Great ODI knocks in chases

Following Abdul Razzaq’s spectacular unbeaten 109 which helped Pakistan snatch an unlikely victory against South Africa in the second ODI, I decided to look back at eleven of the finest individual batting performances in ODI chases post 1990. Since 1990, the game has witnessed stunning assaults by Adam Gilchrist and Sanath Jayasuriya which have made a mockery of tricky targets, brilliant recoveries from hopeless situations orchestrated by Michael Bevan and the solo efforts of Sachin Tendulkar in defeats. Here’s my selection of eleven of the best knocks in chases.

1. Brian Lara- 153 v Pakistan, Champions trophy final, Sharjah 1993: Basit Ali had earlier smashed the West Indies bowling in a 79 ball 127 and helped Pakistan set a huge target of 285 in the final. Brian Lara though, had come into the series in a rich vein of form and looked solid right from the outset. He treated a quality bowling attack with disdain scoring 153 with 21 boundaries. His superbly paced knock enabled the West Indies to overhaul the Pakistan total with ease.

2. Michael Bevan – 78* v West Indies at Sydney 1996: Australia had comprehensively outplayed West Indies in the Tests and the earlier matches in the tri series. On this occasion though, West Indies who were defending just 173, reduced Australia to 38 for 6 with Curtly Ambrose and Ottis Gibson bowling superbly. The score soon became 74/7 when Ian Healy fell. Michael Bevan, in the company of Paul Reiffel took Australia to within 17 runs of victory before Reiffel fell. When Shane Warne was run out by Roger Harper in the final over, seven runs were required. It all came down to four required off one delivery. Bevan, calm as ever, swung Harper’s final ball straight down the ground for four to establish himself as one of the game’s best finishers.

3. Sachin Tendulkar- 143 v Australia Sharjah 1998: India, having started well in the tournament, faltered in the next two games and were fighting for a place in the final. Australia amassed 284 after a Michael Bevan century. India required 254 to qualify for the final against Australia ahead of New Zealand. Despite very little support, Sachin Tendulkar single handedly took on the Australian bowling and brought India close to the mark. But a sand storm passing the ground disrupted play and the target was altered to 237 in 46 overs. Tendulkar guided India past the score in the process scoring a superb century. He had his mind set not merely on qualifying, but on winning the match. Tendulkar proceeded to launch a stunning counter attack, but after he was dismissed for 143, India settled for a final berth. Two days later, on his birthday, Tendulkar scored a superb 134 to win the final.

4. Steve Waugh -120* v South Africa, Super Six match, Headlingley 1999 WC: Australia had started the 1999 World Cup disastrously losing to Pakistan and New Zealand. They had to win every game in order to make the semi finals, but were reeling at 48/3 facing a huge total of 271 in the final Super Six game against South Africa. Dropped by Herschelle Gibbs early in his innings, Steve Waugh proceeded to play one of the finest ODI knocks by a captain. He shared crucial partnerships with Ricky Ponting, Michael Bevan and Tom Moody to take Australia past the finish line. The crucial win meant that Australia progressed to the final following a tie in the semi final between the same two teams.

5. Michael Bevan:102* v New Zealand, VB Series, Melbourne 2002: Australia had lost their first three matches against New Zealand and were in deep trouble in the final game chasing New Zealand’s 245. Michael Bevan walked in at 53 for 4 and the score soon became 82 for 6 when Ian Harvey was dismissed. Shane Warne and Brett Lee provided crucial support as Bevan continued to pick the gaps regularly. He scored just seven boundaries in his innings, but manoeuvred the chase superbly to lead Australia to a two wicket win. Bevan, in the company of Andy Bichel, repeated the heroics in the 2003 World Cup against England and New Zealand.

6. Sachin Tendulkar: 98 v Pakistan, Super Six match, World Cup 2003, Centurion: India had never lost to Pakistan in World Cup matches and the match up was a must win for Pakistan. Saeed Anwar’s composed century led Pakistan to 273, a very competitive total considering the quality bowling attack they possessed. Tendulkar, who confessed to have not being able to sleep for days leading up to the game, took first strike and produced a special performance. He took apart Shoaib Akthar in the second over of the game hitting him for 18 runs including a memorable upper cut for six over point. Tendulkar was eventually dismissed for 98 leaving India to get less than 100 runs in over 20 overs. Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh comfortably sealed the win which left Pakistan on the brink of elimination.

7. Adam Gilchrist: 122 v Sri Lanka, VB Series final, 2005-06: Sri Lanka pulled of a surprise by winning the first final of the VB Series. A remarkable recovery by Australia to post a massive match winning 368 after being 10 for 3 in the second final meant a third final was to be played. Chasing a competitive target of 267, Adam Gilchrist proceeded to destroy the Sri Lankan attack with a display of clean striking. He hit 13 fours and four sixes in his 122 off just 91 balls to lead Australia to victory in the VB series final. Gilchrist did it again to Sri Lanka a year later, when he cracked a brilliant 149 to win the World Cup final.

8. Herschelle Gibbs: 175 v Australia, Johannesburg, 2006: Australia had recovered from a 2-0 deficit to level the series at 2-2 before the final match at the Wanderers. A spectacular 164 from Ricky Ponting led Australia to a massive 434 which seemed well beyond reach after they lost Boeta Dippenaar early in the chase. However Graeme Smith made an aggressive 90 and set the tone for what was to follow. Herschelle Gibbs played a tremendous knock of 175 with 21 fours and seven sixes to lead South Africa’s improbable chase. Despite Gibbs’ dismissal with over 130 runs needed, the lower middle order contributed to take South Africa close. Mark Boucher, who made a vital 50, scored the winning runs off the penultimate ball from Brett Lee to seal an extraordinary win.

9. Sachin Tendulkar: 175 v Australia, Hyderabad, 2009: Tendulkar has made 12 centuries in ODI defeats, but none were better than his sublime 175 at Hyderabad. Faced with a huge total of 350, Tendulkar played with the same freedom and control that characterised his batting in the late 1990s. Wickets fell all around him, but his partnership with Suresh Raina took India to the doorstep of victory. With 19 runs required off 18 balls, Tendulkar fell caught at short fine leg, trying to play a lap sweep. His dismissal triggered an all too familiar Indian collapse with the last three wickets going down for 15 runs. Despite the best efforts of Tendulkar, India went on to lose the match by three runs.

10. Shahid Afridi: 109 v Sri Lanka, Asia Cup 2010: Shahid Afridi walked in with Pakistan in deep trouble at 32 for 4 chasing Sri Lanka’s 242. Not sacrificing his aggressive approach, Afridi played a lone hand scoring 109 off just 76 balls with eight fours and seven sixes. He received very little support throughout his knock and only Umar AKmal and Abdul Razzaq contributed meaningfully. When Afridi fell in the 41st over, only 38 runs with three wickets in hand. But the Pakistani lower order collapsed leaving Sri Lanka victorious by 16 runs.

11. Abdul Razzaq: 109 v South Africa, 2010: Colin Ingram’s maiden century lifted South Africa to a challenging 286. It appeared to be all over for Pakistan when Shahid Afridi fell in the 30th over with over 150 runs required. Abdul Razzaq had other ideas though as he smashed ten sixes during his 109 in the process scoring 59 of the last 61 runs to seal a scarcely believable win for Pakistan.