When less is more- The greatest low-scoring ODI matches on the big stage

The notion that the precursor to an exciting match is when both teams score a plethora of runs, with batsmen making a mockery of the art of six-hitting, is such a passe'.

In fact, the prime doctrine that adds excitement to an ODI game is when both teams play an aggressive game of cricket and the pitch offers enough to keep both the bowlers and batsmen in the game.

There have been a plethora of low-scoring encounters which have kept spectators on the edge of their seats, longing for more.

On that note, let us take a walk down memory lane and relive some of the greatest low-scoring matches in marquee events, the images of which still linger in our minds.

---

#5 South Africa vs England, ICC World Cup Group Match, Chennai 2011

It was a thrilling encounter at Chepauk

When England and the Proteas met on a rank-turner at Chennai in the 2011 World Cup, the former hopes of resurrecting their campaign suffered a brutal setback when the Proteas left-arm spinner, Robin Peterson, sent their top-order packing inside the first five overs.

England was 15/3 when a 99-run stand between Jonathan Trott (52) and Ravi Bopara steadied the fledging ship.

However, Morne Morkel nipped one off the seam to trap Bopara (60) in front. Bopara's dismissal triggered yet another collapse, as Imran Tahir polished off the tail to bowl England out for 171.

At 124/3, South Africa looked well on course to a crushing win, when De Villiers (25) decided to leave a delivery off James Anderson, only to see his stumps rattled.

The dismissal of de Villiers (25) paved the way for a customary run-out, frequent with the Proteas in tight matches, Du Plessis playing the 'protagonist' this time around.

JP Duminy lost his off-stump to an unplayable delivery from Anderson, and suddenly the Proteas were staring down the barrel at 124/6.

An inspiring partnership of 33 between Morne Van Wyk (13) and Dale Steyn (20) kept South Africa afloat, but Stuart Broad (15/4) decided to join the party as he nipped out last two wickets to seal a thrilling six-run win for England.

England (171, Ravi Bopara 60, Imran Tahir 38-4) beat South Africa (165, Hashim Amla 42, Stuart Broad 15-4) by six runs.

#4 Australia vs England, ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, SuperSport Park, Port Elizabeth

Bichel's all-round performance helped Australia clinch this exciting match

The 2003 World Cup had Australia's dominance imprinted on it all the way, yet they too were involved in a low-scoring potboiler against their perennial rivals, England.

England claimed an early advantage with a defiant opening stand of 66 between Nick Knight and Marcus Trescothick, before a flying catch at wide slip by Damien Martyn off Andy Bichel drew first blood for Aussies.

The dismissal of the openers triggered the collapse as the duo of Bichel and Glenn McGrath (41-1) wrecked the English middle order.

Bichel, with career-best figures of 20-7, single-handedly dismantled the English for 204/8 in 50 overs.

Australia looked in trouble after an outstanding opening spell from Andrew Caddick reduced the World Champions to 48/4 in the first ten overs. Australia were in dire straits when Brett Lee was brilliantly run out and the score read 135/8.

The Australians got the much-needed lift, when their hero with the bowl, Bichel shared a valiant partnership with Michael Bevan and brought the equation down to 11 of the last 12 balls.

It was truly Bichel's finest hour in international cricket as he effectively finished the game with a massive six followed by a boundary to seal a thrilling feat for Australia.

Match Summary:

England (204/8, Alex Stewart 46, Andy Bichel 20-7) lost to Australia (208/8, Michael Bevan 74, Andy Caddick 35-4) by two wickets

#3 West Indies vs England, Champions Trophy Final, Edgbaston 2004

Ian Bradshaw and Courtney Browne pull off a sensational heist

At 147/8, the Windies looked out of the game after England, thanks to a pristine hundred from opener Marcus Trescothick (104), were bowled out for 217 in the finals of Champions Trophy, 2004.

The magnanimity of Trescothick's innings can be estimated from the fact that next best score was by left-arm spin bowler Ashley Giles (31).

Windies consistently lost wickets but Shivnarine Chanderpaul's resilience kept them afloat. Chanderpaul perished in a rather soft manner when he hit an innocuous delivery from Paul Collingwood straight to short cover.

