3 Brilliant Innings that couldn't fetch win for its their side

Cricket is a team sport, and to win a game of cricket every individual in the team needs to perform well. However, there have been numerous instances when a player with his lone heroic performance has taken his team across the winning line. Kapil Dev's tremendous knock of 175* off 138 balls in the 1983 Cricket World Cup against Zimbabwe is one such incident which no Indian cricket fan can ever forget.

When Kapil came to bat, India had lost 5 early wickets for just 17 runs on the scoreboard and the chances of an Indian win appeared bleak. Irrespective of what the scoreboard depicted, Kapil played his natural game and tore apart the opponent's bowling attack, eventually taking India home in a must-win game.

On the contrary though, some of these phenomenal heroic performances fell just short of the winning line and the team ended up on the losing side.

Here are some wonder knocks that have gone in vain.

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#3 Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

In the year 2007, West Indies were chasing a gigantic total of 339 against India in Nagpur. Chanderpaul came to open the innings with the Universal Boss Chris Gayle, the duo got their team to a flying start.

After a decent start West Indies lost a couple of quick wickets, though Chanderpaul on the other end kept playing his natural game. He crafted a much needed 73 run partnership with Marlon Samuels for the 3rd wicket and brought West Indies back in the game.

Zaheer Khan dismissed Samuels in the 34th over of the innings but Chanderpaul did not succumb to pressure and stitched another 67 run partnership with Brian Lara. After the dismissal of Lara, West indies could not keep up with the required run-rate and fell short of the target by 15 runs. Chanderpaul managed to score an unbeaten 149 off 136 balls but could not take his team home.

#2 Sachin Tendulkar

What an unfortunate turn of events

In the year 2009, Australia toured India to play a 7 match ODI series. Australia after winning the toss on a flat wicket, elected to bat first and managed to put a mammoth 350 on the scoreboard in Hyderabad in the 5th match of the tournament.

India got off to a decent start with the Sachin-Sehwag pair putting up a 66 run stand for the 1st Wicket. After the loss of Sehwag's wicket, India lost a few quick wickets but Sachin continued to play his natural game and stitched a 137-run partnership with Suresh Raina for the 6th wicket.

Tendulkar managed to score a blistering 175, before he was dismissed in the 48th over of the Indian innings, leaving the team 19 runs away from victory with 17 balls to spare. Unfortunately, India lost the match by 3 runs but Sachin was awarded the player of the match for his outstanding performance.

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#1 Marcus Stoinis

New Zealand v Australia - 1st ODI

Marcus Stoinis grabbed attention from all parts of the world, when he played an incredible knock of 146 off 117 balls against New Zealand in 2017, which included 11 towering sixes.

When Stoinis came to the crease, Australia were reeling at 67 for 6, chasing a total of 287. Stoinis with his brilliant hitting, managed to get Australia within touching distance from a dramatic win but unfortunately, Australia fell 7 runs short of the target.

Interestingly, in the 54 run partnership between Stoinis and Hazlewood, the latter did not face a single delivery. Stoinis was awarded the player of the match for his unbelievable performance both with the bat and the ball.