Yearender 2015: Top 10 ODI moments of the year

A list of 10 top One-Day international (ODI) moments that left an indelible impression on the viewers

The year 2015 is finally leaving us, but not before giving a few famous cricketing moments. One of the biggest shows on earth — the ICC Cricket World Cup — was played this year and it witnessed some fine cricket and gave moments galore. Then there were other tournaments too; quite a few triangular and bilateral series being played across the globe. Amidst all the intense action that was being put on display, there were some iconic moments which stayed with the fans and will perhaps be cherished for a long time to come. Chinmay Jawalekar takes through 10 such top One-Day international (ODI) moments that left an indelible impression on the viewers.

1) India-Pakistan ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 clash (February 15, Adelaide):

The greatest of the cricketing rivalries resumed during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 earlier this year when India and Pakistan met for their Pool B fixture. Needless to say, an India-Pakistan clash is arguably bigger even than the World Cup final, and this match was no different. Thousands thronged the Adelaide Oval — which had become a sea of blue and green — and millions watched the spectacle on TV across the globe. India, under some pressure to keep their World Cup record of wins over Pakistan intact, won the toss and decided to bat. Virat Kohli’s 107, Shikhar Dhawan’s 73 and Ajinkya Rahane’s quick-fire 74 took them to 300. In reply, Pakistan were never in the game and eventually lost it by 76 runs. India extended their winning run to six wins in as many games. The epic encounter, probably the most watched cricket match of the year, remained the only time the arch rivals met this year. ALSO READ: 2015 Yearenders: Top 10 moments from Test cricket

2) Kane Williamson’s six wins the battle of the hosts for New Zealand (February 28, Auckland):

The Pool A match between the co-hosts of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Australia and New Zealand, turned out to be a cliff-hanger. All eyes were on this match as the participating teams were the favourites to win the title. Batting first, Australia were bundled out for 151, with Trent Boult emerging as their chief tormentor. He picked-up 5 for 27 and decimated the visitors. In pursuit of the target, New Zealand came out all guns blazing with their skipper Brendon McCullum scoring a blitzkrieg knock of 24-bal 50. A surprise collapse, triggered by Mitchell Starc’s fiery spell, left the Kiwis gasping at 9 for 146. With six more to win and just a wicket in hand, New Zealand were no more the favourites. Australians were all over them with aggressive field settings but Kane Williamson had other ideas. The star batsman stunned all by hitting the winning six off Pat Cummins’ delivery. His attacking approach surprised many, as it was contrary to the situation. But he did have the last laugh.

3) Australia became the World Champs (March 29):

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 was set for an apt finish with two best teams — Australia and New Zealand — taking on each other in the final. Unlike their last meeting, New Zealand batted first this time but lost influential captain McCullum to the fifth ball of the match and were bowled out for 183. Australia overcame the target quite easily, beating New Zealand by seven wickets and winning the coveted trophy for record fifth time at an ecstatic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Their skipper Michael Clarke made an emotional 74 in the final as he bid goodbye to ODIs post ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. He also dedicated his side’s ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 triumph to his deceased team-mate Phillip Hughes, whom he also named as team’s ‘16th’ member. ALSO READ: 2015 Yearender: CricketCountry’s ODI XI of the year

4) Shane Watson-Wahab Riaz duel during the quarter-final (March 20):

 

The third quarter-final of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 between Australia and Pakistan will be best remembered for the duel between Australian all-rounder Shane Watson and Pakistani pacer Wahab Riaz, as the latter delivered one of the most fearsome spells in World Cup history in that game. Australia — helped by Pakistan’s sloppy work in the field — survived Wahab’s spell to set up a semi-final date with India. Chasing 214, Australia were struggling at 59 for 3. Wahab had just unleashed a bouncer barrage to Shane Watson and made his stay in the middle extremely uncomfortable. But a resolute Watson survived his scare and took his team home by staying till the end, the only exception being a top edge from Watson that flew high to fine leg was dropped by Rahat Ali in what was a simple chance. The verbal-volley exchanged between the two resulted in a reprimand by the match referee, but it also made for an exciting view for the fans.

5) South Africa – New Zealand semi-final clash (March 24):

Easily one of the best ODIs of 2015, if not the best, the 1st semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2015 between South Africa and New Zealand was special in many ways. It was for the first time in the history of World Cups that South Africa had one a knockout match (they beat Sri Lanka in the first quarter-final in Sydney by 9 wickets.) Both the teams had never made it to the final before and this was their best chance, as they were evenly matched. The match did prove the same, as South Africa set New Zealand 299 to win in 43 overs (adjusted target by D/L method.) Faf du Plessis 82, AB de Villiers 64 Not Out and David Miller 49 were notable performers.

In reply, New Zealand were off to a flying start, thanks to skipper McCullum’s 26-ball 59. They did lose the plot in the middle, but Grant Elliot’s 84 Not Out saw the hosts get past the line in the last over. He did it in style, hitting Dale Steyn for a six. The scenes after that winning hit were ecstatic for New Zealand, while the South Africans were crestfallen. Many of them broke down on the field, but even in the joy of win, Elliott did not forget the spirit of the game and respect for the opponent, as he reached out to a distraught Steyn and offered him some consolation.

