Cast your vote for the most thrilling game in the current installment of the One Day International (ODI) World Cup.
1) AFG vs AUS, Mumbai:
Australia clinched victory with three wickets in hand and 19 balls to spare. Afghanistan, on the brink of a significant upset after setting a formidable target of 291, had Australia struggling at 91 for 7 on a Wankhede pitch favoring swing and seam. However, as the pitch leveled out, Glenn Maxwell delivered a remarkable ODI performance, amassing an incredible 201 off 128 balls. This constituted an astonishing 82.37% of the total runs scored while he was at the crease, ultimately propelling Australia to triumph with 3.1 overs remaining.
2) PAK vs SA, Chennai:
South Africa secured a narrow one-wicket victory with 16 balls to spare. Initially, Pakistan's total of 270 seemed below par, and South Africa appeared comfortable at 206 for 4 in the 34th over. However, Pakistan's bowlers, spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi, applied pressure, leading to a tense situation. With just one wicket in hand and 11 runs needed, Haris Rauf's remarkable diving catch dismissed No.10 Lungi Ngidi. Despite the challenging circumstances, Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj held their ground, guiding South Africa to a hard-fought one-wicket triumph.
3) AUS vs NZ, Dharamsala:
Australia secured a victory by a margin of five runs. The dynamic partnership of David Warner and Travis Head propelled Australia beyond 200 in less than 24 overs, initially hinting at a potential total exceeding 400. However, New Zealand's spinners successfully applied pressure in the middle overs, restricting the final total to 388. Despite this seeming sufficient, Rachin Ravindra's impressive 116 off 89 deliveries set the stage for a tense conclusion. Jimmy Neesham's rapid fifty brought New Zealand close, but needing seven off two, he missed a full toss and was run out while attempting to regain strike, leaving New Zealand narrowly short. The sight of Neesham diving for his crease evoked memories of the bitter 2019 final.
4) NZ vs PAK, Bengaluru:
Pakistan secured a 21-run victory via the DLS method in a crucial match where they faced a daunting target of 401. Despite the seemingly insurmountable challenge, Fakhar Zaman, unfazed by the task at hand, launched a remarkable assault on both seamers and spinners, ensuring that Pakistan stayed ahead of the DLS par score. Unfortunately, the game concluded prematurely due to rain, denying the fans the anticipated climactic finish. Nonetheless, Fakhar's impressive innings of 126 off 81 deliveries breathed life into Pakistan's semifinal aspirations.
5) SA vs AUS, 2nd semi-final, Kolkata:
Australia secured a three-wicket victory with 16 balls to spare. Despite South Africa struggling at 24 for 4, a stellar century from David Miller and partnerships with Heinrich Klaasen and Gerald Coetzee propelled them to a total of 212. Initially appearing modest, this target gained significance as South Africa's spinners made a comeback on a turning pitch. A tense late spell from Coetzee caused Australia considerable anxiety, but they managed to eke out a win.
Throughout the innings, South Africa missed several half chances, contributing to their recurring disappointment of falling short in the final yet again.
6) IND vs NZ, 1st semi-final, Mumbai:
India emerged victorious with a 70-run win. Despite the seemingly comfortable margin, the game became tightly contested, particularly when Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson orchestrated a remarkable 181-run partnership during New Zealand's pursuit of 398. India's fielding displayed lapses, evident in a visibly upset skipper Rohit Sharma, who rallied his team during a tense moment at the drinks break. The atmosphere shifted when Mohammed Shami, who had earlier dropped Williamson, made a crucial double strike, breaking the silence at the Wankhede.
A potentially threatening partnership between Mitchell and Glenn Phillips was halted as Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Phillips with a well-executed slower ball. The exceptional performance of Shami, returning to dismantle the lower order, ultimately propelled India into the final.
7) SA vs NED, Dharamsala:
Netherlands secured a victory by a margin of 38 runs. Despite a formidable performance from a rising South Africa, aiming for a third consecutive win, they had the Netherlands at 112 for 6 in the rain-shortened 43-overs-a-side match. Despite the odds, a resilient 78 by Scott Edwards propelled the underdogs to a total of 245. However, this score seemed below expectations for South Africa's strong batting lineup. Netherlands' bowlers made early inroads and, despite facing some resistance from the lower order, managed to pull off a remarkable upset.
8) SL vs PAK, Hyderabad:
Pakistan secured a six-wicket victory with 10 balls to spare in a tense, high-scoring encounter. Mohammed Rizwan, despite battling cramps, displayed remarkable resilience, scoring 131 off 121 balls to successfully chase down Sri Lanka's formidable total of 344. After losing two early wickets, Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique formed a crucial partnership, adding 177 runs and effectively managing the required run rate. Following Shafique's dismissal, Rizwan continued to battle through discomfort, audibly expressing pain between powerful shots, ultimately leading Pakistan to the win. Post-match, Rizwan candidly mentioned that his breaks for treatment served the dual purpose of managing cramps and regaining his breath, humorously stating, "Sometimes it's cramps, sometimes it's my acting."
9) IND vs AUS, Chennai:
India secured a six-wicket victory with 52 balls to spare in their tournament opener against Australia. After successfully bowling out Australia for 199, India faced an early setback in their chase, finding themselves at 2 for 3. KL Rahul, hastily joining Virat Kohli after keeping for nearly 50 overs, navigated a cautious start before the duo initiated authoritative shots, forging a pivotal 165-run partnership that significantly influenced the course of the chase.
10) IND vs NZ, Dharamsala:
India secured a four-wicket victory with 12 balls to spare, comfortably closing out the game. Although Virat Kohli fell just five runs short of his 49th ODI century, the situation was tense at 191 for 5 while chasing 274. This was especially noteworthy considering India had limited batting strength beyond No.7 Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja played an aggressive role early on, contributing to a crucial 78-run partnership, before Kohli's impactful big shots ultimately sealed the game. In their innings, New Zealand seemed poised for a larger total at 178 for 2 in the 34th over, but India's bowlers staged a comeback in the latter part of the innings.
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