Ranking 10 greatest rescue knocks after early collapse in ODI history

5. Michael Bevan – 78* after 38/6 

This ODI game between West Indies and Australia was part of the Benson and Hedges World Series played in 1995-96. West Indies captain Courtney Walsh opted to bat first in the match which was reduced to 43 overs per side. The team kept losing wickets at regular intervals but Carl Hooper played a wonderful knock of 93 runs off 96 balls. He hit 8 fours in his vital knock, with the team scoring 172/9 in 43 overs.

In response to this total, Australian batsmen were completely clueless against the West Indies bowling. They lost their first 6 wickets for only 38 runs, and a win looked unlikely for them. However, it was all about Michael Bevan from thereon. He played a superb knock to put the team on the winning ways.

Bevan scored 78 runs off 88 balls and hit 6 fours during his unbeaten innings. He shared a mini-partnership of 36 runs for the seventh wicket with Ian Healey and then added 83 runs for the eighth wicket with Paul Reiffel. When Australia lost their ninth wicket at 167 runs, the match was still wide open.

In the last 3 balls, Australia needed 5 runs to win with Michael Bevan and Glenn McGrath at the crease. And on the very last ball, the team required 4 runs to win with Bevan on strike. He played a brilliant shot straight along the ground which went for four and won the match for his team. Paul Reiffel who took 4 wickets and scored 34 runs was selected as the player of the match.