Top 5 India vs Zimbabwe ODI matches in ODI history

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.