2015 is coming to an end real soon. Cricket was at its peak this year. It evolved from what it used to be in the past. With the inclusions of day-night Test matches, pink balls, new rules to stabilize the game, administrators kept changing the game so that we spectators can get the most out of every game we see and enjoy. New players came in while some legends left us forever. Some cricket veterans took the field yet again to give their fans one last hurrah! (All-stars T20) We saw some great centuries, better bowling performances, spectacular catches, records being shattered, partnerships going from strength to strength but most importantly, matches going down to the final ball/over.
Some spectacular matches were witnessed by cricket fanatics this year and we select the best of the best matches that defined what a match takes to be termed as a thriller. We list down the Top 10 ODI matches in the concluding year of 2015 –
10. Ireland vs U.A.E., Brisbane (25th February 2015)
World Cup was the ultimate stage for low-lying teams to showcase their talent. UAE and Ireland were one of those teams. UAE started proceedings with posting 278 runs on the board, Shaiman Anwar scoring the highest with 106. Ireland came out strong in the second innings with mid-30 contributions coming from the top and middle order. Wilson and Kevin O’Brien accelerated Ireland’s scoring system by smashing boundaries regularly. Needing 3 runs of 6 balls with 2 wickets remaining, batsman Dockrell hit the short ball towards the fielder on the fence and picked up the winning runs to convincingly beat UAE with 2 wickets remaining in the end.
9. Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan, Bulawayo (20th October 2015)
The visiting team Afghanistan, won the toss and chose to put on the batting pads first. Zimbabwean bowlers took advantage of the home conditions as Afghanistan could make a mere 223 runs out of their 50 overs. Zimbabwe came off to a flying start but kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Mutumbami laid the foundation with his 74 as other middle-order batsmen kept on building upon it. Even though the target was of just 223 runs, Afghanistan stretched it to the last over. Zimbabwe needed just 3 runs of the last 6 balls as Sikandar hit a six of the 4th ball to seal the win for the home team with 6 wickets to spare.
8. Australia vs England, Hobart (23rd January 2015)
The Ashes pair continued their rivalry in limited overs as well. Put into bat, England put up a massive total of 303, courtesy Ian Bell’s 141. It was Australia’s turn to give their crowd something to cheer as they hammered the English bowlers. A century from Captain Smith and a great cameo from Brad Haddin meant they were closing in towards their victory. Not an easy victory this but Australia required 2 from the last 6 balls with 4 wickets remaining. The drama continued as a wicket fell, but Australia gradually triumphing the match by 3 singles.
7. Ireland Vs Zimbabwe, Hobart (7th March 2015)
It was the World Cup time when underdogs Ireland and Zimbabwe collided in this group stage match. Winning the toss and choosing to field, Ireland kept on piling up runs until the 300th ball as their total was showing as 331 runs, Ed Joyce was the run-machine for the Irishmen as his 112 off 103 balls was the foundation of this huge total while supporting cast included Andrew Balbirnie (97) who missed out on a well-deserved century. Zimbabwe had a huge task in their hands, but the boys in red stood up to the expectations. Although their top-order faltered, the middle-order batsmen consisting B Taylor (121n.o.) and S Williams (96) took the fight back to the opposition. Their superb innings almost took the game away from the Irishmen. Their 149-run partnership was brought to a halt, but the lower order still were playing impacting cameo roles. Singling out Mupariwa, he almost snatched a victory as 7-ball-18 was getting too hot to handle. Last over needed 7 runs of a Zimbabwean bat with 2 wickets in hand. The last 2 wickets fell in the final over with just 2 runs being scored as Hobart got an unexpected cracker of a game. Ireland won by a narrow margin of 5 runs.
6. India vs Zimbabwe, Harare (10th July 2015)
Not many had expected this match to be a close affair. The big boys from India looked more talented with a new squad, but the experienced Zimbabwean side gave them a show, they never expected. Putting the opposition to bat, Zimbabwe did a brilliant job of restricting the young guns of India to just 255 runs as their totals. Big knocks were played by Rayudu(124) and Binny(77) as other batsmen failed to cross double-digits, except captain Rahane(34). With Zimbabwe winning the first innings battle, it was time to win the war by reaching the target of 255. A century from captain Chigumbura (104 n.o.) and small contributions from other players meant Zimbabwe kept going. The home team needed 10 off the last 6 to pull-off this emphatic win. The captain was still at the crease along with new man Tiripano and just 3 wickets remaining. A brilliant display of swing bowling from Bhuvaneshwar Kumar saw India defend their score by letting just 5 runs being scored. The captain failed to get his team through as he couldn’t get even one ball to the boundary line to ease the pressure. Zimbabwe totaled out at 250 runs leading India to a 5-run victory.
