5 Instances when India won a game by 1 run

India vs South Africa at Colombo, 2 October 2012

Indian players celebrate a South African wicket

Two T20Is which India won by 1 run had a lot of similarities. India vs Bangladesh, which was played yesterday was the 25th game of this World T20, and ended in a 1 run victory for India. Interestingly, the other T20 which was won by India by 1 run was also in a World T20 game in 2012.

It was the 24th game of that tournament and India were playing against South Africa. It was India who lost the toss and were sent into bat first on both occasions. Bangladesh had very bleak chances of making to the semi-finals while in that match, South Africa had already been eliminated.

India were playing their do-or-die game against Bangladesh and they were doing a similar thing against South Africa. They had to beat South Africa by a margin of 30 or more runs to get to the semi-finals; otherwise Pakistan would have qualified. However, after that game, India were out of the world-cup while in this game, they are still in the race.

Interestingly, Suresh Raina was the top scorer for India in that game with 45 runs, and he was the top-scorer in this game as well with 30 runs. MS Dhoni played 13 balls in that game, 12 in this one and remained not out on both occasions. India’s 5th wicket fell on the score of 112 runs in both games. The chasing team in both games lost their 9th wicket at 145 runs, while they were 6 down on 126 and 127 respectively. The chasing team on both occasions required 27 to win from last three overs with exactly 5 wickets in hand.

India were put into bat and they lost three early wickets in the powerplay and could make only 36 runs. However, Yuvraj Singh and Rohit Sharma gave India somewhat stability before Yuvraj was dismissed for 21 when India had made 68 in 10 overs. Suresh Raina joined Rohit Sharma and the two put on a 44 run partnership before Sharma was trapped leg before by Peterson for 25. Dhoni struck a quick fire 23 from 13 balls and Raina made 45 before he was run-out on the last ball of the innings. India made 152-6 in 20 overs.

South Africa’s reply was full of drama. They lost Amla on the 2nd ball of the match, and Kallis with only 16 runs on the board in the 4th over. In the 7th over, de Villiers was dismissed by Yuvraj Singh, when South Africa were at 46. In came Faf du Plessis, who would go on to smash India’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals. However, Yuvraj dismissed du Plessis in the 13th over of the innings and South Africa were reduced to 95-4.

Faf du Plessis made 65 from 38 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes. South Africa lost wickets after regular intervals and required 14 to win from the last over with 2 wickets in hand. Balaji was smashed for a six of the first ball of the over, and Balaji removed him on the next delivery. It was now his brother, Morne Morkel on strike who played a dot on next ball.

4th ball of the over was dispatched by Morne Morkel for a six over square leg for a mighty six and South Africa only needed 2 from 2 balls. Balaji bowled a full delivery on the stumps and Morkel played a big heave but missed it completely. The ball crashed into the stumps helping India win by 1 run. Yuvraj Singh was awarded Man of the Match for his 2 wickets and 21 runs.