4 Instances When India Won An ODI Match By Just 1 Run: Cricket is a game of small margins. Often matches get decided on the last ball involving drama and soaring emotions on either side. Such games play a huge role in popularising and taking the sport to the masses. In the past, even the Indian team has featured in some of the last-ball thrillers, especially in ODI cricket. On a few occasions, the ‘Men in Blue’ have held their nerve to come out on top in such crunch games.
Here’s a look at 4 instances when India won an ODI by 1 run:
India vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2011
India faced South Africa in the 2nd ODI of the five-match ODI series. After being drubbed in the series opener, the visitors had their task cut-out to stage a comeback in the series. Batting first at Johannesburg, India didn’t do well after a good start was ruined by a lower-order collapse as the team folded out for 190.
However, the bowlers stood up to the task and delivered for the team’s cause. The pace battery struck at regular intervals while the spinners bowled tight lines. Eventually, South Africa despite their skipper Graeme Smith scoring 77 in the second innings, fell short by 1 run. Munaf Patel, for his match-winning spell of 4/29 was awarded the Player of the Match.
India vs South Africa, Jaipur, 2010
India was hosting South Africa in the first ODI at Jaipur’s SMS Stadium in 2010. It was a high-scoring thriller as the hosts emerged winners by a margin of 1 run. Batting first, India did exceedingly well job to plunder 298 runs courtesy an all-round batting performance.
While chasing a relatively high total of 299, the tourists started well before Indian bowlers began to inflict damage in the middle overs. However, the lower-order contributions from Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell ensured that the visitors were always in the game. But their efforts couldn’t get the Proteas over the line as India eventually pulled off a win in the final moments.
India vs Sri Lanka, Colombo, 1993
On their tour to Sri Lanka in 1993, India began the ODI series on a winning note. In the first ODI in Colombo, the tourists batted first and scored a modest total of 212. Skipper Azharuddin played the anchor’s role with a lone fifty in their batting effort. While the target was not too daunting, Sri Lankan openers did a decent job to not lose any wicket in the first few overs.
The hosts were cruising towards victory until Arvinda de Silva fell when the team’s total read 161 on the board. It was a downfall thereafter as the Islanders were bundled out for 211, losing the game by a slender margin of 1 run. It was jubilation for the tourists as Azharuddin was named the Man of the match for his captain’s innings.
India vs New Zealand, Wellington, 1990
India featured in a tri-series involving Australia and hosts New Zealand in 1990. The ‘Men in Blue’ were clearly the third-best team in the competition after they managed to win the lone match against the BlackCaps. It was a last-over thriller while India somehow managed to squeeze in with a win. Batting first, the Azharuddin-led side was bowled out for 221 after a brilliant performance from the hosts.
Chasing 221 to win, Kiwis didn’t get to the best of the starts as India struck early to dent their chase. However, Rutherford and Greatbatch played the resurrection-act in the middle-overs. But the Indian bowling made inroads with quick breakthroughs in the death overs to bowl out the opposition for 220. For his all-round performance, Kapil Dev was nominated as the Man of the match.
