A few days ago, David Warner scored a terrific 173 but could not take his team to victory versus South Africa in the fifth match of their ODI series.
Warner’s knock was terrific for more reasons than one. South Africa had piled up an imposing 327. They were already four-nil up and Australia badly wanted to avert their first ever five-nil loss. After a 72-run opening stand, Australia lost three wickets for two runs. In the last 23 overs the asking rate had climbed to above 8 an over, and pressure was immense. As long as Warner was there, Australia had a chance be it 99 from last 10, or 41 from last 3. However, he was unfortunately run out for 173; one of the top losing knocks in ODI cricket history.
That led me to think about a few other top knocks a losing cause. The list is obviously illustrative and you are free to add to them.
Sachin Tendulkar – 175 versus Australia
It was the fifth match of the Australian tour of India, at Hyderabad. Australia piled up 350 with Shane Watson scoring 93 and Shaun Marsh 112. In the last seven overs Australia smashed 80 runs to effectively bat India out of the game.
India’s start was good with Virender Sehwag scoring 38 in 30 balls, but after he fell with the score at 66 in the ninth over, there were a flurry of wickets with Gambhir, Yuvraj and Dhoni falling quickly.
Only Suresh Raina gave Tendulkar some support with a run-a-ball 59, but otherwise it was Sachin all the way. He ended up with 175 in 141 balls and was seventh out at 332 with 19 required in 18 balls. The last three wickets could not get them, and India lost by three runs with two balls to spare. Six Indian batsmen were out in single figures
Matthew Hayden 181 versus New Zealand
In the third ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, batting first, Australia piled up 346 with Hayden scoring 181 in a breathtaking display of batting. In his 166 balls knock, Hayden had as many as 11 fours and 10 huge sixes. The next highest score was Watson’s run-a-ball 68. However, New Zealand came up with a clinical team performance to win by one wicket. At 5/116 it seemed all was over but Macmillan and McCullum at 6 and 7 scored 117 and 86 not out to take their team to a famous win with 3 balls to spare
Dave Houghton 142 versus New Zealand
It was a World Cup match in 1987. New Zealand had scored 242 with Martin Crowe top scoring with 72. At 10/2 the script was predictable. But Houghton wanted to write his own script.
Even with the score at 7/104 he did not give up and found an able ally in Ian Butchart, who scored 54 batting at No.9. Houghton went on to score 142 in 137 balls with 13 fours and 6 sixes. He was sadly out with 18 runs left and the inexperienced team could not go on to win. This knock of 142 is even today the highest score by any Associate team against a Test-playing Nation.
Sachin Tendulkar 143 versus Australia in Sharjah
This was the first of the two Desert storm knocks. Australia had piled up 284. India needed 276 in 46 overs after Duckworth Lewis came in and 237 to qualify. Both seemed remote, but Sachin played a magical knock of 143 to take India close to an improbable win. The assault on Kasper, Warne and Damien Fleming was memorable and Sachin achieved the objective of taking India to the final. There he repeated his feat with a 134 with India successfully chasing the Aussie total of 272. However the earlier knock of 143 , which was the first of the two desert storm knocks is certainly one of the best knocks in a losing cause
Do you agree with the above list?
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