ODI defeats after losing two or fewer wickets
They say the sport of cricket is a cruel game. Even after doing well, teams tend to lose the matches. Winning or losing is a part of any sport but when you perform well and still lose, that hurts the most. In the one-day international format, few teams lost only two or fewer wickets after posting a good total on the board in their innings but still ended up on the losing side.
Let’s take a look at the ODI losses for teams after losing two or fewer wickets: (50-overs contest)
- Pakistan vs West Indies (1992)
Asian giants Pakistan faced West Indies in the fourth match of the 1992 World Cup in Melbourne and they suffered an embarrassing defeat. The Men in Green batted first and posted 220 with the loss of just two wickets in 50 overs. Ramiz Raza and Javed Miandad struck a century and a half-century respectively. In reply, openers Desmond Haynes scored 93 while Brian Lara retired hurt on 88 as West Indies reached the target of 221 in 46.5 overs to win the match by ten wickets.
2. West Indies vs South Africa (2004)
West Indies toured South Africa for four Tests and five-match ODI series in 2003/04. In the fifth and the final ODI match in Johannesburg, West Indies got defeated by four wickets even after losing just two wickets in their innings. The Caribbean side batted first and struck 304/2 in 50 overs thanks to a spectacular century by Chris Gayle, who slammed 152. In reply, Jacques Kallis hammered 139 runs as South Africa reached the target of 305 in 49.4 overs to win the match.
3. South Africa vs Pakistan (2019)
This time the Proteas were on the receiving end against Pakistan in the year 2019. South Africa batted first in the first of the five-match ODI series in Gqeberha. The hosts scored 266/2 courtesy of a century from Hashim Amla and a 93-run knock from Rassie van der Dussen. In the chase, Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez amassed 89 and 71 respectively as Pakistan completed the chase by scoring 267/5 in 49.1 overs and won the clash by five wickets.
4. Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe (2022)
Bangladesh are the latest entrant on this unwanted list. Zimbabwe stunned the Bangla Tigers as they beat them by five wickets in the first of the three-match ODI series in Harare. Tamim Iqbal led his side from the front by scoring 62. The top four batters including skipper Tamim smashed the fifties as Bangladesh reached a total of 303/2 in 50 overs. In reply, Innocent Kaia mustered 110 while Sikandar Raza scored a remarkable 135 not out to take his side home.
