Over the years, we have been witness to many cliff-hangers in the One Day Internationals. The ones that go down to the wire always remain etched in memories.
If the games are high-scoring and both the teams give it their all, the matches become real humdingers and the crowd gets the money's worth.
One Day Cricket has always been skewed in the favour of batsmen, and thus when the batsmen assume centre stage it is a sight to behold.
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We take a look at 5 such high scoring affairs when both teams have given it their all and the eventual result has not been a foregone conclusion after the mountain of runs in the first innings.
New Zealand vs Australia (Hamilton 2007)
Australia: 346/5
New Zealand: 350/9
For all his accomplishments in International cricket, Michael Hussey will never want to remember this series against New Zealand. He was the captain of an Australian side which was blanked 3-0 in the Chappell-Hadlee series.
Australia had already lost the series as they came into this match. But Matthew Hayden's 166-ball 181 helped Australia plunder the Kiwis to notch up 346 in 50 overs.
But such was the confidence seeping through New Zealand that never did they look like giving up during the chase. Craig McMillan (96-ball 117 runs) and Brendon McCullum (91-ball 86 runs) blasted the Aussie bowlers all over and New Zealand got home with 1 wicket to spare. The McMillan-McCullum partnership which was worth 165 runs stole the thunder.
India vs Australia (Hyderabad 2009)
Australia: 350/4
India: 347
Ask any Indian fan, this match will be at the top half of the table in terms of heartbreak.
Shane Watson was brilliant and provided the early thrust and along with Shaun Marsh put together a partnership of 145 for the first wicket. Cameron White provided the final kick with a 33-ball 57 and Australia ended at 350.
The chase was all about Sachin Tendulkar and all about his authority. After a scratchy start, Tendulkar exploded and even as wickets tumbled at the other end, he held fort and was always in control. He found an able ally in Suresh Raina who scored a run-a-ball 59.
A majestic innings of 175 runs came to a halt as Sachin departed leaving the others to score 19 off 17 balls, but as it has so often been India choked and faltered. They fell short by 3 runs. Sachin was the Man of the Match.
697 runs were scored in the match, which remains the highest score in a match in a One Day International.
England vs New Zealand ( The Oval, 2015)
New Zealand: 398/5
England: 365/9 in 46 overs
This was one of those games which neither side deserved to lose. And to top it all rain too had a definite say in the match. A series which saw the resurgence of a new England in One Day Internationals. Specialists were brought into the team and this yielded sparkling results for them.
This was the 2nd game of the series. England had already scored 400 in the first match and were brimming with confidence. New Zealand scored 398 in the first innings as Ross Taylor scored his 13th ODI century, and other batsmen chipped in with handy contributions right through. New Zealand posted a huge first innings score.
The new England set about the chase with some aplomb as the opening partnership put together a breezy 85 in 12.3 overs. Captain Eoin Morgan then played an outstanding innings of 88 in 47 balls and England seemed all set to chase the total down. England needed 54 off 37 balls when rain interrupted proceedings.
24 runs from the final seven deliveries, but then Tim Southee pulled off a sensational catch at the boundary to seal the deal for New Zealand.
763 runs were scored in the match which is the third highest runs scored in a One Day International.
India vs Sri Lanka (Rajkot, 2009)
India: 414/7
Sri Lanka: 411/8
Rajkot has always been known as a graveyard for the bowlers. The pitch is an absolute road down there and batsmen have a real party.
The 1st One Day International between India and Sri Lanka was one such instance. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first.
India got off to a great start as Sahin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag got off to a rapid start and put on 153 in 19 overs for the first wicket. Sehwag scored a century and ended with 102-ball 146. Captain Dhoni chipped in with a 53-ball 72 and India scored 414 at the end of 50 overs.
Looking at the score it appeared as if the match would be a no contest. But then Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara had different ideas. They took the Indian bowling apart and put together a partnership of 128 in almost 13 overs.
Sri Lanka was cruising at one moment as they needed 124 runs from the last 15 overs, but then they panicked and India were back in business with two run outs towards the back end. Dilshan, Sangakkara, and Jayasuriya got out in a flurry and suddenly India were back in the game. In the end, they held their nerves and somehow eeked home with only 3 runs separating the two teams.
A total of 825 runs were scored in the match, which is the second highest score in One Day Internationals.
South Africa vs Australia (Johannesburg 2006)
Australia: 434/4
South Africa: 438/9
Many believe that this match was one of the best One Day Internationals ever in the history of the game.
The series was standing at 2-2 between South Africa and Australia going into the fifth and final match of the series at the Wanderers. Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat on a true Wanderers surface. The batsmen went out and smacked the Proteas bowling to all parts.
Captain Ricky Ponting himself scored 164 and then Michael Hussey bludgeoned 81 runs from 51 balls and Australia crossed 400 for the very first time in One Day Cricket. They ended with 434 runs at the end of the 50 overs.
Many believed the score was enough for Australia to saunter home. Not the South Africans, not the captain Graeme Smith and certainly not Herschelle Gibbs.
Smith and Gibbs forged a partnership of 187 runs in almost 22 overs and set the stage for something historic. Smith scored a 55-ball 90, but when he got out Gibbs exploded. He smoked a belligerent 111-ball 175, but got out at a crucial stage.
However, Mark Boucher kept his calm even as 9 wickets fell down. He chipped Brett Lee over mid-on to spark a series of manic celebrations. South Africa became the second team to post a score in excess of 400 and breached the target of 434 with one ball to spare.
A total of 872 runs were scored in the match, which remains the highest score in a match in a One Day International.
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