Ranking the top 5 Men's ODI matches of 2024 ft. India vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI

The importance and charm of ODI cricket over the last few years has taken a serious hit with T20 cricket gaining more and more prominence. The amount of T20 leagues across the globe and the love of the spectators for the format has led to the ODI format taking a back seat.

The relevance of ODI cricket was revived during the World Cup year in 2023 but again in 2024, the bilateral series didn't create the buzz you would expect in the yester years.

There were several qualification matches involving the associate nations. As many as 106 ODIs were played in 2024 with a handful of them going down to the wire.

As the year draws closer, it's a time to reflect on some of the best matches in this particular format. Here is a list of the five best matches which took place in the year 2024:

# 5. Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, 2nd ODI, Colombo

At the start of the year, touring side Zimbabwe gave a tough fight to the hosts in the three-match ODI series but Sri Lanka eventually won the series 2-0 with one match getting abandoned due to rain.

It was the second ODI of the series which saw the fortunes fluctuating from one team to the other before Sri Lanka went on to win by two wickets. On the back of a superb 82 by Craig Ervine, Zimbabwe managed to post 208 before being bowled out in the 45th over.

Sri Lanka was staring down the barrel in the run chase after being reduced to 53/4 and 112/6. However, relative newcomer Janith Liyanage had other ideas. He battled through the tough phase and scored a brilliant 95.

However, he was dismissed with the team still needing 37 runs to win and two wickets in hand. It was the pair of Dushmantha Chameera and Jeffrey Vandersay who held their nerves and shared an unbeaten 39-run stand to see their side over the finish line.

# 4. South Africa vs Pakistan, 1st ODI, Paarl

Pakistan had a year to remember in ODI cricket, inflicting series wins on Australia and South Africa in their backyard. They were involved in a hard-fought tie against South Africa on December 17, which they eventually went on to win by three wickets.

On the back of a superb 86 by Heinrich Klaasen, South Africa posted a competitive score of 239 in their allotted 50 overs. Salman Agha and Abrar Ahmed spun a web around the South African batting, bagging five wickets between them.

Pakistan were in early trouble after being reduced to 60/4 but youngster Saim Ayub, who opened the innings, looked in sublime touch. Combined with Salman Agha, the duo shared a match-winning stand of 141 runs to take Pakistan to safety. Saim scored a century while Salman remained unbeaten on 82 as Pakistan registered a three-wicket win with three deliveries to spare.

# 3. Australia vs Pakistan, 1st ODI, Melbourne

It was the early signs of what was to follow for the remaining two ODIs. Australia went on to win the opening ODI at Melbourne in November by two wickets but it was a fiery spell by Haris Rauf that brought Pakistan back into the game from a precarious situation.

Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins breathed fire early on, bagging five wickets between them to skittle Pakistan out for an under-par score of 203. Thanks to Mohammad Rizwan and Naseem Shah, who chipped in with useful contributions, or else Pakistan would have been bowled out much earlier.

Australia were in early trouble, losing two quick wickets for just 28 runs but the pair of Steve Smith and Josh Inglis settled the ship with an 85-run stand before the introduction of Haris Rauf broke the game open for Pakistan.

In a fiery spell, he bagged the wickets of Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell as Australia stuttered to 185/8 and faced the prospects of an unlikely defeat. It was the skipper Pat Cummins who played a captain’s knock to see Australia over the finish line.

# 2. Oman vs Netherlands, 48th match of ICC World Cup League 2, Al Amarat

One of the best ODIs of the year was played between the two associate nations Oman and Netherlands at Al Amarat Ground in Oman. In a low-scoring thriller, Oman clinched a one-run win over the Netherlands.

Oman, after batting first, was looking in absolute command of proceedings as the opening pair of Ashish Odedara and Jatinder Singh shared a 94-run stand to set up the game for the home team. However, a collapse of epic proportions saw them getting bowled out for a paltry score of 155.

Roelof van der Merwe and Colin Ackermann bagged seven wickets between them to trigger the collapse. However, the Oman bowlers were up to the mark as well putting the Netherlands under a heap of pressure right from the outset.

Aamir Kamal was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets to his name but the real hero was Karan Sonavale who came in to bowl the final over of the match and bagged the wicket of Aryan Dutt to hand Oman a nail-biting victory by one run.

# 1. Sri Lanka vs India, 1st ODI, Colombo

Arguably, the best ODI of the year involved two Asian giants: India and Sri Lanka. The opening ODI of the three-match series back in August saw the game end in a thrilling tie. India was in control of the game before a brain fade moment from Arshdeep Singh resulted in the game ending in a tie.

The Indian spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar bowled brilliantly in tandem, while Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj also bagged three wickets between them. Dunith Wellalage's brilliant counter-attacking knock eventually propelled Sri Lanka to a competitive score of 230.

Rohit Sharma looked in superb touch and raced his way to a well-crafted half-century before India lost the plot. The Sri Lankan spinners were even better than their counterparts in the middle overs. Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga bagged 3 wickets to trigger India’s collapse.

Shivam Dube steadied the ship after team India was reduced to 211/8. However, with just one run needed, he was trapped in front of the stumps by Asalanka. India still had one wicket in hand but Arshdeep went for a glory shot and got dismissed for a golden duck to help Sri Lanka eke out a tie.