The West Indian dream of winning a global event after a hiatus of 25 years hinged on two batsmen who averaged 12.47 and 8.0 in the form of Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw.

Bradshaw and Browne's gritty partnership reduced the required runs to 37 from 71 when Andrew Flintoff had a huge shout for LBW against Browne only to be denied by umpire Rudi Koertzen.

The turn of events opened the floodgates for the West Indies and the batsmen in an awe-inspiring partnership of 71 runs nailed the hosts into submission and romped home with two wickets.

Match Summary:

England (217, Marcus Trescothic 104, Wavell Hinds 24-3 ) lost to West Indies (218/8, Courtney Browne 35, Andrew Flintoff 38-3) by two wickets.

#2 New Zealand vs Australia, Group Match of ICC World Cup 2015, Eden Park, Auckland

Williamson hit the winning runs to seal the game for The Kiwis

Played in an old-fashion style at a frantic phase, the group stage match between co-hosts New Zealand and Australia had every ingredient of a typical potboiler.

In front of a packed crowd at Eden Park, Australia was motoring along having mustered 80 runs, thanks to a fifty run stand between David Warner (34) and Shane Watson (23) in 12 overs when their middle order was blown away by the Kiwis with Vettori (41/2) nipping out Watson and Steve Smith (4).

The late blitz by Brad Haddin (43) took Australia past 150 and they were eventually bowled out for 151.

Brendon Mccullum (50 off 24 balls) gave yet another smashing start to the innings and at 78/1, the match looked over, but Mitchell Starc's spell turned the game on its head.

After pouching Mccullum's catch off Cummins, Starc came into his own as his barrage of viscous inswingers claimed Taylor (1) and Elliot (0) leaving New Zealand on tenter-hooks at 79/4.

Corey Anderson (26) mistimed the slog sweep off Glenn Maxwell and gave a simple catch to Cummins at mid on. Anderson's dismissal opened the floodgates yet again and Starc did an encore of his previous spell as he nipped out two wickets in two balls.

New Zealand still needed six runs when Boult walked out to face a rampaging Starc.

Starc missed his mark and Boult survived, much to the relief of the packed home crowd, as their most trusted batsman Kane Williamson (45 not out) would face the next over.

Cummins charged in, but to his anguish, he missed his length and Williamson deposited the bowl over mid-on to bring up one of the best wins in the history of New Zealand cricket.

Match Summary:

Australia (151, David Warner 34, Trent Boult 27-5) lost to New Zealand (151/9, Brendon McCullum 50, Mitchell Starc 28-6) by one wicket.

#1 Australia vs South Africa, 2nd S/F ICC Cricket World Cup, Edgbaston 1999

Warne's spell played a huge part in this famous win for the Aussies

And powering its way to the No.1 spot in this coveted list is the famous semi-final of the 1999 World Cup between Australia and South Africa.

Australia batted first and on a tricky posted a competitive 9-213 in 50 overs. South Africa was on course in their run chase and at 1-51, one big partnership would've booked their place in the finals alongside Pakistan. But they had to defy one man in their pursuit - the mercurial Shane Warne.

Warne immediately made his presence felt in the game as he knocked out Gibbs and Cronje after Cullinan had been brilliantly run out by Bevan.

South Africa stayed afloat thanks to a 114-run partnership. Eventually, the equation was down to nine runs off six balls with the 'Player of the Tournament' Lance Klusener on strike.

Klusener smashed the first two balls off Damien Fleming to the deep extra-cover boundary. The Proteas needed a solitary run with four balls still to be bowled, to knock Australia out of the World Cup. However, the pressure got to Klusener and Donald.

The miscommunication between the pair reached its nadir when Klusener pushed the ball down to the ground and started running when Donald was caught ball-watching.

The fatal error meant both batsmen were stranded and in a comical yet tragic turn of events, the match ended in a tie, meaning Australia would qualify for the finals on behest of a superior run-rate than the Proteas.

Australia (213, Michael Bevan 65, Alan Donald 35-4) tied with South Africa (213, Jacques Kallis 53, Shane Warne 29-4)