Five best innings in ODI run chases which ended in defeat

ODI cricket has produced a few heroes who haven't quite managed to take their team to victory but nevertheless played their role to perfection. It might be a valiant effort from the top order or a lower order blitz that went in vain, but ultimately, the result is the same – a defeat.

There is little that cricket viewers haven't seen in ODI cricket. Think of the stunning tie between South Africa and Australia in the 1999 World Cup. Klusener played a brilliant cameo but could not finish the game off for his team.

Yet, such was his influence in that game, that he is remembered for his blitz much more than Shane Warne, who turned the match on its head with a four-wicket haul. Heroes never die. Their memories live on.

On that note, take a look at five superb counter-attacking innings in ODIs in run chases that went in vain.

---

#5 Scott Styris 141, NZ vs SL – 2003 World Cup

Scott Styris played one of the best innings of the 2003 World Cup in a pool encounter between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Bloemfontein. Jayasuriya's century took Sri Lanka to 272, a fighting total on a decent pitch.

New Zealand lost three in quick succession in the chase and were reeling at 15/3. Styris joined Cairns at the crease and the duo put on a 78-run stand. However, Cairns’ wicket was followed by a quite a few more as New Zealand stuttered to 94/5.

Styris, however, had other ideas and slammed the bowlers all around the park. He smashed a hundred and went on a six-hitting spree, smacking six maximums. He was the last man dismissed on 141 with New Zealand still 47 runs short. The next highest scorer in the innings was Cairns with 32.

#4 Jos Buttler 121, Eng v SL

Buttler took the attack to Sri Lanka

It was the 4th ODI of Sri Lanka's tour of England at Lord's and a hundred by Kumar Sangakkara had put Lanka in the driving seat. He took them to 300 in the allotted 50 overs.

England lost their way in the chase after Root and Ballance were dismissed in the 40s. However, Bopara and Buttler combined with the score at 111/5 and put on 133 runs. Buttler was in a rampant mood as he carted the Lankan bowlers around for a splendid century.

Bopara fell with the score at 244 but Buttler carried on as he made 121 from just 74 balls with 11 fours and four sixes and was the eighth man out, in the last over, with England 9 short.

#3 James Faulkner 116, India v Aus

Faulkner’s blistering hundred was overshadowed by Rohit Sharma’s double century

The 7th ODI of the India-Australia series in India is famous for Rohit Sharma's landmark double hundred, a brilliant 209 that included 16 sixes. He had helped India to a huge score of 383 but the series had proved that 300+ scores were not impossible to chase down.

Australia, however, started poorly as they slumped to 132/5, when James Faulkner walked to the wicket. Maxwell was already on fire but he fell soon after for a 22-ball-60 that included seven sixes. Faulkner, however, held his nerve and continued to smash the Indian bowlers.

He had some company from Shane Watson, who walked in at 8, but lost him midway through. The all-rounder carried on as he got to his first hundred in ODIs and was the last man dismissed for 116 off 73 balls, with Australia bowled out for 326.

#2 Yusuf Pathan 105, Ind v SA

Yusuf Pathan walks off to thunderous applause

The India-South Africa series decider at Centurion in 2011 turned out to be a humdinger. Aided by Hashim Amla's hundred and Morne Van Wyk's half-century, South Africa posted 250, batting first.

Morne Morkel was on fire with the ball and India lost six wickets by the time the score was 74. Yusuf walked in with the score at 60/5 and played a brilliant cameo, taking India mightily close, with some huge hits down the ground.

Yusuf found a little support from Zaheer Khan and the duo put on a 100-run stand, out of which the KKR all-rounder contributed 76. The score moved from 119/8 to 219/8 when Morkel returned to the attack to nip out Yusuf and seal the game for the South Africans. However, the innings remains etched in the memories of all Indian fans.

#1 Marcus Stoinis 146*, NZ v Aus

Stoinis pulverised the New Zealand bowling to get to his maiden century

The first ODI of the 2017 Australia tour of New Zealand turned out to be a close encounter courtesy a certain Marcus Stoinis, who was playing in just his second ODI. The all-rounder took three wickets as New Zealand set a target of 287 for the visitors at Auckland.

Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson wrecked the Aussie top order as they crumbled to 67/6. Stoinis walked in with the score at 54/5 and watched as debutant Heazlett threw his wicket away. He found some company from Faulkner and the duo put on 81 runs together.

Stoinis had got into his groove by then and started an onslaught on the Kiwi bowlers. Neesham was taken for three maximums in an over and Southee for two sixes and a four. After Faulkner’s dismissal, Cummins gave the all-rounder some company but Stoinis barely needed it.

He singlehandedly took Australia to within six runs of victory as he shared a fifty-run partnership with No. 11, Josh Hazlewood, who did not even face a ball. However, tragically for Australia, Hazlewood was run out and Stoinis was left stranded on 146 as New Zealand won by six runs.