5 best India ODI comebacks while defending

#4 India vs. Sri Lanka, 15 December 2009, Rajkot

Result: India won by 3 runs

Virender Sehwag helped India reach a huge score of 414/7

In the opening match of the ODI series at Rajkot, India and Sri Lanka were presented with a batting paradise. India got off to a flier with the opening pair of Sachin-Sehwag putting on 153 runs in just 19.3 overs.

To drive home the advantage of the brisk start, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni promoted himself to No.3 after Sachin’s dismissal. The duo of Sehwag and Dhoni went after the Lankan bowlers to take India to 308/1 in 35 overs. India looked set to get the record score in ODI cricket. But, the dismissal of Sehwag and Dhoni in successive overs after playing knocks of 146 and 72 respectively pegged them back.

The last 15 overs could fetch just 106 runs. Nevertheless the total of 414/7 was still a huge score.

The Sri Lankan openers came out all guns blazing and put on 188 runs in just 24 overs. After the wicket of Tharanga, the Indians were in more trouble as skipper Sangakkara was at his attacking best slamming 90 runs in just 43 deliveries. The partnership between Dilshan and Sangakkara had brought the equation down to 99 runs off 81 balls.

When Dilshan was finally out for 160, Sri Lanka were still the favourites with 76 required off 65. Though there was a stutter with three quick wickets, Thilina Kandamby and Angelo Mathews combined well to bring the required runs down to 15 in 12 balls. With the match firmly in Sri Lanka’s control, a basic error of not sliding his bat cost Kandamby his wicket. Zaheer conceded just four runs in the over which also had another run-out in the form of Thilan Samaraweera.

Ashish Nehra was then entrusted the responsibility of defending 11 runs in the final over. Mathews brought that down to 6 from 3. The next delivery of the over, a low full toss, was hit straight to Sachin at mid-wicket giving India the prized scalp of Mathews. With 6 needed from 2, Nehra bowled two good yorkers conceding just two runs to ensure a great comeback win for India.