difficult enough over 20 overs, let alone 50.
Her 229* came off just 155 deliveries, featuring 22 boundaries. What made it special wasn’t just the milestone itself, but how she paced it.
Clark showed the kind of match awareness you’d expect from someone who had captained her country: rotating strike, finding gaps, and accelerating when the bowlers offered width or length.
Australia posted 412/3 in their 50 overs, which remains one of the highest team totals in women’s ODI cricket.
Denmark, understandably overwhelmed, was dismissed for just 49 runs. The victory margin? A staggering 363 runs.
Understanding Belinda Clark’s Place in Cricket History
Clark wasn’t a one-hit wonder. She’d already established herself as one of the finest batters in women’s cricket before that December day.
Her career spanned from 1991 to 2005, during which she redefined what was possible for opening batters in limited-overs cricket.
What’s often overlooked is the context. In 1997, even the best male batters rarely crossed 150 in ODIs.
The highest individual score in men’s ODI cricket at that time was Viv Richards’ 189 from 1984.
Clark’s double century wasn’t just ahead of women’s cricket—it was ahead of the sport entirely.
Belinda Clark’s ODI Career Numbers
| Career Aspect | Statistics |
|---|---|
| ODI Matches | 118 |
| Total Runs | 4,844 |
| Batting Average | 47.49 |
| Highest Score | 229* |
| Centuries | 5 |
| Half-Centuries | 30 |
| Strike Rate | ~90.0 |
These numbers tell the story of consistency. An average just under 50 in ODI cricket is exceptional in any era.
Her strike rate, hovering around 90, was particularly impressive for the 1990s and early 2000s when scoring rates were generally lower.
When Did the First Male Cricketer Join the Club?
It wasn’t until February 24, 2010—more than 12 years after Clark’s feat that a male cricketer finally scored an ODI double century.
That honor went to Sachin Tendulkar, who made exactly 200 not out against South Africa in Gwalior.
Tendulkar’s innings was celebrated worldwide, and rightfully so.
It broke new ground for men’s ODI cricket and showed that evolving batting techniques, flatter pitches, and field restrictions could enable such scores.
But the conversation often misses that Clark had already proven it possible over a decade earlier.
Double Century in ODI: Indian Players Who Followed
After Tendulkar opened the floodgates, other Indian batsmen joined the exclusive list:
- Sachin Tendulkar: 200* vs South Africa (2010)
- Virender Sehwag: 219 vs West Indies (2011)
- Rohit Sharma: 209 vs Australia (2013), 264 vs Sri Lanka (2014), 208* vs Sri Lanka (2017)
Rohit Sharma holds the record for most ODI double centuries (three) and the highest ODI score by any batsman—264 runs against Sri Lanka in Kolkata.
Women Cricketers with ODI Double Centuries
Belinda Clark’s record stood alone in women’s cricket for 21 years. Eventually, New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr surpassed it with an unbeaten 232 against Ireland in 2018.
Here’s the complete list of women cricketers who’ve scored ODI double centuries:
- Belinda Clark (Australia): 229* vs Denmark, 1997
- Amelia Kerr (New Zealand): 232* vs Ireland, 2018
First Indian Woman Cricketer Scored a Double Century in ODI
As of now, no Indian woman cricketer has scored a double century in ODIs.
The highest individual score by an Indian woman in ODI cricket is Smriti Mandhana’s 173, followed by Deepti Sharma’s 188.
The milestone remains within reach, especially as Indian women’s cricket continues to evolve tactically and technically.
Top ODI Individual Scores: The Complete Picture
When discussing how many double centuries in ODI cricket exist overall, the number remains relatively small despite the format’s popularity.
Across men’s and women’s cricket combined, there have been fewer than 15 ODI double centuries—a testament to how difficult the achievement remains.
Top 10 Highest ODI Scores by a Batsman
| Rank | Player | Score | Opposition | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rohit Sharma (IND) | 264 | vs Sri Lanka | 2014 |
| 2 | Martin Guptill (NZ) | 237* | vs West Indies | 2015 |
| 3 | Virender Sehwag (IND) | 219 | vs West Indies | 2011 |
| 4 | Chris Gayle (WI) | 215 | vs Zimbabwe | 2015 |
| 5 | Rohit Sharma (IND) | 209 | vs Australia | 2013 |
| 6 | Rohit Sharma (IND) | 208* | vs Sri Lanka | 2017 |
| 7 | Sachin Tendulkar (IND) | 200* | vs South Africa | 2010 |
| 8 | Charles Coventry (ZIM) | 194* | vs Bangladesh | 2009 |
| 9 | Saeed Anwar (PAK) | 194 | vs India | 1997 |
| 10 | Fakhar Zaman (PAK) | 193 | vs South Africa | 2021 |
Expert Insight: Why Double Centuries Remain Rare
From a tactical perspective, scoring 200 in an ODI requires more than just talent.
You need:
- Early entry: Openers or number three batters have the best chance
- Pitch conditions: Flat surfaces with true bounce help enormously
- Weak opposition bowling: Most double centuries come against attacks lacking variety
- Team situation: Your side must be dominant enough that you aren’t sacrificing acceleration for personal milestones
There’s also a psychological element. Getting to 150 is exhausting. Pushing beyond 180 requires mental toughness that few possess.
Clark had it. Rohit Sharma clearly has it. But it’s rarer than raw batting ability.
First Double Century in Cricket History (All Formats)
It’s worth noting that while Clark scored the first ODI double century, the first double century in cricket history overall came much earlier in Test cricket during the 19th century.
The format and context are completely different, but ODI double centuries remain far rarer due to the time constraints and tactical demands of limited-overs cricket.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who scored the first ODI double century ever?
Belinda Clark of Australia scored the first ODI double century—229* against Denmark in the 1997 Women’s World Cup.
- When did the first male cricketer score an ODI double century?
Sachin Tendulkar became the first male cricketer to score an ODI double century on February 24, 2010, with 200* against South Africa.
- What’s the highest ODI score by a batsman?
Rohit Sharma holds the record with 264 runs against Sri Lanka in 2014.
- Has any Indian woman scored a double century in ODIs?
No, though Deepti Sharma came close with 188 against Ireland in 2023.
- How many ODI double centuries have been scored in total?
Fewer than 15 across men’s and women’s cricket combined, making it one of the rarest individual achievements in the sport.
The Legacy That Deserves Recognition
Belinda Clark’s 229* didn’t just set a record; it challenged assumptions about what women’s cricket could produce and what ODI batting could achieve.
The fact that it took 13 years for any male cricketer to reach the same milestone speaks volumes about how far ahead of her time she was.
Today, when fans debate the greatest ODI innings or the evolution of limited-overs batting, Clark’s name should be front and center.
She wasn’t following a trend. She created one. And while records are meant to be broken, the significance of being first never fades.