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The first ODI between India and Sri Lanka played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday, August 2, ended in a tie. This was only the second instance in the history of ODI cricket that a match between India and Sri Lanka ended in a tie.
The hosts won the toss and opted to bat first in the contest. Sri Lanka kept losing wickets from one end although opener Pathum Nissanka contributed a defiant 56 off 75 balls. Dunith Wellalage (67* off 65) lifted the Lankans with a hard-fought knock, aided by some good contributions from the lower order. Thanks to the fightback, Sri Lanka recovered from 101-5 to post 230-8.
In reply, skipper Rohit Sharma got India off to a solid start, scoring 58 off 47 balls. However, once he was dismissed the Men in Blue lost their way. A fighting stand between Axar Patel (33) and KL Rahul (31) kept them in the game. The hosts, however, kept chipping away at the wickets and managed to tie the contest.
Friday's match was only the 10th instance of India featuring in a tied game in the one-day format. On that note, we rank the five most exciting tied ODIs involving Team India.
#5 India vs Sri Lanka in Colombo, 2024
The India-Sri Lanka ODI in Colombo on Friday ranks fifth on the list of most exciting tied one-dayers involving the Men in Blue. The game ranks low on the list because it should never have ended in a tie. India needed only one run from 15 balls, with two wickets in hand. As Rohit candidly admitted at the post-match presentation ceremony, India should have got that one run.
With one run needed for victory, Shivam Dube (25) missed a slider from Charith Asalanka and was trapped in front of the stumps. Then, Arshdeep Singh (0) attempted an ugly hoick across the line first ball. He was also out lbw as India failed to close out the match. Sri Lanka would consider the result as a moral victory, while for India it was an opportunity lost.
#4 India vs Zimbabwe in Paarl, 1997
India and Zimbabwe featured in several close games in the one-day format in the 1990s. One of them, played in Paarl in January 1997 as part of the Standard Bank International One-Day Series, ended in a tie. Batting first after winning the toss, Zimbabwe put up 236-8 on the board. In response, India were all-out for 236.
Zimbabwe's score was built around skipper Alistair Campbell's 61 and 40s from Paul Strang and Craig Evans. In the chase, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals, but Saba Karim (38), Robin Singh (48), and Ajay Jadeja (32) kept India in the hunt. With two needed off the last ball, Robin was run out by a direct hit from Eddo Brandes (5-41). It was, however, a wide ball, and hence the game was tied.
#3 India vs New Zealand in Auckland, 2014
India and New Zealand played out a nail-biting tie at Eden Park in Auckland in the third ODI of the five-match series in January 2014. India won the toss and decided to field first. The Kiwis, however, put up 314 in their 50 overs. The Men in Blue came up with an inspired effort in the chase and finished on 314-9.
New Zealand's total was built around Martin Guptill's 111 and Kane Williamson's 65. In the chase, India were in big trouble at 184-6 in the 36th over. But Ravindra Jadeja (66* off 45) and Ravichandran Ashwin (65 off 46) played excellent knocks to lift the visitors.
Despite India's fightback, New Zealand held the upper hand in the contest as the Men in Blue needed 18 off the last over. Jadeja, however, slammed Corey Anderson for two fours and a six to bring the equation down to two off one ball. Jadeja and Varun Aaron then ran a single off the last ball to tie the contest.
#2 India vs England in Bengaluru, 2011 World Cup
India and England played out a high-scoring tie in the 2011 World Cup group match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Batting first, the Men in Blue were all-out for 338 in 49.5 overs. Sachin Tendulkar hit a brilliant 120 off 115 balls, but Tim Bresnan claimed 5-48 as India crumbled from 305-3 to 338 all out.
In reply, England finished on 338-8 as skipper Andrew Strauss scored a superb 158 off 145 balls, while Ian Bell contributed 69 off 91 deliveries. England were well-placed at 281-2 in the 43rd over, but Zaheer Khan dismissed Bell and Straus off consecutive deliveries. India kept chipping away at the wickets.
The equation came down to 14 off the last over bowled by Munaf Patel. Ajmal Shahzad struck a six down the ground off the third ball. With two needed off the last delivery for a famous win, Graeme Swann and Shahzad ran a single to mid-off to tie the scores and bring the curtains down on a fantastic match.
#1 India vs West Indies in Perth, 1991
The first match of the 1991-92 Benson & Hedges World Series played between India and West Indies in Perth is considered among the most thrilling one-dayers ever. In a low-scoring nail-biter, West Indies knocked over India for 126 in 47.4 overs. India, however, hit back incredibly to bundle out the Caribbean side for the same score in 41 overs.
Ravi Shastri top-scored for India with the bat, scoring 33 off 110 balls. For West Indies, Curtly Ambrose, Malcolm Marshall, and Anderson Cummins claimed two wickets each. In the chase, India reduced a strong West Indies batting outfit to 76-8 as debutant Subroto Banerjee claimed 3-30, while Javagal Srinath and Kapil Dev picked up two wickets each.
Cummins and Ambrose then added 37 for the ninth wicket as there was another twist in the tale. Ambrose was, however, run out by a direct hit by Shastri for 17. With the scores level, Sachin Tendulkar then had Cummins (24) caught at second slip by a diving Mohammad Azharuddin. India celebrated as if they won the game!
