Most Thrilling Last Over in ODI Matches : With the advent of the T20 format, most of us started thinking that ODI Matches are quite boring to watch. A true cricket fan who understands the game better will not say like this because ODI is format combined with the classics and exploits. ODI is the format that led to the development of cricket across various regions. ODIs have produced best matches that will be itching in our mind for the long duration of time. This format has also produced so many legends to the game and the format continues to dominate the world cup as of now.
Getting success in one-day internationals is an art. One has to be better with techniques and patience in order to get success in the game. Simply the defensive techniques which required for tests won’t work and as well as the big-hitting abilities like t20 also won’t work for you. You need to have the combination of these two so that you can be a better player in one-day international games. So don’t this one-day internationals are boring. Getting the right start and beginning and rotating the strikes at middle overs and some big hitting’s towards the end of the innings is a real treat to watch.
Players like McGrath, Sachin, Lara, pointing, Dhoni, Kallis to extent Kohli has taken the game to the next level and they remain as the greatest advertisers for the sport. As mentioned earlier the format has produced so many exciting last over finishes and here are the lists of the edge to seat thriller matches that will be remembered for the long period of time.
1) India vs Australia VB series 2004 at Sydney Australia
India was the only team that gave tough competition to mighty Australians during those days. The Indian team captained by Sourav Ganguly toured Australia for 4 match test series and for tri-series along with Sri Lanka and Australia. India won the toss and chooses to bat first and lost both the openers cheaply. Young gun Yuvraj along with Australian nightmare VVS Laxman steadied the ship for the 5th wicket. Yuvraj, in particular, has played an anchor role and played his shots all around the ground.
India made a massive 296 for 4 with the centuries of Yuvraj 132(122 deliveries) and Laxman 108 not out. In reply Australia lost their wickets at regular intervals and rain played the spoilsport. With the revised target of 222, Australia struggled to get past the target but took the game to the last over. Still needing 11 from 6 deliveries with Brett Lee and Andy Bichel at crease seems lots of work has to do to steal the victory for both sides.
With 4 needed for the last ball, Lee hit a massive six and steeled the victory for Australia. It was only of the best last over finishes in the history of the game.
2) India vs Pakistan Samsung Cup 2004 at Multan, Pakistan
It is always exciting to watch the India-Pakistan encounters and due to political instability, we couldn’t have much chance to witness these arch-rivals plays against each other. Amid political controversies, India traveled Pakistan for 3 http://www.indiancricketfans.com/forums/topic/102625-indias-most-memorable-cricketing-moments-in-pictures/test and 5 ODI matches. The first match of this epic series was held in Multan and Pakistan won the toss and chooses to bowl first. Virender Sehwag the rookie opener than smashed Pakistan bowlers and India went on to score 349/7 in 50 overs.
Pakistan in reply started off in style with Imran Nasir made a quick fire 30 but it was Yousuf Youhana and Inzamam Ul Haq made a steady partnership and took the game away from India. Irfan broke the partnership by accounting the wicked of Youhana but Younis Khan (46) and Abdul Razzaq(27) not let the momentum down. Finally, Pakistan needed 9 of the last over with Moin Khan at crease Pakistan was the clear favorites at that time but it was brilliant fielding combined with Ashish Nehra’s accurate bowling made India emerged victorious in the end.
3) South Africa vs Australia
It was the best epic counter in the history of the ODI cricket. Australia broke the Sri Lanka’s record of highest runs in an innings. Australia won the toss and elected to bat first and they got the steady opening partnership with both the openers scoring half centuries. Then came the storm Australia’s Ricky pointing came to crease after the departure of Adam Gilchrest with strong basement laid pointing took the charge of demolishing South African bowlers. He scored 164 of just 105 deliveries and made Australia went past 400 run-mark without any trouble and he was ably supported by Mike Hussey who scored 51 balls 81. Finally, Australia completed the innings by scoring record-breaking 434/4.
Australia becomes the first team to went past 400-mark and they can’t even imagine that will be chased down during the innings break. With great smith and Hershelle Gibbs laid the strong foundation and Gibbs recorded his highest individual score in ODI’s. He made 175 of just 111 deliveries and at that point, South Africa will chase down in 45 overs but after his departure, Australia made a comeback by climbing the wicket of de Villiers and Kallis.
The match was eventually placed at that time, but it was Boucher’s brilliance and van der Wath’s big-hitting ability took the game to the last over. Finally, South Africa needed 9 of 6 deliveries to steal a magnificent victory of all time. Yes, they did that in style, Andrew hall hit a six in the first delivery and Boucher finishes the match in style by hitting the boundary in the fourth ball and scripted a magnificent history.
ODI cricket has produced so many games like this and true lover will definitely accept that ODI is the best format among other two formats.
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