Five Best Innings Without Hundreds In ODIs For India

A century in a One-day international is a massive achievement. No matter what side it is scored against, a three-figure mark is an elusive accomplishment. However, on more occasions than one, a hundred may not be necessarily more significant than the ones less than that. A match-winning 90 or a quick-fire 50 could be more invaluable than a century. India have had several such instances.

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Over the last few years, Indian cricket has witnessed plenty of centuries mustered by many top players. Amid those hundreds, some of the scores of less than three-figure mark may have gone unnoticed. These knocks arrived right at the nick of time when the team needed someone to stand up desperately.

We take a look at five best non-century innings in ODI for Indian cricket of all time:

Yuvraj Singh – 57 not out vs Australia in 2011 World Cup

The half-century from all-rounder Yuvraj Singh should be considered as significant as the two masterclass knocks in the final. The knockout match against Australia in Ahmedabad was one of the most significant tests for the men in blue if they were to clinch the World Cup. When it comes to World Cups, the Australians are renowned for bringing their A-game and rising to the occasion. Also, they were the defending champions, having won the crown the last three times.

Ricky Ponting’s men had set a stiff target of 261 at the Motera Stadium to chase for India. Spearheaded by Ponting, his drought-breaking hundred gave the tourists plenty of hope to romp to the title for the fourth consecutive time. After a strong start and some productive middle-overs, India were staring at a meltdown after MS Dhoni departed with more than 80 still needed.

However, the Australians left India off the leash post that. The likes of Brett Lee, Shaun Tait, and Mitchell Johnson found it difficult to dislodge a defiant Yuvraj Singh. At the other end, Suresh Raina, with his attacking gameplay accompanied his partner in a quest to get India to semi-finals. It only fitted that Yuvraj finished it off by carting Lee for a four to bring an end to Australia’s reign as the undisputed champions.

Sachin Tendulkar – 98 vs Pakistan, 2003 World Cup

Sachin Tendulkar had transformed into an ODI batting giant by the time the 2003 World Cup started. The clash against Pakistan in Centurion was one of the most awaited ones for obvious reasons. Also, India’s perfect record against their arch-rivals in World Cups provided an ideal setting for the showdown.

Pakistan rode on Saeed Anwar’s century and several notable contributions from the likes of Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, and Rashid Latif to put 273 on the board. An attack comprising the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar fancied their chances of upstaging the men in blue for the first time in the mega event. But Tendulkar had other plans.

The right-handed batsman went about on his mission from the word go. Tendulkar dismantled the left-arm gem methodically, but Waqar and Shoaib weren’t spared, conceding runs over seven per over. It was Shoaib Akhtar, who sent the master blaster back to the pavilion for 98 off 75 balls. But by then, he set a foundation, based on which the pair of Yuvraj and Rahul Dravid scored a further 93 runs to inflict another defeat on Pakistan.

87 not out – Mohammad Kaif vs England, 2002 Natwest Series final

The iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London witnessed what may have been the most miraculous run-chase ever in the venue. It was from this match that India revolutionised itself to become the chasing side it is today. Twin centuries from Naseer Hussain and Marcus Trescothick along with a cameo from Andrew Flintoff lifted England to an imposing 325. India disintegrated after a century-stand from Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly.

Alex Tudor, Ashley Giles, and Ronnie Irani combined to sent back the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid, and Dinesh Mongia to reduce them to 146-5. But it wasn’t over as Yuvraj and Mohammad Kaif combined with scripting a partnership of 121 from 116 balls. Another quick-fire stand of 47 with Harbhajan Singh reduced the equation to two off the final over. Flintoff bowled the last over as Kaif cashed in on the overthrow to remain unbeaten on 87.

MS Dhoni – 91 not out vs Sri Lanka, 2011 World Cup final

Mahendra Singh Dhoni couldn’t have chosen a better stage to play a career-defining knock at the grandest stage of them all. Chasing 275 in Mumbai in a final, India got themselves in a respectable position after a shaky start. At 114-3, the captain surprisingly walked out ahead of the in-form Yuvraj Singh. After struggling throughout the tournament, Dhoni strode in with a point to prove.

It hardly looked like the keeper-batsman is out of touch. Dhoni shared a partnership of 109 runs with Gautam Gambhir to catapult India to a strong position. The six to finish off the proceedings gave not only India their World Cup title after a prolonged gap of 28 years but also is the single most shot that is stuck forever in every Indian fans’ minds.

Gautam Gambhir – 97 vs Sri Lanka, 2011 World Cup final

One of the most invaluable innings in any ICC final, Gambhir’s patient knock of 97 is often underrated. If losing Sehwag to a duck was a big blow, Tendulkar also departed inside ten overs. The task looked insurmountable until Gambhir, and a young Virat Kohli instilled a belief among the Wankhede crowd. Their partnership steered India successfully through troubled times.

Even as Kohli departed to a stunning catch from Tillakaratne Dilshan, Gambhir wasn’t going to give up. The southpaw’s 122-ball innings, which was risk-free as well as full of confidence put the hosts on the driver’s seat. When only being three short of a well-deserved hundred, he danced down the track to Thissara Perera to lose his middle-stump. A small part of him may have him trounced in regret as Gambhir failed to stay till the end since his knock goes slightly unnoticed even today.

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