5 Most Interesting Overs Bowled in One-Day Cricket
Author – Abhishek Chendvankar
Gutsy Tendulkar
Hero cup semi-final India vs South Africa
November 24th 1993, Eden Gardens
Indians had a habit of switching off the TV when they knew India is going to lose. South Africa needed 6 runs to win with two wickets in hand. The Indian bowlers didn’t believe that a victory was possible. Then came the nation’s hero Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. To the surprise of many, Sachin was ready to bowl the last over. It was a big risk by the then skipper Azhar as the regular bowlers had few overs left to bowl. But Sachin proved to be a great gamble. He gave away just 3 runs and turned out to be nation’s hero while South Africa strengthened their tag of chokers!
Virat vs Malinga
11th ODI Commonwealth Bank series, India vs Sri Lanka
28th February 2012, Hobart
India required 321 to be chased in 40 overs to stand a chance of qualifying for the finals of the series by winning with a bonus point. Although batting was the strength of the Indian Cricket team, few had imagined that a new hero would be born that night. Virat Kohli with his extraordinary knock of 133 runs in just 86 balls helped India cruise to victory. The highlight of his innings though was his slaughtering of Lasith Malinga, one of the most feared bowlers in the game! When Malinga came into bowl the 35th over, Virat took 2 runs to complete his hundred in the first ball and then went on to smash 6, 4, 4, 4, 4…! It looked as if he was playing a friendly match! India won the match with the bonus point but didn’t qualify for the finals! However, Virat’s slaughtering of Malinga is well remembered by cricket fans and it was since then that other batsmen started facing Malinga fearlessly!
Hat-trick hero Langeveldt
3rd ODI,West Indies vs South Africa
11th May 2011, Barbados
South Africa came in to bat first and scored 284/6 with the help of a century from Dippenaar and a classic fifty from Kallis. West Indies responded very well with Gayle scoring 132. The team looked well poised for a victory with 4 runs to score of the last over and 3 wickets in hand. Although a reliable batsman – Dwayne Bravo was on the crease, Charl Langeveldt was all set for a heroic end! Ian Bradshaw and Dwayne Bravo traded in singles in the first two balls. With just 2 runs required off 4 balls, came the hat-trick from Langeveldt. Bradshaw, Powell and Collymore were dismissed in consecutive deliveries and South Africa won by 1 run. This is considered as the best last over and best hat-trick in the history of South African cricket. Charl Langeveldt will definitely be remembered for his heroics.
Malinga takes 4!!
World Cup Super-Eight Stage, Sri Lanka vs South Africa
28th March 2007, Georgetown
South Africa required just 4 runs from 6 overs with 5 wickets in hand when Malinga came in to bowl the 45th over. Malinga was establishing himself in ODI cricket and was known for his awkward action and variations like yorkers, slower ones, bouncers which deceived the batsmen. It looked like a walk in the park for the Proteas but, it didn’t turn out to be so. Malinga castled Shaun Pollock on the 5th ball of the over and got Hall on the next ball. Chaminda Vaas conceded just 1 run in the next over and Malinga was brought back for the 47th over. He took big man Kallis’s wicket and completed his hat-trick. But, he didn’t stop here! Next was Ntini and he was bowled for a golden duck! Next came in Langeveldt, who narrowly escaped as the bowl missed the off stump by a whisker. No run was given further in the over. 48th over was again bowled by Vaas and he delivered a brilliant maiden. Malinga again got a chance to Shatter the Proteas but this time, he was not successful. South Africa clinched the victory in an intense match but Malinga had now established himself as a death bowling specialist!
Zak brings India’s hopes back
(video unavailable)
World cup group match India vs England
February 27th 2011, M Chinnaswamy stadium
India won the toss and elected to bat first. One of India’s greatest batsmen of all time, Sachin played beautifully and with the help of the top order set up a target of 339 runs for England to win. The odds were in India’s favor but Strauss had different plans. England were cruising to victory at 280/2 and then a bowling change by Dhoni brought Zaheer back into the attack for the 43rd over. It was Zaheer Khan and his reverse swing that brought the crowd back to life with two successive wickets. Zaheer, who was devastating with the old ball, picked up the crucial wickets of Ian Bell and Strauss. With the latter being on 158 when he was given out LBW off the left-armer. The match was considered widely as the best of the tournament since the scores were tied at the end and both teams successfully qualified for the knockout stages.
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