Top 11 successful run chases in and against Australia

The pitches in Australia have good bounce and carry. Although the surfaces are generally good for batting, the scores in ODI cricket, especially in a run chase Down Under are not as high as the ones witnessed in the subcontinent. The cricket, though, is never short of drama and over the years the country has witnessed many great matches. Here’s a look at Top 10 run chases in and against Australia.

11. Pakistan- 268/7:

In a VB series match the Aussies were bowled out off the last ball of the innings and scored 265 against Pakistan in Perth in 2005. Abdul Razzaq was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors with 4/53 while Michael Clarke held the innings together for the home side with an unbeaten 75. Pakistan lost 7 wickets but managed to get over the line in 47.2 overs courtesy Razzaq (63*), Mohammad Yousuf (72) and Shahid Afridi’s cameo of 30 off 13. Fast bowler Naved-ul-Hasan also made an unbeaten 20 off 18 as Pakistan completed the run-chase in 47.2 overs.

10. West Indies- 269/6:

In a 1997 Carlton & United Series match, the home side was restricted to 267/7 by the Caribbean islanders in Perth. Opener Mark Waugh top scored with 92 and helped his team post a competitive total. For the Windies Curtly Ambrose and Shivnarine Chanderpaul took 2 wickets each. In reply, the visitors overhauled the target in 49.2 overs losing 6 wickets in the process. Brian Lara made a magnificent 90 and was well supported by Junior Murray (56), Chanderpaul (49) and Robert Samuels (36*).

9. India- 270/6:

Half-centuries from Peter Forrest (66) and David Hussey (72) took the home side to 269/8 in a Commonwealth Bank Series at Adelaide in 2012. Two wickets each for Umesh Yadav and Vinay Kumar and a tight spell of 1/46 from Zaheer Khan kept the Aussies in check on a batting surface. In reply, Indian opener Gautam Gambhir scored a solid 92 to lay a strong foundation for his team. The run chase did get tense however an unbeaten 44 off 58 balls by skipper MS Dhoni steered India home in 49.4 overs.

8. South Africa- 270/7:

In the 3^rd ODI of the 5-match series in Sydney in 2009, Australia was bowled out for 269 in 49.2 overs by the Proteas. David Warner top-scored for the hosts with 69, however, none of the other batsmen could register a half-century. Off-spinner and skipper Johan Botha bowled a brilliant spell of 3/32 while Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini impressed with 2 wickets each. Half-centuries from Herschelle Gibbs (64) and Jacques Kallis (60) out their team in a good position, however, a 22-ball 40 from Albie Morkel and an unbeaten 31 from Mark Boucher helped South Africa overhaul the target in 46.3 overs with 3 wickets in hand.

7. South Africa- 272/7:

In the first match of the same series, the Australians scored 271/8 after half-centuries from opener Shaun Marsh (79) and David Hussey (52) in Melbourne. Economical spells from Steyn and Kallis kept the total in check along with two wickets each for Albie Morkel, Botha, and Morne Morkel. The South African reply was lead by Kallis (41), JP Duminy (71) and Neil McKenzie (63) however the hero once again was the left-handed Albie who smashed an unbeaten 40 off 18 including 4 fours  and 1 six to take his team over the line in 49.3 overs.

6. West Indies- 273/6:

In the second final of the 1985 Benson & Hedges World Series Cup, opener Graeme Wood’s 81 and wicket-keeper batsman Wayne Phillips’ brilliant unbeaten 56 off 37 balls took the Aussies to 271/3. Malcolm Marshal, Michael Holding, and Winston Davis took 1 wicket each on a batting paradise in Melbourne. In reply, openers Richie Richardson (50) and Desmond Haynes (44) gave the Windies a strong start before Gus Logie (60) and Jeff Dujon (39*) completed the job. West Indies leveled the tie 1-1 and went onto win the 3^rd final in Sydney thereby ensuring the championship title.

5. Sri Lanka- 272/2:

In the 2012 Commonwealth Bank Series, the home side met Sri Lanka in the second final in Adelaide. Hundred from David Warner (100) and skipper Michael Clarke (117) ensured a target of 272 for the islanders. Lasith Malinga was the most impressive bowler with a spell of 3/40 on a flat deck. Mahela Jayawardene made a classy 80 while his opening partner Tillakaratne Dilshan registered a brilliant 106 to take the game away from the hosts. Kumar Sangakkara’s unbeaten 51 ensured a win by 8 wickets for the visitors with 34 balls remaining. Australia though won a tense 3rd final and kept the Commonwealth Bank Series home.

4. Pakistan- 274/6:

In a dramatic Benson & Hedges Challenge match in 1987 in Perth, the hosts made 273/6 courtesy a marvelous 121 from Dean Jones and a solid 82 from Steve Waugh. For Pakistan skipper Imran Khan and Wasim Akram took 2 wickets each. Their opener Qasim Umar made 67 however the top order failed miserably before a rearguard action from the lower order batsmen. Manzoor Elahi (48) and Saleem Yousuf (31) batted brilliantly but the star of the day was Asif Mujtaba who made in unbeaten 60 off 56 to ensure a win for him team by 1 wicket with 1 ball remaining.

3. Sri Lanka- 283/7:

In another 2012 Commonwealth Bank Series match in Hobart, the Aussies made 280/6 which featured a fine century from Peter Forrest (104). David Hussey’s 28-ball 40 and Brett Lee’s 15-ball 20 ensured a big target for the visitors. Mahela made a brilliant 85 off 81 balls while Dinesh Chandimal also contributed 80 before a mini collapse left the onus on all-rounder Thisara Perera. The left-handed hard hitter didn’t disappoint and made an unbeaten 21 off 11 balls to take his team home in 49.2 overs.

2. West Indies- 284/3:

In another 1997 Carlton & United Series match in Brisbane, the Aussies made 281/4 courtesy a brilliant 102 from opener Mark Waugh and equally classy 93 from Stuart Law. Ian Bishop and Nixon McLean took one wickets each while the other 2 wickets were run outs. Brian Lara spanked 102 while Carl Hopper made an unbeaten 110 to ensure a 7 wicket win for the Windies. Jimmy Adams was also impressive in his unbeaten 34 in the company of Hooper. The visitors reached the target in 48.5 overs in a record run chase Down Under against the home team.

1. India- 331/4:

India tour of Australia saw the home side dominate the series until the final match at the SCG. The Aussies leading 4-0 in the series piled up 330/7 courtesy two brilliant hundreds from David Warner (122) and Mitchell Marsh(102). Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah had a superb debut for India with a spell of 2/40. In reply, Indian opener Rohit Sharma made 99 off 108 but it was a maiden ton from Manish Pandey, a classy unbeaten 104 off 81, that sealed the match for the team with 2 balls to spare.

All stats updated till 23rd Jan 2016.