5 Brilliant centuries while chasing, in a losing cause

5 Brilliant centuries while chasing, in a losing cause: Arvinda De Silva’s 107 in the ’96 WC final, Sachin’s desert storm, Herschelle Gibbs’ 175 vs Australia are the first few memorable centuries people would think of if you’d ask them “what are the best centuries in successful chases?” A lot of people though, often forget those valiant efforts that don’t end up on the winning side. We shall look at a few of those brilliant centuries where batsmen gave all that they could and yet couldn’t cross the finishing line but scoring memorable centuries in the process. Here goes the list of 5 Brilliant centuries while chasing, in a losing cause: 5. James Faulkner, 116 off 73 balls v/s India at Bengaluru, 2013. James Faulkner. (Photo Source: BCCI) This game would always be remembered for Rohit Sharma’s 1st double century, an innings where he accelerated better than an F1 driver. He went from 100 off 114 balls to 209 off 158 balls, hitting 16 massive sixes and almost batting out Australia of the game. Riding of Rohit’s innings and fifties from Dhawan and Dhoni, India went on to score a formidable 383. The Australian top order flopped during the chase, their top 5 batsmen only accounted for 76 runs, the match at this point was out of Australia’s reach. They would need a miracle to pull this one off. In came James Faulkner, who had made a reputation of himself as a brilliant finisher during the series after punishing Ishant Sharma for 30 runs in an over a couple of prior to this game. This situation though, was tricky. When he came in to bat, the Aussies needed 252 runs off less than 30 overs, Faulkner did seem like he would succumb to the scoreboard pressure. Playing his natural game and scoring runs at a healthy rate Faulkner was the only glimmer of hope for his team. He was losing partners quickly, with 211/8 in 30.1 overs, the game was all but done. But as they say, it’s not over till it’s over. Faulkner continued the hitting, from what looked like a late frustrated hitting, the innings quickly turned into a promising one, his partnership with Clint McKay of 115 runs, where McKay scored only 18, gave the Aussies more than a chance. They believed they could win this one. If Faulkner batted the entire duration of the innings, 58 from 5 overs seemed achievable. As fate would have it, Faulkner who was hitting boundaries at will, fell for a full toss and with that it was curtains on the Australian innings. India won the game by 57 runs and the series 3-2. This innings of Faulkner was truly one of the best low order batting you’d ever see during the course of the innings he also scored the then fastest century by an Australian a record which was broken by Glen Maxwell. This series was fruitful for him and he rose in stature in the International Cricket one of the better all-rounders. 4. Graeme Smith, 141 off 134 balls v/s England, at Centurion, Champions Trophy, 2009. Graeme Smith. (Photo: Getty Images) This game was a virtual quarter final in the 2009 Champions Trophy, and as most captains would do in big games, Andrew Strauss too chose to bat after winning the toss. England’s middle order contributed well to help England set a target of 324 for Graeme Smith and Co to chase. Smith started his innings positively, scoring runs at a quick pace. His partners though couldn’t convert their starts as Smith played a lone hand. Smith went on to score 141 out of South Africa’s final total of 301. Smith battled hard enough to keep his team in the hunt but due to lack of any substantial support, South Africa lost the game by 22 runs and missed out on the chance to play in the Semis of the Champions trophy. 3. Jos Buttler, 121 off 74 balls v/s Sri Lanka, at Lord’s, 2014 Jos Buttler. (Photo Source: PA Photos) On the back of a Kumar Sangakkara century, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 300 on the board after they were put in to bat by England. England lost both their openers at the score of 10. Root and Ballance tried to steady the ship and scored 40 each, but a mini-collapse left England reeling at 111 for 5. Jos Buttler had a task which was not easy accomplish. He let his natural instincts kick in and played a brilliant counter-attacking innings. He had a partner in Ravi Bopara and those to put on 133 and got England close. Buttler went about his business even after the fall of Bopara’s wicket and brought up his maiden ODI century in just 61 balls, which is also the fastest by any English batsman. He got England within touching distance, needing 12 off the last over against the best death bowler in the world, Lasith Malinga. Buttler backed himself to go on to score the winning runs but an unfortunate run-out crushed any hope of an England win as they lost the game by 7 runs. This innings though will be remembered for Buttler’s heroics. 2. Tilakratne Dilshan: 160 off 124 balls, v/s India at Rajkot, 2009 Tillakaratne Dilshan. (Photo Source: BCCI) The Indian top order dominated their 50 overs, as the Indians were past 300 by the 35th over on flat Rajkot wicket, thanks to a blitzkrieg century by the Nawab of Najafgarh, Virendra Sehwag. The lower order too chipped in as India posted mammoth 414 and Sangakkara almost immediately regretted his decision of putting India into bat. Dilshan kickstarted the Sri Lankan chase in emphatic fashion, driving, scooping and everything in between he never let the asking rate get out of reach. He went about his business and the score of 414 looked like it would be breached that day. He got enough support from Tharanga and Sangakkara that kept the Lankans always in the hunt. His partners fell but Dilshan continued his onslaught and eyeing a famous win for his country. Lanka needed 76 off the last 11 overs, quite achievable when you have 7 wickets in hand but the Turbanator from India, Harbhajan Singh, beat Dilshan through the air and bowled him bringing India right back in the game. After Dilshan’s departure, some late hitting got Sri Lanka almost over the line, but a brilliant catch by Sachin Tendulkar in the last over denied Angelo Mathews from a famous win as Sri Lanka fell short by merely 3 runs. 1. Sachin Tendulkar 175 off 141 balls, v/s Australia at Hyderabad, 2009 Sachin Tendulkar. (© Getty Images) If you ask any Indian fan, what was a game that India deserved to win but ended up on the losing side, most would point out to this game. It was the 90s all over again, the opponents punished the hapless Indian bowlers for a huge score of 350. India started the big chase rather indifferently, Sehwag repeated what he had done for the most part of his career, get a quick start and then get out. Sachin was the only hope as Gambhir, Yuvraj, Dhoni, all fell for single digit scores. Losing partners was something Sachin was accustomed to, he continued his one sided fight. Driving, cutting, pulling, and sweeping the ball gloriously. That innings was pure magic, the best one could watch. He batted his heart out wanting to etch a win out of a hopeless situation. Raina provided some stability as he scored a run-a-ball 59 but fell in the 43rd over with 52 still to get. India sensed they could win the game after all, their best batsman was still at the crease going all guns blazing. Getting 19 runs off the last 3 overs with 4 wickets in hand was a walk in the park. Clint McKay who might not have had an illustrious career, may never forget his international cricket debut where on the first ball of the 48th over he took the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar, who tried to paddle scoop a slower one as the ball ended up in the hands of Nathan Hauritz. Sachin played one of his greatest innings and yet again a disastrous batting by the tail meant that India fell excruciatingly short by 3 runs. Also Read – Top 10 fastest centuries in T20 Internationals