Top 5 India vs Zimbabwe ODI matches in ODI history

An India-Zimbabwe ODI match is always given a step-motherly treatment these days. The mighty Indians are always expected to crush the little minnows from the African subcontinent.

Yes, India have got the better results out of the clashes, but there have been some nail-biting finishes in the past. Taking a look at history, one is forced to sit up and take notice of some amazing clashes between the two sides.

Zimbabwe have sprung more than a surprise on occasions, and have played their part in making these matches not only worth of a watch but truly memorable.

Here is a list of the five best ODI clashes between India and Zimbabwe:

5) C.A.B Jubilee Cup, Nehru Stadium, Indore on 18 November 1993. Result: Match Tied

Manoj Prabhakar

Batting first, India reached a score of 248 in their allotted 50 overs, thanks to a fine batting performance by Indian all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar who scored a patient 91 off 126 balls.

The maverick Vinod Kambli and skipper Azharuddin also posted half-centuries to shore up the Indian total. Scores close to 250 were considered very safe in those days especially against an opposition such as Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwean innings didn’t have the best of the starts with two of their best batsmen Grant Flower and Alastair Campbell falling cheaply. Despite the struggles, they were kept in the game by their ever-dependable captain Andy Flower who made an impressive 56 off 82 deliveries.

Zimbabwe needed 10 off the last over with one wicket remaining when Prabhakar was given the ball. With hopes all but lost prior to the start of the over for Zimbabwe, Heath Streak and Rennie took eight off the first five balls and then scored off a leg-bye, but Streak was run-out attempting a second.

The match was tied, and both teams had to share the points, ending what was the first ever tied game played between them.

4) ICC World Cup 1999, Grace road, Leicester on 19 May. Result:Zimbabwe won by 3 runs.

Henry Olonga won Zimbabwe the match

It was Andy Flower again, the usual Indian tormentor who, batting in the middle order, produced a quality knock, staying unbeaten on 68 off 85 balls.

The Zimbabweans reached a creditable 252/9 after Venkatesh Prasad and Javagal Srinath had picked up two wickets each. The fast bowlers were at the peak of their powers during this World Cup and formed probably India’s best ever new ball attack. India were however docked 4 overs for having a slow over rate.

India’s reply started well despite Ganguly’s early loss, with Dravid and Sadagopan Ramesh taking India to 44 inside 7 overs. The middle order of Ajay Jadeja and Robin Singh also played its part which left India needing 9 runs off the last two overs with three wickets in hand.

Henry Olonga was entrusted with bowling the penultimate over even though his previous three overs had produced 17 runs and he had looked completely out of sorts. But the decision to bowl him proved to be inspirational as he picked the wickets of Robin Singh, Srinath and then Prasad in one over to wrap up the match for his team.

Indian fans were shocked to say the least, and this loss definitely took a long time to sink in.

3) Standard Bank International Series 1996/97, Boland Bank Park, Paarl. Result: Match Tied.

Robin Singh

This was the first-ever ODI to be held at Paarl, and what a match it turned out to be. Robin Singh turned into a hero overnight and became the finisher for India in the years to come.

Campbell and Evans had smashed the ball around in the slog overs to get Zimbabwe to a total of 236/8. India were in massive trouble at 110/5 when Robin Singh, aided by the diminutive keeper Saba Karim, produced some magical display of counterattack.

Singh scored 48 off 31 balls and helped India catch up with the required run-rate which had reached 11 by that point. India needed two off the last ball, and Ed Brandes bowled the ball down the leg side. Non-striker Prasad ran for the single, but the keeper threw it to Brandes who was able to run out Singh at the non-striker’s end.

The Zimbabweans were celebrating the victory, but the umpire had called the ball wide, and hence the game ended in a tie.

2) Zimbabwe tour of India 2001/02. Nahar Singh Stadium, Faridabad. Match Result: Zimbabwe won by 1 wicket.

Douglas Marillier

That wristy magician from Hyderabad, VVS Laxman was in sublime form and treated the crowd to a beautiful display of controlled strokeplay en route to 75, and a good top order performance saw India post a massive 274 in 50 overs.

With Zimbabwe at 210/8 in the 45th over, even the staunchest of their fans would have expected a loss. In walked a relatively unknown Douglas Marillier, and played what was the most innovative, and outrageous innings to score a whirlwind 56 off 24 balls to secure the victory.

Marillier went down on his knees and kept scooping a bemused Zaheer Khan over the keeper’s head for boundaries. Even Kumble could not stop him in the last over, and he thus produced an amazing victory for the visitors. The Dilscoop/lap shot – call it what you may, this was the Marillier shot, and was actually invented by the Zimbabwean.

1) Prudencial World Cup 1983, Nevill Ground, Tunbridge Wells. Match Result: Indian won by 31 runs.

Kapil Dev played his most memorable knock against Zimbabwe

This was the Big Daddy of all India-Zimbabwe matches.

Kapil Dev Nikhanj, the Indian skipper, walked in with India at 17/5 and produced one of the best ODI hundreds ever.

Carrying his bat through, he smashed six 6s and sixteen 4s to reach 175 not out off 138 balls. India finished at 266/8 in 60 overs.

This was an innings which an ordinary mortal can only dream of playing. All the men wearing Indian logos that day swear that this was the best innings they had ever witnessed.

The value of the knock is immeasurable for Indian fans as it provided the spark and belief in the team to go on and win the World Cup the following week, creating some of India’s sweetest memories.

Zimbabwe tried hard but in the end had to bow out, falling 31 runs short of the target.

So, do you think India-Zimbabwe clashes are one sided? Think again.