Top 5 ODIs of the year 2015

ODIs were an integral part of the 2015 cricketing calendar. 2015 hosted the biggest event in ODIs, the ODI World Cup. A tournament that gave the fans many thrilling matches quite fittingly lived up to its potential.Even keeping the World Cup aside, there were many close ODI contests this year.The South Africa-India series provided some wonderful entertainment to fans all around the globe, Bangladesh shed its image of being a promising team and delivered quite a few knock-out punches this year.So amongst all the wonderful ODIs played this year, let’s have a look at the top 5:

#5 Afghanistan vs Scotland - World Cup group match

Afghanistan won the match to register their first World Cup win

This is one ODI encounter that has been selected in this list more because of the impact it had on a country’s cricketing scene than the margin of the win. 26 February, 2015. It was seemingly a low-key encounter in the World Cup between two associates, Afghanistan and Scotland, but it turned out to be a thriller.

Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field first. Scotland were restricted to a low score of 210 courtesy four wickets from the left armer Shapoor Zadran.The total was a tricky one for Afghanistan because their strongest suit in the game is bowling and not batting.

Scotland were assured of a win when the Afghans were reduced to 132 for 8 but Samiullah Shenwari had other ideas. His superb knock of 96 playing alongside the tailenders took Afghanistan beyond 210 with just one wicket remaining and 3 balls to spare.

It was the maiden World Cup win for Afghanistan and the pictures of the celebration in the nation that came after the match were symbolic of the impact the win had on Afghanistan’s cricket.

#4 New Zealand vs South Africa - World Cup semi final

JP Duminy and Farhaan Behardien collide, dropping South Africa’s chances of entering the World Cup final

24 March, 2015.It was the crucial World Cup semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa.South Africa won the toss and chose to bat first.Amla and de Kock departedearly but then South Africa came into their own.In a rain interrupted match, there was some serious batting display by the likes of Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers and David Miller.After a stabilising innings from du Plessis, de Villiers smashed 65 off 45 balls and Miller went a step ahead to play a knock of 49 off just 18 balls.New Zealand were set a mammoth target of 298 in 43 overs.Brendon McCullum came out in his usually aggressive manner and smashed 59 off 26 balls.New Zealand continued attacking and in the last over Grant Elliot won them the semifinal with just 1 ball to spare.Elliot played a match winning knock of 84 off 73 balls.South Africa were knocked out of the tournament but not before winning the hearts of fans all over the globe.

#3 Zimbabwe vs Ireland - World Cup group match

Ed Joyce played an exceptional innings

World Cup 2015 was a witness to many thrilling encounters and Zimbabwe vs Ireland in the league phase was one such encounter. It was 7 March, 2015. Zimbabwe had won the toss and elected to field first.

Ireland lost an early wicket of Paul Stirling but then came Ed Joyce. He had a decent partnership with the captain William Porterfield but after Porterfield departed came Andy Balbirnie. His 97 off 79 balls gave Ireland the much-needed shot in the arm. Ed Joyce finished with a superb 112 off 103 balls to take Ireland to a mammoth total of 331.

Zimbabwe had an uphill task on their hands but their captain Brendon Taylor wanted to achieve the improbable. His 121 off 91 balls was one of the innings of the World Cup and with help from Sean Williams’ 96, he almost won the match for his team. Zimbabwe got all out for 326 and thereby narrowly missing Ireland’s target by 5 runs. Nevertheless, both the teams produced a thriller for the fans.

#2 West Indies vs South Africa - ODI series

Andre Russel played a brilliant knock under pressure

25 January, 2015. It was the fourth ODI in the five match ODI series between South Africa and West Indies. West Indies had already lost the series by losing the first three ODIs and not many fans were hoping for a contest even in the last two ODIs.

West Indies won the toss and chose to field first. South Africa posted 262 runs in the 50 overs courtsey a brilliant hundred from David Miller. Miller’s 130 from 133 balls took Proteas to a respectable total which seemed sufficient for an under-confident West Indian team.

West Indies were all set for another loss at the score of 73 for 5. Fifties from Marlon Samuels and Darren Sammy took West Indies close but a victory still seemed improbable. Andre Russel had different ideas, however, and his 64 off 40 balls took West Indies across the finishing line with just one wicket remaining and nine balls to spare. West Indies sealed the thriller in an emphatic way.

#1 New Zealand vs Australia - World Cup group match

Brendon Mccullum went after the Aussie bowling

If anybody sells you an argument that low scoring matches can’t be thrillers, don’t buy it before watching the 2015 World Cup league match between Australia and New Zealand.On 28 February, 2015 in Eden Park, Auckland, Australia and New Zealand played arguably the best ODI of 2015.

Australia won the toss and chose to bat first.They were in a decent position when Watson was the second wicket to fall at the score of 80 but then they crumbled to 106/9. A handy last wicket partnership pushed their score to 151 which was still seemingly below par. Trent Boult finished with figures of 5 for 27.

In response, New Zealand were given a flying start by their captain Brendon Mccullum’s knock of 50 off 24 balls. But just like the first innings, New Zealand's middle order crumbled courtesy Mitchell Starc’s brilliant spell, and in the end, it took a calm finish by Kane Williamson to take his team beyond the finishing line, albeit with just one wicket remaining.This match was a true spectacle of ODI cricket.