Cricket can be a heartbreaking game. One can try their best and have all their efforts washed away if the team loses. There have been countless instances where a player gave his/her best and was still denied victory.
Such losses can be heartbreaking, with the only consolation being the countless hearts they win. In this post, we will take a look at 3 ODI innings where the match was lost, but people still appreciated the efforts put in by an individual or the entire team.
Mitchell Starc- Australia vs New Zealand- Group Stage match, 2015 World Cup
The 2015 World Cup was one filled with exemplary bowling performances. Things came to head when New Zealand and Australia, the teams with the most lethal bowling units battled each other in a group stage match. New Zealand bundled out Australia for 151, with Trent Boult proving to be the wrecker-in-chief.
New Zealand seemed to be in for an easy win over the cricketing giants. However, the Aussies weren’t going to go down without a fight. Mitchell Starc took 6 wickets with his lethal deliveries. Kane Williamson held his nerves and steered his team to a bumpy victory. Mitchell Starc simply smiled in reply, as he had given his best, taking 6-28 in a nail-biting finish.
India vs Australia- 2009, Hyderabad
This was a match well ahead of its time. Back in 2009, it wasn’t common for teams to post targets exceeding the 300-run mark. However, Australia clobbered India to score a huge 350 runs in the first innings. While pundits predicted an easy win for the visitors, India had other thoughts.
The run chase spearheaded by a resilient Sachin Tendulkar (175 from 141 balls) provided a big scare for the Aussies as India came very close to winning, scoring 347 runs. While Australia won the match, the Indian team was lauded for their exploits with the bat.
Ravindra Jadeja (India vs New Zealand- 2019 World Cup Semi-Final)
This entry is going to bring back the haunting memories of the defeat that India suffered in the 2019 World Cup semi-final. India’s stunning batting collapse was one that no one ever predicted. Coming to the crease when the scoreboard read a dismal 5-3, Ravindra Jadeja was one of the last remaining hopes that India had of winning the match.
‘Jaddu’ battled fiercely against the bowlers, the weather, and a lack of support from the other end. His sword celebration on completing his half-century incited goosebumps in every viewer watching. While India lost the match, Ravindra Jadeja received plaudits for his gritty performance.
