Top 5 successful chases in last over of an ODI

In the present day, many big targets have been seen getting chased in unbelievable fashion in the limited-overs. The T20 cricket brought a scope of some impossible equations being chased down. But the same hasn’t been possible in the ODI format where the dynamics remain tough chasing big runs towards the end.

Till date, only seven instances have been recorded where a team scored 15 or more runs in the final over of an ODI. Only three of those seven instances were recorded in the past decade and none in the last six years and two of them even before the debut of T20 format.

Here are some of the highest successful chases in the final over of an ODI match:

5. 15 runs by India vs Sri Lanka in 2013:

Shortly after winning the Champions Trophy in 2013, the Indian team toured West Indies to be part of an ODI Tri-series involving Sri Lanka as the 3rd side. The two Asian giants featured in the final at the Queen’s Park Oval. Sri Lanka raced to 171/2 by 38th over but lost their last 8 wickets for only 30 runs and were bundled out for only 201.

India lost Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli cheaply by 11th over with only 27 runs on the board. But Rohit Sharma put India on top with a couple of fifty-run partnerships.

Rohit added 50 runs in 74 balls with Dinesh Karthik and a 62-run stand in just 48 balls with Suresh Raina as India reached 139/3 by 31st over. India stood favourites to win as the required rate was reading only 3.31. Rangana Herath cleaned up Rohit on the first ball of the 32nd over.

Rohit got out scoring 58 from 89 balls while Raina too fell a couple of overs later scoring a 27-ball 32. Soon India were reduced to 167/8 by 42nd over but were only 35 runs away from title win.

MS Dhoni, the Indian skipper, returned for this game after suffering a back injury in the tournament opener. He was occupied from one end and took the game as deep as possible. India lost their 9th wicket at the score of 182 in the 47th over. India could only score 5 runs in the next 14 balls leaving 15 runs to be chased in the final over to be bowled by Shaminda Eranga. Dhoni, who was batting on 29 off 48 balls, failed to connect the first ball of the 50th over.

The second ball was fuller and in reach of Dhoni. He capitalized the chance and sent the ball straight to the roof of the stands. The following ball took the edge of Dhoni bat and flew over point region for a boundary. The Sri Lankan team had a brief discussion with only 5 runs to get from 3 balls but Eranga ended up bowling a length ball which was smashed by Dhoni over extra cover for a maximum. He sealed a 1-wicket win for India with an unbeaten 52-ball 45.

(Note: West Indies chased 15 runs in the 50th over against New Zealand in 2002 Kingstown ODI. Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit a hat-trick of fours in the bowling of Daryl Tuffey.

Sri Lanka also chased down 15 runs in the 50th over against Pakistan during 2012 Colombo ODI. Angelo Mathews was the batsman while Sohail Tanvir was the bowler where Sri Lanka won with two balls to spare.)