Top Ten Smallest Targets Defended Successfully In ODI Cricket

In ODI cricket, the team that bats first usually targets a score of more than 300. A score of 250 is considered a competitive score but a difficult one to defend. Nowadays, even the targets of more than 300 are getting chased if the bowling team doesn’t perform well. But there have been many instances when a team successfully defended a score of less than 200. Let us take a glance at the Top 10 Smallest Targets Defended Successfully in ODI Cricket-

1. India (126 Against Pakistan)

It was the opening match of the Four-Nations Rothman Cup 1985 in Sharjah. Pakistan won the toss and rightly chose to bowl first. Indian batting unit crumbled against the pace of Pakistan’s Imran Khan who bagged 6 wickets. Kapil Dev’s 47 runs and Mohammad Azharuddin’s 30 runs took India to a shallow score of 125. Chasing 126, the Indian bowlers gave all they could to stop Pakistan on 87, completing a dramatic 38-run win. Kapil Dev took 3 wickets for 17 runs.

2. West Indies (128 Against England)

England toured the West Indies in 1981. In the First ODI at Kingstown, West Indies were slaughtered by the English bowlers. The hosts were bowled out for a paltry 127. Chasing 128, England surrendered to West Indian bowler Colin Croft who got rid of 6 batters. England lost the match by 2 runs despite captain Ian Botham’s 60-run knock. Colin Croft was declared the Man of the Match.

3. South Africa (130 Against England)

England hosted South Africa in the Sixth ODI in East London in 1996. The visitors’ innings never got going and were eventually lost their 10 wickets on just 129. Chasing 130, the English batters emulated their South African counterparts to be dismissed for 115, losing by 14 runs. Paul Adams’ 3 wickets for 26 runs saved the day for the Proteas.

4. Zimbabwe (130 Against Afghanistan)

The Third ODI between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan in 2017 at Harare witnessed one of the worst batting collapses ever. Chasing 130 runs, Afghanistan was comfortably placed at 121-5 after 26.2 overs. But Zimbabwe bowlers Chris Mpofu and Sean Williams grabbed 5 wickets for 5 runs to carve out a stunning 3-run victory.

5. Afghanistan (132 Against Zimbabwe)

Afghanistan and Zimbabwe clashed in an ODI at Sharjah in 2015. Except for Noor Ali Zadran’s 63, none of the other Afghan batters clicked in the first innings. Afghanistan was skittled out for 131. In the second innings, only 3 Zimbabwean batters managed to score in double digits and Amir Hamza recorded his career-best bowling of 4/17. Zimbabwe lost the match by 49 runs.

6. Zimbabwe (135 Against England)

Zimbabwe clashed with England in the ICC World Cup 1992 at Albury. Batting first, Zimbabwe folded up on 134. In the second innings, England failed to chase down 135 runs as Zimbabwe’s Eddo Brandes grabbed 4 wickets. Zimbabwe won the match by 9 runs. This was Zimbabwe’s first win over England in ODI cricket.

7. Kenya (135 Against Zimbabwe)

The Kenyan team toured Zimbabwe in 2006. In the Third ODI at Harare, Kenya was bowled out for 134. Running after the modest target, Zimbabwe crumbled under the Kenyan bowling attack and eventually was dismissed for just 69. Kenya won the match by 65 runs. Kenya’s Thomas Odoyo was chosen the Man of the Match for his bowling figures of 3/13.

8. Zimbabwe (139 Against West Indies)

Zimbabwe locked horns with West Indies in the Carlton Series in 2001 at Sydney. Captain Heath Streak’s 45-run knock helped Zimbabwe cross the 100-run mark and post 138. Heath Streak was not done yet. In the second innings, he conceded just 8 runs and grabbed 4 wickets to help his team stop West Indies on 91.

9. South Africa (141 Against West Indies)

South Africa hosted West Indies in an ODI match of the Total International Series 1993. In this match at Cape Town, South Africa batted first but collapsed to 140/9. Hansie Cronje, Peter Kirsten, and Daryll Cullinan were the only batters to score in double-digits. Cronje continued his form in the second innings to grab 3 Caribbean wickets. South Africa won the match by 4 runs.

10. Pakistan (147 Against New Zealand)

Wasim Akram was on fire against New Zealand in an ODI in 1994. In this match at Auckland, Pakistan was bowled out for 146. Wasim Akram scored a crucial 33 besides Aamer Sohail’s 48. In the second innings, Akram grabbed 4 wickets for 23 runs to arrest New Zealand on 110. For his performance, Akram was declared the Man of the Match.