Run-Chases in ODI cricket is completely different from the other forms of cricket. In the long history of cricket teams batting second often failed to achieve target most of the time. The ratio is chasing the target is very less if we look into there are only 60 times when the team has chased the target successfully of 300 plus but that has all happened in the last two decades.
Earlier in the 90s or 80s the target of 300 plus was sure victory as the ratio is even less from modern day cricket only 4 times teams have chased the total. But before the 90s there was no team who had chased the target of 300 plus.
Having said that, let us take a look at the top five greatest run chase in a ODI Cricket History when team successful chase the target in the second innings:
Australia Vs South Africa, 2006, Johannesburg:
Scoreboard –
Australia 434-4 (50 Overs)
South Africa 438-9 (49.5 Overs)
Do you think some other match has the right to be at top spot apart from this well obviously not. The match was the trailblazer in the cricketing world. South Africa clinched the game from jaws of defeat in a high scoring match.
Despite the fact that it was the decider of the series and speculations were high that a tough fight will be seen from both the sides. Australia Captain Ricky Ponting decided to bat first after winning the toss. From the word go Australian players were in no mind-set to give any such loopholes to hosts.
Ricky Ponting hammered 105 ball-164 run knocks which include 9 sixes. Towards the end Micheal Hussey went berserk and scored 51 ball-81 runs in a quick-fashion to take the scoreboard to 434-4 in the 50 overs. It was the highest score in the history and Australia team was the first one to breach the 400 run-mark in ODI cricket history.
Before South Africa began their chase Kallis made the speculated 15 runs Australians were short. As the South Africa opener was back to the pavilion in the 2nd over – Australians were confident for the series win.
But turned around was about to come when Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs put on an 187 run partnership for the 2nd second to ensure Australia were in the chase. When Herschelle Gibbs departs at the score of 299/4 in 32 overs. Gibbs scored 111 ball-175 run which featured 21 fours and 7 sixes. The rest work was done by Van der Wath who made quick fire 35 runs off 18 balls which featured 3 sixes and Mark Boucher who remained unbeaten on 50* also hitting the winning shot to register the greatest wins over Australia.
India Vs England, Lord's Final, 2002:
Scoreboard –
England 325-5 (50 Overs)
India 326-8 (49.3 Overs)
At second spot, it would be this nerve wrecking encounter between the longshot and A-list experience side. If previous match was pioneer in the World cricket history, at that point this match was the trailblazer in the Indian Cricket History.
It was the triangular tournament between India, Sri-Lanka and hosts England. India and England were playing the finals at the famous venue lord's. The early speculations were England has the advantage over this longshot side of Team India.
After winning the toss England decided to bat first on the green-top surface. The tenacious left-handed batsman Marcus Trescothick scored fine century alongside his partner Nassier Hussain to took the scoreboard to 325 in the 50 overs.
Team India got off to a flying start as they have scored 106/0 in only 14 overs making it clear Team India is in the Chase. Yet, things conflicted with team India when they have crumbled from 106/0 to 146/5. It was 2002 and Chasing 326 after losing the 5 wickets was close to inconceivable. Yet, what followed next was the greatest comeback in the ODI cricket history.
The two rookies Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh went onto made the Statement – Team India Era has Begun. Both these put on match-winning partnership of 121 run for the sixth wicket to take the team India back once again into the chase. After Yuvraj Singh (69) departs, Kaif stayed unbeaten on 87* and kept the one end alongside the talenders to take team India over the line to the greatest ODI Victories in Indian Cricket History.
New Zealand Vs Australia, Hamilton, 2007:
Scoreboard –
Australia 346-5 (50 Overs)
New Zealand 350-9 (49.3 Overs)
The match and series was overshadowed as it had happened just before the start of 2007 World Cup. Australians were not playing with the best side as they had wanted to focus on the coming world cup only.
Australia's team performed brilliantly throughout the series but they have come out as a losing side on every occasion after posting the huge score. Already lost the series and trailing by 2-0 with the final game of the series yet to play.
Australia Captain after the Winning the toss decided to bat first. The tenacious left-handed batsman Mathew Hayden played one of the ruinous innings of his Career while stayed unbeaten on 181* off 166 balls which featured 11 fours and 10 sixes. Afterward, the Australia team went on to post a huge score of 346/5 in the 50 overs.
New Zealand got off to a most exceedingly terrible start and they were reduced to 41/4 to 116/5 with brisk fire fifty from Peter Fulton 51 runs off 40 balls which featured 6 fours and 3 sixes. With 5 wickets down no expectations were from New Zealand anything else in this match.
But followed next what was another great comeback in cricketing history. As Craig McMillan and Brendon McCullum out on match winning partnership of 165 runs for the 6th wicket to take the New Zealand team back into the game. When Craig McMillan departed at 117 runs off 96 balls which featured 13 fours and 5 sixes. New Zealand was almost back in the game and 66 runs were required but Brendon McCullum kept the one end secure and remained unbeaten on 86* to take his team to victory with 1 wicket in hand and 3 balls to spare.
Australia Vs New Zealand, Christchurch, 2005:
Scoreboard –
Australia 331-7 (50 Overs)
New Zealand 332-8 ( 49 Overs)
Another great comeback inning from Scott Styris who clinched the victory from the jaw of defeat.
After winning the toss hosts invited Australia to bat first as they were trailing by 2-0 nothing much for them to fight for its pride. Predator Aussies went onto posted the massive score on the board of 331/7 in the 50 overs with the major contribution made by Micheal Hussey who scored 88 runs off 56 balls which featured 7 fours and 5 Sixes.
The other contributions came from Ricky Ponting (75), Micheal Clarke (71) and Brad Hodge (59) to helped Australia posted massive total on the board.
Australians were confirmed we are going to win the series by 3-0. But the second innings was left as New Zealand started the chase they have got off to the worst start when they were reduced to 61/3 to 179/5. But Scott Styris 101 runs off 96 balls turned the match after making the valuable partnerships with the talenders to reach the target within 49 overs. While Brendon McCullum remained unbeaten on 50 runs off 25 balls which featured 3 fours and 4 sixes with Daniel Vettori to clinch the game easily.
Australia Vs South Africa, Port Elizabeth, 2002:
Scoreboard –
South Africa 326-3 (50 Overs)
Australia 330-7 (49.3 Overs)
A long Australia tour of South Africa and Australians have almost win the test and ODI series already with two more games to go on the tour.
6th game of the series and South Africa after winning the toss decided to bat first and went onto post 326/3 in the 50 overs. It was the first time when the hosts were looking confident with the contribution from Graeme Smith (84), Jacques Kallis 80* and Jonty Rhodes 71* which helped them to post massive score on the board.
In response Australia got off to a great start with 81 runs in just 8.4 overs with quick fire fifty from the tenacious left-handed batsman Adam Gilchrist who scored 52 runs off 34 balls which featured 8 fours and 2 sixes. But they were reduced to 104/3 after the great start. The stage was big before the next wicket fall Ricky Ponting (92) and Darren Lehmann (91) put on match winning partnership of 183 runs for the 4th wicket to take Australia team back into the game.
This partnership turned out to be match winning as Australia chased down the target with 3 wickets in hand in an era where chasing such absolute was outlandish yet Australia made it conceivable which had been looking inconceivable at one stage.
