5 most emotional moments in cricket

Winning and losing is a part of every sport. It is as inevitable as day and night. Even though everyone wants to play to win, there are always instances when even the best of sides end up on the losing side.

And losing may not just be on the field, it could be off it too. We take a look at 5 such instances which caused heartache to many a cricket fan around the world.

#5 South Africa vs Australia, World Cup '99 Semi-final

South Africa, chasing 214 in 50 overs for a place in the final to be played at Lord's, found themselves needing 9 off the last over to win. Fleming had the ball and Klusener was on strike.

Klusener belted the first two balls of the over for boundaries to bring the Proteas to within touching distance of a victory. The next two balls though went in favour of the Australians. After nearly getting run-out the ball before, Allan Donald was left ball-watching as Klusener hit the ball to mid-off and charged away to claim a non-existent single.

In a moment of chaos which resulted in Donald getting run-out, the game ended in a tie, sending the Aussies on the way to the final by virtue of having finished higher in the Super 6 stage.

#4 South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2003 World Cup, Group Stage

Lance Klusener and team-mate Mark Boucher of South Africa leave the field as rain falls

It wouldn't be wrong to say that South Africa are the "Bad Luck Brian" of World Cup cricket. The World Cup is a stage where misfortune has more often than not been a part of their journey. Another year, another World Cup and Lance Klusener at the crease. It was an unhappy moment of deja-vu for the Proteas, who were still smarting from the failure at the 1999 World Cup in England.

Set a target of 269 by the Lankans, South Africa finished at 229 for 6 after 45 overs. Rain prevented further play, and the match ended in a tie as adjudicated by the Duckworth-Lewis method. Mark Boucher and Klusener miscalculated the DL par score required to win the game, with the Proteas falling short by a solitary run, resulting in the match ending in a tie. The result meant New Zealand progressed to the Super 6 stage and South Africa were knocked out of the tournament at home, the quest for an elusive World Cup trophy still on.

#3 Death of Phillip Hughes, 27 November 2014

Hughes collapsed after being struck by a bouncer

Phillip Hughes was a dashing young batsman, who was being touted by many as the future of Australian cricket. Having had an impressive start to his career at the junior level, Hughes had very smoothly made the transition to senior cricket, and had notched up 50+ scores in each of his first three Test innings. While his form suffered subsequently he was still a part of Australia's plans for the future.

However, the promising cricketer's life was cut short in a Sheffield Shield game against New South Wales. When batting on 63, a bouncer from Sean Abbott felled him and he collapsed on the field. Hughes was never to wake again and he succumbed to his injuries two days later, putting an end to a brief yet promising career.

#2 Attack on the Sri Lankan Cricket Team, March 3, 2009

Aftermath of the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus

On the morning of March 3rd, 2009, the Sri Lankan cricket team left their hotel to travel to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the start of the third day of the 2nd Test match against Pakistan.

Sri Lanka had posted 606 in their first innings courtesy a double hundred from Thilan Samaraweera and hundreds from Kumara Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan. Pakistan had finished the previous day at 110 for the loss of one wicket, with Khurram Manzoor batting undefeated on 59 runs. Little did the players on either side know that the short trip from the hotel to the stadium was going to be a harrowing one which would put a stop to international cricket in Pakistan for a long time.

As the team bus moved through the streets of Lahore, it was targetted by terrorists who used Rocket Propelled Grenades, hand grenades and guns to attack it. It was the sheer presence of mind of the bus driver that saved the day. Despite getting shot, he was able to drive the bus to safety and avoid further casualties. The match was abandoned and Sri Lanka returned and have not played a Test match in Pakistan again.

#1 India vs Pakistan, 2007 T20 World Cup Final

Dhoni celebrates India's triumph

A story which has shaped the present and future of Indian Cricket. This win signaled the beginning of the Dhoni era, the start of T20 leagues around the world, and changed the modern day game as we know it.

Gautam Gambhir top-scored for India with a well compiled 75 and set Pakistan a target of 158 runs to win. Pakistan's chase seemed to have gotten off to a great start before Irfan Pathan's match-winning spell put brakes on the run chase. That is when skipper Misbah-Ul-Haq decided to put his hand up and show the world how it was done. He almost single-handedly took Pakistan to victory, before suffering a brain fade in the final over to hand India the cup.

What if Misbah hadn't played the "dil-scoop" and finished the game in Pakistan's favour? Would Dhoni have captained India in the future? Would Pakistan have been able to sell T20 cricket to the world the way that India did with the IPL? World cricket could have been entirely different today if Misbah had connected with that one shot. We will never know.

You can watch the climax here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcnzJEsl5YQ