Wisden ODI 100 Bowling Ricky Ponting's Indian assault in the 2002-03 World Cup final at Johannesburg has finally freed Viv Richards's firm grasp of the top two places of the Wisden.com ODI 100 batting list. Ponting's masterpiece did not beat the master blaster, but it did grab second spot, splitting Viv's two epic knocks into first and third.

So, Richards is still No. 1, and none of the perspiring bowlers who were unlucky enough to run into Viv Richards at Old Trafford in 1984 is likely to have much argument with that. Soon after Viv came in, West Indies were staring defeat in the face at 102 for 7. None of the other batsmen had managed double figures. But suddenly Bob Willis, Ian Botham & co. were disappearing to remote parts of Manchester as Richards muscled his way to 189 not out, the highest score in ODIs at the time.

His other knock – now third behind Ponting's – was his undefeated 138 in the 1979 World Cup final at Lord's, which ended when he nonchalantly flicked the last ball of the innings, from Mike Hendrick, into the Mound Stand for six.

In fourth spot is the modern-day blaster - Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka, who slammed 189 against India at Sharjah in 2000-01.

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