5 Instances when India won a game by 1 run

India vs South Africa at Jaipur, 21 February 2010

Dhoni effected Parnell’s run out to win the game for India

In 2010 South Africa toured India and played the first ODI at Jaipur. Jacques Kallis was the skipper of South Africa, and having won the toss, decided to field first. India lost Tendulkar early but it was the partnership between Dinesh Karthik and Virender Sehwag which laid down a solid foundation. India were 88-1 in 14 overs. However, after that india lost three wickets for 50 runs only to be reduced to 138-4 in the 24th over.

India had played with 8 batsmen in that game with Jadeja coming in at number 8. Suresh Raina made 58 while all other batsmen got off to starts but perished soon after helping India post a very defendable total of 298.

In reply, Bosman and Gibbs started aggressively and put on 50 in just 47 balls. However, Bosman and Gibbs fell in quick succession which left South Africa struggling at 64-2 in 11.2 overs. The captain Jacques Kallis stood firm on one end of the wicket while batsmen kept losing the wickets on the other. South Africa reached their 200 runs in 39.4 overs having lost 7 wickets. Kallis was still playing on one end with Wayne Parnell on the other.

However, required rate rose to 10, requiring both batsman to take risks. Trying to score quickly Kallis lost his wicket to Sreesanth and South Africa had no hopes left when they were 225-8 in 43rd over. But, with some luck and powerful hitting from Wayne Parnell and Dale Steyn, the Proteas were left requiring 40 from 3 overs.

With 10 needed from the last over, Praveen Kumar removed Dale Steyn of the second ball and Kallis’ side required 9 from 4. Steyn made 35 from 19 balls. 7 were required from the last 2 balls when Langveldt swivelled and hit the ball to fine leg where Tendulkar made a brilliant effort to prevent a boundary, but the third umpire reviewed the incident and after many replays deemed that the master blaster had successfully saved the boundary.

Praveen Kumar then bowled a wide, leaving three required of the last ball. On the last ball, Parnell made room and knocked the ball to third man of the toe end of the bat from where Sreesanth fired a wide throw, but Dhoni stretched and broke the stumps. Parnell wanted a second and the decision went to third umpire, but he was a long way from the crease and was declared out. Jadeja was adjudged the man of the match for his 22 runs and 2 wickets.