Instances when a batsman hit the last ball for a six to win an ODI

With Asia cup around the corner, talks of India-Pakistan rivalry is rearing its head once again. Talks of India-Pakistan rivalry are incomplete without the mention of Javed Miandad, the man who started it all, with a six of the last ball to win the match for Pakistan. That moment triggered a fierce rivalry which is still going strong.

There have been very few instances in the history of one day cricket when a batsman has hit a six of the last ball of the match to win it for his team. Let's take a look at the seven instances when this miraculous escape plan got executed:

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1. Javed Miandad

Javed Miandad with Inzamam-ul-Haq

It was Austral-Asia cup 1986 final in Sharjah when Pakistan needed four runs off the last ball of the match to win the tournament. Javed Miandad was at the crease and Chetan Sharma was bowling. To his embarrassment, Sharma bowled a low full toss and Miandad hit him for a six and the rest, as they say, is history.

2. Lance Kluesner

Lance Kluesner

It was 1999 and South African big-hitting all-rounder Lance Kluesner was at the top of his game. South Africa were chasing 192 in 40 overs against New Zealand at Napier.

Towards the end, South Africa needed four runs off the last ball to win the game. Dion Nash was bowling the last over and Kluesner, in his trademark style, hit him for a six to win the game for South Africa.

3. Brendan Taylor

Brendan Taylor

In 2006, Zimbabwe was playing against Bangladesh at Harare. Zimbabwe were chasing and needed 17 runs off the last over. Mashrafe Mortaza was bowling the last over.

Eventually, it came down to the last ball and Zimbabwe needed 5 runs to seal the deal. Taylor hit Mortaza for a six over the midwicket boundary and finished off the match.

4. Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Chanderpaul was not known for his big hitting skills but during that day in 2008, he was in his elements. 10 runs were needed off the last two balls and Chaminda Vaas was bowling.

Chanderpaul hit the penultimate ball for a boundary and 6 runs were needed off the last ball. Vaas made a big mistake and bowled a full toss which was hit out of the ground by magnificent Chanderpaul.

5. Ed Rainsford

Ed Rainsford

In 2010, Zimbabwe was playing against Ireland at Harare sports club. Irish all-rounder, Kevin O'Brien was bowling the last over of the match.

Although only one run was required to win the game, Zimbabwean tail-ender Ed Rainsford chose to hit a six of the last ball to finish the game in a fancy style.

6. Ryan McLaren

Ryan Mclaren celebrating his heroics

Ryan McLaren, who is not a big name in the world of one day cricket by any stretch of the imagination, got his share of limelight on this day when he hit a six of the last ball of the match to win it for his country, South Africa.

It was at Potchefstroom in 2013. South Africa needed eight of the last over. New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin was bowling that over. It boiled to three runs off the last ball which McLaren pulled over the long leg to hit the much famous six.

7. Nathan McCullum

Nathan McCullum

New Zealand needed 17 runs off 4 balls in a rain-curtailed match against Sri Lanka at Hambantota in 2013. Legendary Sri Lankan spinner, Rangana Herath was bowling the last over.

Nathan McCullum hit two fours and a six which meant New Zealand needed just 1 run off the last ball, but, McCullum deposited the last ball in the stands, to win the match in an emphatic fashion.