Top ten nail-biters between India and Australia in ODI cricket

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Nail-biter 1 Period and venue: October, 1987/ Chennai Result: Australia won by 1 run Turning point: Fall of Sidhu's wicket Scores Australia - 270 for 6 in 50 overs India - 269 all out in 49.5 overs This was easily the best ODI nail-biter between India and Australia. Played at Chepauk, Australia raced to 270 batting first aided by a wonderful hundred from Geoff Marsh. 270 was a great score in those days when scoring rates were not as big as in modern day cricket. India were cruising at one stage with the score reading 207 for 2 but Australians fought back to reduce India to 269 all out. India lost by 1 run in the end.

Nail-biter 2 Period and venue: November 2009/Hyderabad Result: Aus won by 3 runs Turning point: Fall of Sachin Tendulkar's wicket Scores Australia - 350 for 4 in 50 overs India - 347 all out in 49.4 overs This was a mind-blowing nail-biter. Australia shot off to a huge 350 for 4 in 50 overs helped by a hundred by Shaun Marsh and 93 by Shane Watson, not to forget a quick-fire 57 off just 33 balls by Cameron White. Chasing the mammoth 351, India got off to a flier and kept the momentum as one man threatened to steal it away from the Aussies. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar made a fabulous 175 off 141 balls but lost his wicket just when Australia desperately wanted one. The Indian tail failed to live up to the pressure and the Aussies won by 3 runs.

Nail-biter 3 Period and venue: March 1992/ Brisbane Result: Aus won by 1 run (D/L method) Turning point: Raju ball-watching Scores Australia - 237 for 9 India - 234 all out This is our 3rd best nail-biter. It was a match played when there was already a huge controversy building up over the Duckworth-Lewis method being used in cricket. Australia batted first on an overcast day and made 237 for 9, helped by an excellent 90 by Dean Jones. Ironically, both Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar had figures of 3-41 from their 10 overs. Following rain interruption during the lunch break, India's target was revised to 236 from 47 overs. 2 runs reduced for 3 overs! Helped by a magnificent 93 by captain Azharuddin and a cameo by Sanjay Manjrekar, India fought gallantly. 3 needed off the last ball and Srinath skied one from Tom Moody only to see Steve Waugh drop a sitter in a deep fielding position. Srinath, aware of a prospective tie completed 3 runs but Venkatapathy Raju was guilty of ball-watching.

Nail-biter 4 Period and venue: October 1996/ Bangalore Result: India won by 2 wickets Turning point: Srinath and Kumble's partnership Scores Australia - 215 for 7 India - 216 for 8 This was the 3rd match in the Titan Cup, which was in many ways called a mini world cup as it featured 3 of the best ODI teams of that period in action; Australia, India and South Africa. Batting first on a slow Bangalore track, Australia reached a competitive 215 for 7 in their allotted 50 overs. India stumbled early on but Sachin kept the fight. As he was running out of partners, the little master got adventurous and tried taking more risks before he was trapped by Steve Waugh. When some spectators even started walking off, local heroes Srinath and Kumble came up with a stunning 52-run unbroken stand to lead India to an unbelievable win in this nail-biter.

Nail-biter 5 Period and venue: October 2007/ Mumbai Result: India won by 2 wickets Turning point: Zaheer Khan and Murali Karthik's partnership Scores Australia - 193 all out India - 195 for 8 India had been completely outplayed in the 7-match series until this game. But, the last match though was a classic. India had an opportunity to resurrect some pride after a forgettable series. It was a low scoring game on a 90-degree turner at Wankhede where runs were at a premium. Australia were bowled out for 193 with almost 10 overs left on the board. India didn't play well either. At 143 for 8, it looked down and out but Zaheer Khan and Murli Karthik did exactly what Kumble and Srinath had done some 10 years ago. India went on to win an incredible nail-biter.

