Top 7 ODI matches in 2021

Well, there’s no doubt that the year 2021 was largely about playing the shortest and the longest format. Since there were two big ICC events, the top international giants just preferred playing the WTC cycle and the T20Is. In fact, a heavyweight team like India just played about 6 ODIs in the entire calendar year.

However, thanks to the associate nations and the bottom-ranked teams, a total of 70 ODI games have taken shape in 2021. Right from 8th January till 27th November, a total of 20 nations participated and played the 50-over format. Hence with the year now coming to an end, let’s check out the 7 best ODI games of 2021.

Here are best ODIs of 2021:

7. ENG vs IND 3rd ODI, Pune

Well, when the 50-over World Cup champions decided to challenge team India in Pune, the first two ODIs produced contrasting results. In the first game, India had beaten England by a margin of 66 runs whereas in the second encounter England turned the tides. A convincing 6-wicket in the second ODI definitely also raised the confidence of the visitors to chase any sort of target.

However in the final encounter, again team India had fabricated a 300+ total especially because of Rishabh Pant and his lower middle-order company. Even the bleak form of Hardik Pandya witnessed nourishment with a knock of 64 runs. Nevertheless, in reply England cheaply lost all their white-ball stalwarts for an inferior total of 200-7.

Though Liam Livingstone and Moeen Ali immensely tried to keep the chase in hand, the Indian pacers almost had pocketed the game in their hands. But with Sam Curran often known to surprise Virat Kohli and boys, the southpaw exhibited the best of his batting abilities.

His two game-changing partnerships with Adil Rashid and Mark Wood soared England’s total from 200 for 7 till 317. The all-rounder hit an unbeaten 95 with 9 fours and 3 sixes but sadly lost the game by a margin of 7 runs. Eventually, despite his knock ending in a losing cause, Sam Curran was award the Player of the match.

6. SA vs PAK 2nd ODI, Johannesburg

Often in a cricket ground like Johannesburg, the ODIs are expected to be fun-filled and intriguing. Perhaps when Pakistan had begun the proceedings with a blazing thriller in the 1st ODI, the stage was ideal even for the second one. However, by batting first in the match, SA assembled an enormous total of 342 to win.

Out of their top six batters, only the likes of Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen failed to go past their half-century. Initially, captain Bavuma and Quinton De Kock started with a bang thus even allowing Miller and Van der Dussen to promptly fire fifty-plus scores.

But Pakistan in their response soon found themselves in trouble at 85/4. The express pace of Anrich Nortje never really allowed any sorts of partnerships but somehow Pakistan hustled to the mark of 200 runs. However, in the last 10-12 overs, the 31-year old Fakhar Zaman completely took the matter into his own hands and fabricated a 68-run stand with Shaheen Afridi.

Eventually, the southpaw took Pakistan past 300 and finished with a personal run tally of whopping 193 runs. Overall for the home team, it apparently turned to be a shallow victory of just 17 runs.

5. ZIM vs BAN 2nd ODI, Harare

Well, in this encounter, the visiting team- Bangladesh had started splendidly in the 3-match ODI series. By winning the 1st ODI by a hefty margin of 155 runs, they seemed to repeat similar proceedings even in the second match. However, after winning the toss, Zimbabwe posted a contesting total of 240 to grapple the visitors.

In response when Bangladesh had come to bat, their opening pair and the number four batter were seized very cheaply. At a score of 75-4, it was then the veterans (Shakib Al Hasan & Mahmudullah) who helped the team to poise for a brief period. However, after Mahmudullah’s departure, the scoreline sadly plunged to 173 runs for the loss of seven wickets.

Fortunately, it was the 73-run stand between Shakib and Saifuddin that eventually sealed the deal for Bangladesh. By standing as a lone warrior, Shakib helmed Bangladesh’s run chase with his match-winning score of unbeaten 96. In the end, the southpaw also was termed to be the Player of the Match thanks of his enriching all-round performances.

4. NED vs IRE 1st ODI, Utrecht

Barring the top giants, even the associate nations have produced exciting ODI games in 2021. A team like Ireland who had beaten England in 2020 also took massive strides to even beat South Africa at home. However, in this encounter against the Netherlands, the Irish team just lost the game by the barest of margins.

