India v Australia, 2013: Sharma leads festival of runs
A pile of records were broken in this seven-game tussle – won 3-2 by India, thanks to Rohit Sharma’s 209 in the final match after two games were washed out. “It was probably the best I have played. When I went out to bat, I never thought I’d get a 200,” Sharma said in the immediate aftermath. There were 107 sixes and 345 fours in the series, leading to a record total of 3,274 runs. Australia outscored their hosts by 12 runs but India achieved the second and third highest chases in history. Sharma scored 491 in total, while Australia’s George Bailey managed 478
Pakistan v South Africa, 2010: No reward for great chases
Twice Pakistan won matches by scoring the decisive runs with the penultimate ball but they could not win the series as South Africa triumphed in the fifth game by 57 runs. The tourists won the first with plenty to spare but Pakistan drew level when triumphing by one wicket with a ball to spare. South Africa edged the third ODI by two runs as the Pakistan chase fell short before the hosts repeated the trick again, although there would be no final push for ultimate bragging rights.
India v Sri Lanka, 2009: Sehwag’s greatest knock
Virender Sehwag set the tone in the opening stand of the first ODI with a blistering 146 as India set their visitors a daunting target of 415. Yet Sehwag’s knock was not even the innings of the day as Tillakaratne Dilshan struck 160 to give Sri Lanka a genuine chance of victory before Kumar Sangakkara came out swinging, racing his way to 90 off 43 balls. Needing 11 from the final over, the tourists were met by the sublime bowling of Ashish Nehra, who took the wicket of Angelo Mathews three deliveries from the end. Sri Lanka levelled the series in the next match but India continued their fine batting form to win the series with a game to spare.
South Africa v Australia, 2006: Gibbs’ piece of greatness
Thanks to Ricky Ponting’s 164, and with the five-game series tied, Australia posted the first 400-plus score in 50-over cricket. Few imagined South Africa would have a chance of going close with their chase but up stepped Herschelle Gibbs to smash 175 from 142 balls to lead his team to a one-wicket win with one ball left. Gibbs said: “I don’t know where that innings came from, I don’t think I’ve played better.”
England v India, 2002: Ganguly goes wild
Needing 326 and after losing their previous nine ODI finals, India looked finished at 146 for five in this NatWest series climax. However, Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif scored 121 in 18 overs before Zaheer Khan notched the winning runs with three balls to spare. Sourav Ganguly, in response to Andrew Flintoff’s exuberant celebrations in India five months previously, whipped off his shirt and made his way on to the turf to celebrate. “I would still say it was just an instinctive, spur-of-the-moment act,” Ganguly said.