Nail-biter 6 Period and venue: November 1996/ Mohali Result: India won by 5 runs Turning point: Fall of Michael Bevan's wicket Scores India - 289 for 6 India - 284 all out Just one of the earlier games in the same tournament saw the two teams dish out an absolute nail-biter. For the weaker hearts, unfortunately there was another one within a few days. At Mohali, India batted first and made a commanding 289 with 3 players getting half centuries. Australia looked in firm control at one stage at 241 for 4 with Bevan and Slater on the money. A flurry of wickets then brought the game on even keel before Australia gave one last shot at the target. In the end, India sneaked home by 5 runs to make it an unexpected nail-biter.

Nail-biter 7 Period and venue: October 2009/ Vadodara Result: Aus won by 4 runs Turning point: Fall of Harbhajan's wicket Scores Australia - 292 for 8 India - 288 for 8 This series was billed as battle of champions versus champions in the making. And what a perfect start it was as fans kept chewing their nails away. Australian batsmen started off the series in fine fashion with no less than 4 players registering half centuries as the team made 292 in 50 overs. India were never really in the hunt until the 40th over when Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar joined in at the crease. The duo added an unbelievable 84 runs for the 9th wicket and almost pulled it off before Siddle got Bhajji bowled out. Australia managed to restrict the last pair to singles and won the nail-biter by 4 runs.

Nail-biter 8 Period and venue: March 2008/ Brisbane Result: India won by 9 runs Turning point: Fall of James Hopes' wicket Scores India - 258 for 9 India - 249 all out History was awaiting Indian cricket down under. It was the second final of the CB series and if India pull it off, it will be one of the biggest overseas triumphs for Indian cricket. Batting first on a good pitch at GABBA, India posted 258 for 9 in their 50 overs with the Master Blaster playing a patient and uncharacteristic 91 off 121 balls. Australia kept themselves in the hunt for long periods but the task just got more difficult with regular fall of wickets. With Pathan getting rid of James Hopes, any Australian hope perished. India won by 9 runs in the end.

Nail-biter 9 Period and venue: October 1989/ Bangalore Result: India won by 2 wickets Turning point: partnership between Chetan Sharma and Manoj Prabhakar Scores Australia - 247 for 8 India - 249 for 7 It was the prestigious world series event happening in India and was popularly known as the Nehru Cup. Australia's top order fired very well on the day and helped the team post a competitive 247 for 8 in 50 overs. India lost wickets at regular intervals to be reduced to 209 for 7 at one stage. But, when the diminutive Chetan Sharma walked into the middle, the script changed. He was helped at the other end by a stubborn Manoj Prabhakar. The duo put on an unbroken 40-run stand for the 9th wicket to lead India to a famous win in this nail-biter.

Nail-biter 10 Period and venue: March 1985/ Sharjah Result: India won by 3 wickets Turning point: Kapil Dev's dismissal Scores Australia - 139 all out India - 140 for 7 It was the final of the 4-nations cup and it was a low scoring affair. On a wicket not conducive for batting, Australians were shut out for just 139 with Kapil Dev running figures of 1-9 from 6 overs. India should have got home comfortably but some accurate bowling by Glen Mcdermott and Greg Mathews saw India stumble to 120 for 7. Still 20 away from target and only the tail to follow. Jimmy Amarnath held his nerve to help India sail through to what was an enthralling nail-biter at Sharjah.

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[Sir john]

last year ODIs series against aussies break my heart four times.

[achilles]

Superb thread :isalute:

[akshayxyz]

no "desert storm" pre-final?

[SachDan]

no "desert storm" pre-final?

That wasn't a nail-biter. After Sachin's dismissal, Laxman and "one day wonder" Kanitkar didn't push enough for the win. We lost by more than 20 runs.

[akshayxyz]

Agreed, but until the point we were not sure of final birth, it was more than a nailbiter - never sure whats gonna happen. So nailbiter in the sense - whether we gonna make it to final or not ( until it was confirmed).

[SachDan]

Agreed, but until the point we were not sure of final birth, it was more than a nailbiter - never sure whats gonna happen. So nailbiter in the sense - whether we gonna make it to final or not ( until it was confirmed).

Yeah..for us definitely. But from a neutral perspective it was a comfortable win for Australia.