5 Instances when India won a game by 1 run
On Wednesday, we had the best nail-biting finish of the T20 World Cup so far. India faced Bangladesh in a must-win game.. After Pakistan’s comfortable victory over Bangladesh and then Pakistan’s defeat against India, Bangladesh were considered a weaker opponent given the home ground advantage of India and absence of two main bowlers from the Bangladesh team in Arafat Sunny and Taskin Ahmad.
The match apart from being a do-or-die battle for India garnered much attraction for Indian fans due to the off-field battle going on social media between fans of the two countries. The Dhoni-Taskin poster and various Mauka-Mauka ads made by amateurs added fuel to the fire. The suspension of Taskin and Sunny was also termed as a conspiracy by ICC apparently dominated by Indian lobby
So, a charged up and aggressive display was expected from both sides in this game, full of emotions and expressions. The players did not the disappoint either. The match started with a wonderful bowling display by the Bangladeshi team.
India posted a total of 146-7 on the board. In reply, Bangladesh seemed in charge of the chase for the most part of their innings. If I would put that in number, it comes to around 90 %. In fact, at one time Bangladesh required 60 from 54 balls with 6 wickets in hand.
With 11 required from the last over, Mushfiqur Raheem scored two consecutive boundaries and Bangladesh needed 2 from 3 balls with 4 wickets in hand. In every possible scenario, it was Bangladesh, who would win, except one; and which was if Bangladesh lost three wickets of the last three balls of the game.
Unfortunately for Bangladeshi fans, the exception happened and Bangladesh lost the game- a loss they would not be able to forget over decades to come. India, if they go on to win the Cup, would consider these three balls from Pandya to be the real reason for lifting the trophy.
The drama ended in the best befitting manner it could have; MS Dhoni running all the way to stop Bangladeshi batsmen completing a bye and thereby winning the game. Dhoni effected the run-out after Hardik Pandya executed a delivery as planned by the team. India won the game by 1 run and has to win the next game against Australia to reach the semi-finals.
This is not the first time India have won an International game by 1 run margin. Previously, India have done it on 5 instances (1 T20I, 4 ODIs). 3 out of these 5 instances have come against South Africa. We are here to take a look at all those five instances starting with T20.