Cricket has seen some incredibly exciting matches that went down to the last over. The close encounters had the fans hooked till the end. From thrilling chases to intense defences, these top 10 moments are marked in cricket history, leaving an impression on fans worldwide. The article shows the heart-stopping excitement and unforgettable drama of these memorable last-over finishes.
1. South Africa Vs Australia
In the 1999 Cricket World Cup Semi-Final, South Africa needed 9 runs to win in the last over. Lance Klusener hit two boundaries to tie the score. But there was confusion between Klusener and Allan Donald on the next two balls, and Donald got run out on the last ball. The match ended in a tie, and Australia went to the final because of a better run rate. It was an intense and unforgettable moment in cricket history. Australia eventually played in the finals against Pakistan.
2. New Zealand Vs England
The 2019 Cricket World Cup Final was a big match between New Zealand and England. They both scored the same number of runs, so they played the Super Over. They scored the same number of runs in the super Over. But England won because they hit more boundaries during the match. It was an exciting and historic game because it was the first time a World Cup Final needed a Super Over. England won their first-ever Cricket World Cup title, and it is one of the best matches in one-day cricket history.
3. India Vs Pakistan
The 2007 ICC World Twenty20 Final was an intense cricket match between India and Pakistan. India won by 5 runs. India batted first, and Gautam Gambhir scored the most runs with 75. Pakistan faced a challenging target but lost wickets early. Misbah-ul-Haq played well, but India's bowlers held strong. In the end, India's bowlers Irfan Pathan and R. P. Singh took three wickets each, helping India secure the win. The match was intense, and it added to the intense cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan.
4. South Africa Vs Australia
On March 12, 2006, a thrilling One Day International (ODI) cricket match took place between South Africa and Australia in Johannesburg. Australia batted first and set a massive score of 434/4, becoming the first team to score over 400 runs in an ODI. In response, South Africa chased down the target with one ball to spare, scoring 438/9. This match is considered one of the greatest ODIs ever played and is known as the "438 match" due to its high-scores.
5. Australia Vs West Indies
The 2016 ICC Women's World Twenty20 Final was held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, between Australia and West Indies. West Indies successfully chased down Australia's target of 148 runs, winning by 8 wickets. Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor played crucial roles in West Indies' victory, securing their first Women's World Twenty20 Title. The celebrations were joined by the men's West Indian team, who had also won the men's World Twenty20 Title on the same day.
6. Chennai Super Kings Vs Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals faced off against Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League Finals, 2008 . The Royals won by three wickets. Shane Warne led the Royals and Mahendra Singh Dhoni led the Super Kings. Warne chose to field first, and CSK scored 163 runs. Suresh Raina was the top scorer for CSK. Royals' bowler Yusuf Pathan took three wickets. The Royals chased the target and won the match on the last ball. The match took place at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, and the Royals emerged as the champions of IPL 2008 and Pathan was awarded The Man of the Match.
7. Mumbai Indians Vs Kings XI Punjab
In a thrilling match, Mumbai Indians chased down the target of 198 runs set by Kings XI Punjab. Kieron Pollard, the stand-in captain, played a brilliant innings, scoring 83 runs off just 31 balls. However, his wicket in the final over gave Kings XI Punjab hope. Mumbai needed 4 runs off 4 balls to win. Alzarri Joseph scored a two off the last ball to secure the victory for Mumbai by three wickets. With that win, Mumbai Indians moved up to third place in the league with 8 points.
8. Chennai Super Kings Vs Kolkata Knight Riders
The match between CSK and KKR in 2018 had some interesting moments in the final over. CSK's DJ Bravo took advantage of Vinay Kumar's bowling and hit a six off a no-ball, putting more pressure on KKR. Despite Bravo and Jadeja exchanging singles, Jadeja sealed the victory with a powerful six, winning the game with one ball remaining. This marks the second time CSK has scored the most runs in the final over in an IPL match.
9. Gujarat Titans Vs Punjab Kings
Rahul Tewatia's heroics led Gujarat Titans to their first title in the IPL. In the final over of their 16th match, which was against the Punjab Kings, they needed 19 runs, and Tewatia delivered by hitting two sixes. Tewatia was nearly run out but survived, and he secured the victory by hitting two sixes in the last two balls. Shubman Gill's 96 and Hardik Pandya's powerful innings were also crucial in their win against Punjab Kings. It is considered one of the high-scoring thriller matches of the IPL.
10. Chennai Super Kings Vs Gujarat Titans
The IPL 2023 final between CSK and GT was exhilarating, with overwhelming support for CSK due to their loyal fans and MS Dhoni's legendary status. The rain-delayed match went down to the final ball, creating immense excitement. CSK's victory was a fitting tribute to Dhoni's legacy. The last over was electrifying, with the stadium filled with passionate fans. Every ball bowled and run scored intensified the tension and cheers. Jadeja's final-ball boundary led to wild celebrations. The emotions were intense, and the fans' belief in CSK paid off with a historic fifth IPL title.
