Although there is constantly talk about how shorter versions of the game are designed to favour batters, there are times low-scoring thrillers when the bowlers take over. While low-scoring matches were common in the early years of ODI cricket, flatter pitches and new rules that favour batters have reduced their prevalence in recent years.
The Indian squad has played in a number of games that have not only resulted in low scores but have also gone down to the wire. Even though they were defeated in a number of low-scoring matches, Team India was able to win a few of them.
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South Africa vs. India, Johannesburg, 2011
The five-match One-Day International series, which was part of India’s 2010/11 trip to South Africa, was a hard-fought affair with some thrilling sport. The 2nd ODI between the two sides at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, though, was the best of the bunch.
After captain MS Dhoni won the toss and chose to bat first, the Indian batsmen found the going difficult. India scored 190 runs because of Yuvraj Singh’s valiant half-century and assistance from MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virat Kohli.
Patel earned the Man of the Match award for his statistics of 4 for 29 after removing Morne Morkel with South Africa needing only 2 runs to win the game.
Quetta, 1978, India vs Pakistan
4-run victory margin
When India and Pakistan play one other, they have a history of producing entertaining cricket and have played a lot of outstanding encounters across all formats. In 1978, one of the first ODI thrillers between the two teams took place.
At the top of the order, Majid Khan batted impressively, scoring a 64-ball half-century and putting on a 60-run partnership with Zaheer Abbas. The Pakistanis lost their stride when Mohinder Amarnath dismissed both batters in rapid succession.
New Zealand vs. India, Auckland, 2003
In every manner, India’s journey to New Zealand in the 2002/03 season was a failure, but the ODI series against the hosts was a thrilling victory. The 7-match series had already slipped away from them, as they had lost the first four games before winning the fifth at Wellington.
With India needing just 18 runs to win, century Virender Sehwag was also dismissed, and the innings began to unravel. Zaheer Khan, the match’s hero, was the ninth man out, leaving Ashish Nehra and Javagal Srinath just two runs to score in nine balls.
India defeated Sri Lanka by one wicket in Port of Spain in 2013.
Following their victory in the 2013 Champions Trophy in England, the Indians travelled to the West Indies for a tri-nation series against the hosts and Sri Lanka. India qualified for the final after losing their first two matches in the competition. They faced Sri Lanka in the final.
After winning the toss, MS Dhoni put his opponents in to bat, but the Irish batted resolutely and were reduced to 171 for 2 in the 38th over. They crumbled dramatically, though, after Lahiru Thirimanne was out for 46 and Kumar Sangakkara, who top-scored with 71, was dismissed in rapid succession.
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South Africa vs. India at Kolkata, 1993
2 run victory margin
During the Hero Cup in 1993, one of the most entertaining matches in Indian cricket history took place at the Eden Gardens. In the inaugural semi-final of the five-nation competition commemorating the Cricket Association of Bengal’s diamond jubilee, India met South Africa.
Before Amre was out just two short of a half-century, the pair contributed 95 runs for the fifth wicket. None of the batters that came after was able to make an impact, therefore it was up to Azhar to get India to a reasonable score.
Before being removed for a well-made 90, the Indian skipper gave it his best, and the squad scored 195 in 50 overs. Despite losing wickets at frequent intervals, South Africa did not appear to be out of the game during the run chase.
With their excellent partnership, all-rounder Brian McMillan and wicketkeeper Dave Richardson threatened to run away with the game. Even after Richardson was dismissed for 15 in the penultimate over, the Proteas appeared to be in command, with only 6 runs needed in the final over with McMillan still in the middle.
Mohammad Azharuddin made the most unlikely decision by tossing the ball to Sachin Tendulkar to bowl the final six balls. What happened next was pure magic, as the guy who would go on to become India’s greatest cricketer gave up only 3 runs in the over and won the country an unforgettable triumph “as read and reported by www.sportskeeda.com”.
