10 times both ODI openers scored a duck but the team still won

#5 India vs Zimbabwe, 8th Match, 2003/04 VB series

Laxman scored his highest individual score in ODI score at a time when India needed it the most

Batsmen dismissed: Sanjay Bangar and Parthiv Patel

Match Summary: India 280/7 (50 overs) beat Zimbabwe 277/6 (50 overs) by 3 runs

The 2003/04 VB series saw India and Zimbabwe join hosts Australia for a tri-series that would have the teams facing off each other four times before the best-of-three finals.

India and Australia had pretty much ensured their passage to the finals with victories over Zimbabwe, but the eighth match of the tournament that saw Sourav Ganguly's side face off against the African nation provided plenty of scare for the travelling Indian fans.

Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak got his side off to the perfect start dismissing Indian openers Parthiv Patel and Sanjay Bangar without scoring.

Andy Blignaut's dismissal of Ganguly for 1 left India reeling at 4/3 before VVS Laxman played arguably his greatest ODI innings ever to rescue the Men in Blue.

Laxman scored 131 off 138 balls while Dravid and Rohan Gavaskar scored half-centuries to help India post 280 in their 50 overs.

Centuries by Stuart Carlisle and Sean Ervine saw Zimbabwe nearly chase down the target but they ultimately fell short of the target by three runs.