To begin the game, the Netherlands won the toss and elected to produce massive runs on board. But with Ireland pacers bundling the opponents to a score of 53-5, the game already looked to be a dead rubber. Apparently, the 30-year old Timm Van Der Gugten’s 49 helped the home team to stitch a fighting total of 195 in the game.

In response when Ireland resumed their chase, their three best batters (William Porterfield, skipper Balbirnie and Harry Teckor) were quickly sent back to the pavilion. At a score of 69-5, it was almost certain that an action-packed end was in the making. Especially the tenacious knock of Paul Stirling and Simi Singh produced a last-ball nail-biter but the Irishmen lost by a margin of mere 1 run.

3. SA vs PAK 1st ODI, Centurion

To summarize this topsy-turvy game, the Proteas welcomed Pakistan with an exigent target of 274 in the first ODI. During the first innings, though the home team was initially tumbled to a score of 55-4, Rassie van der Dussan and the veteran David Miller mended a game-changing partnership of 116 runs. The 32-year old Dussen scored an unbeaten 123 runs and the southpaw Miller also supported with a score of 50 runs.

However, in reply when Pakistan resumed their run-chase, skipper Babar Azam and the opener Imam-ul-Haq almost took the team to the 200-run mark. With merely requiring 81 runs to win, the uncertain batting lineup of Pakistan took its usual course and lost three quick wickets for 203. Perhaps to steady the proceedings, it was Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan’s vital contributions that stitched a 53-run stand to stay afloat.

Overall the game had become a last-ball thriller especially when mere 3 runs were needed to win off six balls. Eventually with Faheem Ashraf managing to seal the three runs of the last two deliveries conclusively produced a nail-biter in the end.

2. SL vs IND 2nd ODI, Colombo (RPS)

For team India, it was after a very long time that two different squads were sent to tour two different destinations in 2021. Because of the Covid-19 restrictions, the BCCI picked an extended squad to tour Sri Lanka for a 3-match ODI and T20I series. The 36-year old veteran Shikhar Dhawan was also rewarded to lead the side in the absence of the senior players. In fact, to fluently begin the proceedings Dhawan and his men won the 1st ODI by 7 wickets.

On the other hand, though Sri Lanka was amassing challenging totals, the young Indian batters through their explosive gameplay made it an easy cakewalk. But in the second ODI, while chasing a target of 276, India had lost half their side on a score of 116.

Wanindu Hasaranga’s attacking spin bowling helped Sri Lanka to scalp wickets of those key players who were helming India’s chase. By the time when sixth and seventh wicket fell, the top seven batters had left more than 80 plus runs to win. By this point, everyone considered SL to easily snatch a win.

But as we all know, a miraculous partnership between Deepak Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar helped India to make a staggering comeback. Chahar individually by being the chief aggregator scored an unbeaten 69 smacking a total of 7 fours and a six. Surprisingly out of nowhere these two Indian pacers turned the tides and seized a win from the jaws of defeat.

1. ENG vs PAK 3rd ODI, Birmingham

When Pakistan had toured England for a white-ball tour in July, the Covid-19 had plagued the frontline white-ball squad of the hosts. The series could only commence when the ECB overnight stitched an extended squad for the tour. Someone like Ben Stokes who was carrying a finger injury was selected to lead the squad in these games. In fact, despite playing with an extended squad, England had smoothly thrashed Pakistan in the first two ODIs.

Pakistan struggled a lot to even reach the 200-run mark in the first couple of matches. However, in the third ODI to escape a clean sweep, skipper Babar Azam and his men produced a mammoth total of 331. In response, while chasing the big target, the home team lost their top 5 wickets on a score of 165.

For England to win that game it utterly became certain that someone like Babar Azam had to become a centurion. The Pakistani skipper had amassed his individual score of 158 runs proving to be the chief difference between teams.

Nevertheless, with James Vince being in the form of his life, he astonishingly stitched a match-winning partnership of 129 runs with Lewis Gregory scoring a brilliant 77. In the end, with Vince registering his maiden ODI hundred, England clean-swept Pakistan with even two overs to spare. Indeed the entire white-ball tour of England eventually also became the lowest point for Pakistan in 2021.