Top 3 tied ODI matches where India came back from the jaws of defeat

#2. India Vs England, Bengaluru (2011)

Sachin's fabulous century almost went in vain

India met England in the 2011 World Cup match at Bengaluru. India won the toss and elected to bat. Right through that World Cup Sehwag gave India a flying start and in this match too it was no different. In no time Sehwag reached 35 before edging Bresnan's delivery to the keeper.

Gambhir came in and added 134 runs for the second wicket with Sachin. Sachin paced his innings beautifully and accelerated the scoring once Sehwag left. Sachin reached his 50 off 66 balls and Gambhir off 59 balls and got out immediately thereafter.

India reached 200 in the 34th over. Sachin reached his century off 103 balls with the help of 8 fours and 4 sixes. At the other end, Yuvraj forced his way to a 50.

India reached 300 for 3 at the end of the 45th over with Yuvraj and Dhoni at the wicket. However, the Indians lost their way in the last 5 overs losing all the 7 wickets for the addition of just 38 runs. Tim Bresnan took 5 for 48.

England’s reply revolved around their captain Andrew Strauss who was in fine form. Andrew Strauss completed his first 50 off 50 balls. With the England score on 163 for 2 in the 25th over, Ian Bell, on 17, was struck on the pads off the bowling of Yuvraj.

Ian Bell was saved by the technology which was the turning point of the match

Umpire Billy Bowden gave that not out and India reviewed the decision. The replays showed that the ball was hitting the middle of middle stump. On seeing the replays in the giant screen, Bell started walking towards the pavilion. Since Bell was a very long way down the pitch, the Umpire’s not out call stayed. Bell was called back. It was the turning point of the match as Strauss and Ian Bell added 170 runs for the third wicket. From 17, Ian Bell went on to score 69.

At the other end, Andrew Strauss was quite aggressive in his intent and reached his hundred off 99 balls. He took another 36 balls to reach his 150. England reached 280 for 2 in 42 overs needing another 59 runs in 8 overs. It looked like it was all over for team India.

Andrew Strauss scored an unbelievable hundred

It was then that England had decided to take the third powerplay which brought India back into the game. Dhoni decided to bring back Zaheer Khan for the batting powerplay. In his earlier spell of 7 overs, Zaheer had conceded 53 runs. With the fourth ball of the batting powerplay, Zaheer struck by removing Ian Bell. Off the very next delivery, Zaheer trapped Strauss in front for a well made 158.

With both the set batsmen gone, India were back in the game. Panic started to set in the England dressing room. At the fall of successive wickets, Dhoni wisely brought in Chawla for the 44th over and he gave away only 2 runs. The pressure started to mount on England.

Paul Collingwood tried to hit his way out of trouble and was knocked over by Zaheer. In 4 overs India managed to claim 3 wickets for the addition of only 9 runs. Harbhajan helped India’s cause by removing Matt Prior in the 46th over but gave away 10 runs. England needed 42 runs in the last 4 overs with 4 wickets in hand. That was when Dhoni ran short of ideas and bowlers.

Instead of asking Chawla to bowl the 47th over, Dhoni gave the ball to Zaheer to bowl his last over. That left Chawla to bowl the 49th over. England needed 29 runs off the last 2 overs with 3 wickets in hand.

Chawla bowled the 49th over and Swann and Bresnan helped themselves to a six each. It was down to 14 runs in the last over which was bowled by Munaf Patel. Of the 3rd ball of the last over, England’s unknown fast bowler Shahzad hit Munaf Patel straight down the ground for a six. England needed 5 off 3 balls. Thankfully for India, Shahzad failed to connect the next ball.

It boiled down to 2 runs to win off the last ball or 1 to tie. Swann drove Munaf Patel straight to mid-off and ran the single to tie the match. There was no chance of a second run. More than England, it was India who were more relieved with the result. India came back from certain defeat to tie that match.

While the home team India went on to win that World Cup, England, after showing a lot of promise, were knocked out by Sri Lanka in the quarter-final.