5. Sri Lanka vs West Indies, Colombo (1st November 2015)
Sri Lanka and West Indies’ 1st match in the 3-match series was a low-scoring and rain-hit one. With rain washing out almost half of the 50 overs, both were left to play with just 26 overs to play. Andre Russell (41 off 24) and Jason Holder (36 of 13) were the stars in the almost T20 encounter as West Indies managed just 159 runs. Lakmal was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 5-0-15-3. Now can the entertaining part as Sri Lanka were expected to win this one quite easily. Started off well, they were 120-4 after 15.4 overs and were cruising along easily. But, the Caribbean boys made the going tough for them as they lost 5 wickets in a span of 32 runs. Needing 11 off the last 12 deliveries with one wicket in hand, Sri Lanka were tilting towards the more pressurized side. Here came the twist in the tale as bowler Johnson Charles bowled a no-ball which meant a free-hit off the penultimate bowl of the over. 5 needed of the remaining 7 balls including a free-hit, Mendis guttered the ball to the stands for a six as Sri Lanka got away with the win with just 1 wicket remaining.
4. New Zealand vs Australia, Auckland (28th February 2015)
World Cup Hosts New Zealand and Australia locked horns in a group-stage match at the former’s home ground. The low-scoring saga continues here as Australia were bowled out for a paltry 151. A fiery spell from Trent Boult was the main cause for destruction as he picked up 5 wickets in the process. Not many could have guessed that this would be an entertaining match, but Australia was adamant to make it one. Off to a good start, New Zealand were 78/2 when 2 quick wickets fell in succession and their scorecard showed 79/4. After some stable batting till 131/5, they were again reduced to 145/7. Requiring 7 runs from 28 overs with 3 wickets in hand, New Zealand were looking to win this match when double-strike from Starc delayed it. That over ended with just 1 run. New Zealand fans rejoiced when a six off the first ball of the next overtook the Kiwis through the finishing line with just 1 wicket remaining.
3. Afghanistan vs Scotland, Dunedin (26th February 2015)
World Cup magic continues as the underdog teams were successful in providing down-to-the-wire matches to their fans. Scotland scored 210 runs with almost equal contributions from all players. The second innings was an entertaining one wickets kept on falling but runs kept on piling up. Ahmadi (51) kept providing stability from one end till Shenwari (96) came along and stuck to the crease gathering precious runs and his mates kept coming and going from the field. It went down to the final over with both tailenders batting. Afghanistan needed 5 off 6 balls with 1 wicket in hand. Hassan stroked one for a single while partner Zadran smashed the third ball for four as Afghanistan won a thriller with 1 wicket remaining.
2. South Africa vs West Indies, Port Elizabeth (25th January 2015)
The best team of the present versus the best team of the past faced each other in this encounter. South Africa were bundled out for 262 runs with David Miller remaining unbeaten at 130. West Indies stumbled a lot in the start but later in the game stood firm and kept going. Wickets kept falling but runs never stopped coming. With the final two overs of the play remaining, West Indies required 7 runs with 1 wicket remaining. Andre Russell came to the rescue as he stroked a four and then smashed a huge six to end the game within 3 balls and hand over this intense win to the West Indies with 1 wicket in hand.
1. New Zealand vs South Africa, Auckland (24th March 2015)
Semi-finals of 2015 World Cup felt like one as the crowd got their entertainment they were hoping for. With rain washing away 7 overs from the 50-over format, South Africa struck furiously to hand over New Zealand, a steep target of 281 in 43 overs. Thunderous hitting from McCullum and stability from Elliot meant New Zealand came quite close to the tall target. The last over affair looked – New Zealand requiring 12 runs from 6 balls. Steyn was up against Vettori as the crowd fully supported the batsman to do the unthinkable. The crowd erupted as Vettori struck a four and six of the 3rd and 5th ball to eliminate South Africa and go on to secure their well-deserved finals berth.