Three Teams That Earned Massive Respect Despite Losing Matches

The gentleman’s cricket is fiercely competitive nowadays. All the teams, whenever they take to the field have just one motive, to play good cricket and win the match. However, there can only be one winner in the end, in a cricket match.

While the winning teams usually earn a lot of plaudits for their win, on the other hand, the losing teams are criticised for their mistakes and shortcomings.

Despite this, some teams, play with such resilience that they earn respect from the fans, even if they lose the match.

Throughout cricketing history, there have been various such games, where the losing team earned appreciation from experts and fans for putting up a good fight to the winning team.

Here are three such teams who earned massive respect despite losing matches:

3) India vs Sri Lanka 2009

India and Sri Lanka were due to play a five-match ODI series in 2009. In the first ODI, Sri Lanka won the toss and India were asked to bat first.

The Men in Blue marched to a humongous total of 414 runs, courtesy of Virender Sehwag’s 146 run knock and Sachin Tendulkar (69) and MS Dhoni’s (72) supporting act.

In reply, the visiting team put up an excellent show, riding high on Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 160 run inning which came just 124 balls.

For Sri Lanka Upul Tharanga (67) and Kumar Sangakkara (90) also made valuable contributions, but they fell just short of the target, managing 411 runs in their 50-overs.

India won the match by just three runs, but the visitors won plaudits for their impressive fight. Sri Lanka earned massive respect despite losing the match. India eventually won the series by a margin of 3-2.

2) South Africa versus Australia 2006

One for the record books, the fifth ODI match between Australia and South Africa in 2006 will forever remain a memorable affair.

The visitors Australia won the toss and elected to bat first, and one a day when both bowling units went for runs aplenty, the Aussie team stormed to a total of 434 runs at the loss of four wickets in 50-overs.

Skipper Ricky Ponting led from the front as he scored 164 runs, and was ably supported by Adam Gilchrist (55), Simon Katich (79) and Michael Hussey (81).

Few would have backed South Africa to better the tally of the Australian team but playing at home the Proteas achieved a truly remarkable feat. Herschelle Gibbs scored a memorable knock of 175 runs off just 111 balls to help his side to victory.

Graeme Smith (90) and Mark Boucher (50) helped propel the home side to a win that would clinch them the series that was previously tied at 2-2. Australia despite losing the match earned massive respect for their power-packed batting.

1) England vs New Zealand 2019 ODI World Cup final

The ODI World 2019 was a memorable affair as hosts England defeat Australia to enter the final which was due to be played at Lord’s against a spirited New Zealand side who ousted India in their respective semifinal.

The Kiwis, batting first, scored 241 runs courtesy of Henry Nicholls (55) and Tom Latham’s (47) useful knocks.

England, in reply, folded for 241 themselves, after Ben Stokes starred for the Three Lions scoring 84*. The match subsequently, went to a super over.

New Zealand, batting first, sent out James Neesham and Martin Guptill who put a combined tally of 15 runs, on the scoreboard.

England themselves could only muster up 15 runs, but since the hosts had hit more boundaries than the Kiwis, the English team were declared winners.

For the first time in history, England won the World Cup, but New Zealand earned massive respect for their gritty display in the final. The boundary rule drew a lot of flak and after the World Cup, it was scrapped.