Top 3 tied ODI matches where India came back from the jaws of defeat

#3. India Vs New Zealand, Auckland (2014)

Jadeja and Ashwin came to India's rescue with the bat

This was the third match of the 5-match ODI series between India and New Zealand. New Zealand won the first two matches of the series quite comfortably. Thus, India were desperate to win the third match to stay alive in the series.

India won the toss and elected to bowl first. It proved to be a wrong decision as New Zealand amassed 314 runs on the back of a century from Martin Guptill and a half-century from Williamson.

India began the run chase needing 315 to win against a strong New Zealand bowling attack. The Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan gave India a flying start adding 64 runs in 10 overs before Dhawan got out.

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane all got out quickly and India were reduced to 79 for 4 and staring at certain defeat.

Dhoni and Raina added 67 runs for the fifth wicket before Raina got out. Again when the sixth wicket of Dhoni fell at the score of 184, the writing was very much on the wall for India. Then the most unexpected turn of events unfolded.

When Ashwin and Jadeja joined together for the 7th wicket, India needed 131 runs in 14 overs at almost 10 runs per over. The no-hope situation propelled both the all-rounders to go for their shots without any fear of losing their wickets. By the time Jadeja joined Ashwin, Ashwin had a start scoring 20 off 19 balls.

While allowing Jadeja to settle down, Ashwin launched into McClenaghan and Corey Anderson hitting 3 fours in 2 overs. Jadeja too joined in the act quickly hitting 2 fours and a huge six off Tim Southee.

India needed 84 off the last 10 overs. Ashwin was playing his best one-day innings as he completed his 50 playing a reverse sweep off Nathan McCullum. By now Captain Brendon McCullum was a worried man. He was not expecting this fight back from Ashwin and Jadeja. The 42nd over bowled by Southee went for 10 runs.

Both Jadeja and Ashwin got a life off successive balls in the 43rd over bowled by Nathan McCullam. Jadeja was dropped by Southee and off the next delivery, keeper Luke Ronchi missed an easy stumping when Ashwin was way down the wicket.

India needed 54 off 36 balls. The 45th over bowled by Nathan McCullum was an eventful one. Ashwin came down the track to the first ball and lifted McCullam over his head for a six. However, in the fifth ball of that over, Ashwin lifted one over mid-wicket and as the ball was climbing over the rope, Martin Guptill somehow reached for it and popped it with one hand to the field of play and came back in time into the field to complete a magnificent catch.

Ashwin departed after scoring 65 off 46 balls. India needed 46 off 31 balls. Bhuvi and Shami got out quickly and India needed 29 off 13 balls when last man Varun Aaron joined Jadeja. Jadeja was batting on 43.

McClenaghan bowled the 49th over. Jadeja hit the second ball for a six over mid-wicket. Jadeja was dropped at third man off the third ball of that over and in the process, Jadeja completed his 50 off 38 balls.

Corey Anderson was entrusted with the job of bowling the last over for New Zealand. India needed 18 runs off 6 balls which looked impossible. Jadeja went after the first ball and hit a four through mid-wicket. After bowling a couple of wides, Anderson bowled 2 dot balls. Now the equation was 12 off 3.

Jadeja hit the fourth ball for a four through fine leg. Now the pressure was getting on to Corey Anderson. Anderson bowled a short one which Jadeja effortlessly hammered over deep mid-wicket for a six. Now 2 needed off 1.

Anderson finally got it right and bowled a full-length delivery on the off-stump. Jadeja had no other option except to push it mid-off to complete the single and tie the match. What a match it turned out to be.

When Dhoni got out in the 35th over, India were down and out before Ashwin and Jadeja started the rearguard act with a partnership of 85. After Ashwin’s dismissal, it was Jadeja all the way as he went on to score 31 of the last 45 runs needed to win. Jadeja finished with 66 not out off 45 balls to earn India a tie from a losing position.