6) AB de Villiers specials:

On January 18 this year, de Villiers went berserk and smashed the fastest hundred in the history of ODIs. Walking out to bat in the 39th over during the second ODI against West Indies at Johannesburg, undisputedly world’s best batsman de Villiers took just 31 balls to crack the fastest ton, breaking the New Zealander Corey Anderson’s record by five balls. Before getting finally dismissed, he scored 149 runs off just 49 balls, hitting nine fours and 16 sixes in his knock. His team managed 439 runs from stipulated 50 overs, far too many for the West Indies, who eventually succumbed to 291, thus losing the mach by 148 runs. De Villiers did not stop here; a month later in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, he scored 66-ball 162 Not Out against the same opposition. Later in October this year, his 61-ball 119 against India that had 11 sixes, again took his team to 438. The most cherished moment that stays is the fastest hundred, which started a tremendous run for him in 2015.

7) Bangladesh’s moment of glory during ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 (March 9):

World cricket witnessed the rise of Bangladesh as a major force in 50-over cricket in 2015. They beat heavyweights Pakistan first, and then went on to beat Indian and South Africa in successive bilateral One-Day International (ODI) series’, proving their win over Pakistan was no fluke. But their win over England in the cricket World Cup 2015 was the fountainhead of their renaissance in ODI cricket.  It was that game where it all started. It was a must-win game for both the sides, a virtual pre-quarter final. Batting first, Bangladesh scored 275 runs from their stipulated overs. Mahmudullah scored a brilliant hundred (one of his two consecutive hundreds in the tournament) while Mushfiqur Rahim blasted 77-ball 89. In reply, England could manage only 260, with Rubel Hossain picking up four wickets and scripting a famous win that took them to the World Cup quarter finals for the first time. The jubilant team celebrated like never before; there were chest-bumps, some freak dance moves and a victory lap around the Adelaide Oval. This was their moment of glory, and one of the moments to cherish from 2015.

8) Afghanistan’s maiden win at ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 (February 26):

On February 26 this year in Dunedin, Afghanistan created history when they won their first ever World Cup match in their maiden appearance at the premier multination-event. It was Shapoor Zadran’s flick to the boundary that took Afghanistan past Scotland’s 210-run total, and sent the war-torn country into frenzied celebrations. Batting first, Scotland managed 210 runs. In reply, Afghanistan lost wickets at regular intervals. At one stage, they were 7 for 97. From there on, Samiullah Shenwari (96) batted along with the tail till he departed as the ninth wicket to fall on the score of 192. With 19 more to win, last pair of Zadran and Hamid Hassan hung around to script the nation’s most famous win. The entire team shouted and celebrated. Zadran led the celebrations, as he threw down his bat and helmet and dashed across the field with his arms outstretched. There were wild celebrations back home too.

9) Chris Gayle and Martin Guptill’s double-centuries in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015:

It took almost 40 years for the first double hundred in ODIs to come since its inception in 1971. It was Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar who first breached the barrier in 2010 with his 200 not out against South Africa in Gwalior. The floodgates opened after that with Virender Sehwag (219 against West Indies in Indore) and Rohit Sharma (209 against Australia in Bengaluru and 264 against Sri Lanka in Kolkata) joining the league. The World Cup was still devoid of a double-ton, and it finally came in the 2015 edition; not one but two. Jamaican Chris Gayle became the first man to get to a score in excess of 200 in a World Cup match when he scored 215 against Zimbabwe in the Pool B match on February 24. New Zealand’s Martin Guptill joined him in the elite list less than a month later on March 21, when he notched up a crackling 237 not out against Gayle’s side in the quarter-final. The twin-double tons in the World Cup made for a moment to remember in 2015.

10) Ben Stokes dismissed obstructing the field (September 5):

During the second ODI between England and Australia at Lord’s on September 5, a bizarre incident took place during the second innings of the match when England all-rounder Ben Stokes was ruled out in a controversial decision after he inadvertently obstructed the field. This incident divided the cricket world as few opined it was a right call while some others differed. England were chasing a target of 310 runs and on the fourth ball of the 26th over, Stokes drove a 145 kmph full length delivery bowled by Mitchell Starc back to him. Starc stretched his left hand, plucked the ball and almost impulsively threw it back at the batsman with the aim of hitting the stumps, as Stokes was a bit outside the crease.

At this very point, again on impulse, Stokes stopped the throw with his hand to protect himself. The Australians soon started appealing and the umpires, after a long deliberation and seeing the replays many times, adjudged Stokes out. The Englishmen were gutted with the decision as Stokes dragged himself back to the pavilion. The crowd too joined in with their boos and chants. This decision triggered a debate with some cricket experts agreeing with it while the others speaking against it. Stokes dismissal triggered a batting collapse as England went on to lose the game. He later said about his embarrassing dismissal, “I deleted the Twitter app on my phone for a couple of days afterwards. I didn’t want to read any of the keyboard warriors.”

(A self-confessed cricket freak, Chinmay Jawalekar is a senior writer with CricLife and CricketCountry. When not writing or following cricket, he loves to read, eat and sleep. He can be followed here @CricfreakTweets)

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