Best Cricket Match of All Time

The cricket match becomes a historic event when the biggest players and arch-rivals square off against each other in a thrilling contest. The highly-anticipated cricket matches include teams like India and Pakistan taking on each other, while the Ashes between Australia and England is the epitome of Test cricket brilliance. In this article, we will look at the five best cricket matches of all time across all formats. 5. India vs. Australia: 2nd Test, Kolkata (2001) In the second Test of the three-match Test series during Australia's tour of India in 2001, Sourav Ganguly's Team India pulled off a nearly impossible comeback in the second innings after being forced to follow on. Australia registered 445 runs in the first innings as skipper Steve Waugh scored a century while Matthew Hayden left three runs short of scoring a century. India were bowled out at 171 in the first innings as VVS Laxman scored a half-century. However, an epic 376-run partnership between VVS Laxman (281) and Rahul Dravid (180) helped India overcome the follow-on and declared the innings at 657 runs. Harbhajan Singh spun a web around the Aussies in the second innings to help India win the match by 171 runs and end Australia's 16-game unbeaten streak. #PAGE_BREAK# 4. India vs. Pakistan: ICC T20 World Cup, Final 2007 After beating Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2007 group-stage fixture on a bowl-out, Team India went on to beat their arch-rivals in the final in a thrilling match-up. Batting first, India registered 157 runs on the board at a loss of five wickets as opener Gautam Gambhir smashed 75-off-54. During the chase, Pakistan failed to build a decent partnership as they required 54 in the last four overs. However, Misbah-ul-Haq brought his side back into the game as Pakistan needed six runs from four balls with one wicket remaining. However, MS Dhoni's brilliant field placement helped India pull off a five-run win in the inaugural T20 World Cup with three balls remaining. #PAGE_BREAK# 3. Australia vs. England: The Ashes, 2nd Test, Edgbaston (2005) In a nail-biting thriller between England and Australia at Edgbaston in the second Test in August 2005, the Michael Vaughan-led side registered a two-run victory over the visitors. After scoring 407 runs in the first innings, the Three Lions restricted the Aussies to 308 runs and took a 99-run lead. However, the Australian bowling attack led by Shane Warne (6 wickets), and Brett Lee (4 wickets) helped them to bowl their rivals out quickly in their second innings. While chasing the 282-run target, Australia lost eight wickets at 175 runs, however, their tailenders were close to scripting a historic win. But Andrew Flintoff's bowling heroics helped the hosts win the game by two runs. #PAGE_BREAK# 2. India vs. Pakistan: Austral-Asia Cup, Final (1986) Pakistan defeated India in the last-ball thriller to lift the 1986 Austral-Asia Cup title. Batting first, Team India registered 245 runs on the board as the opening three batters, Sunil Gavaskar (92), Kris Srikkanth (75), and Dilip Vengsarkar (50) scored half-centuries. At the same time, Wasim Akram picked up three wickets. However, Javed Miandad's unbeaten knock of 116-off-114 with three fours and sixes each as the match led to the last ball with India needing a wicket and Pakistan requiring a boundary to clinch the win. Miandad smashed a six off Chetan Sharma to clinch the title. #PAGE_BREAK# 1. Australia vs. South Africa: 5th ODI, Johannesburg (2006) The best cricket match in the history of the sport was played between South Africa and Australia at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. The fifth and final match of the ODI series between the two giants was the highest match aggregate of all time as both teams combined to score 872 runs. With the series on the line at 2-2, Australia batting first smashed 434 runs at a loss of four wickets with skipper Ricky Ponting scoring 164-off-105. In response, South Africa lost their first wicket in the second over, however, a 187-run partnership between skipper Graeme Smith (90-off-55) and Herschelle Gibbs (175-off-111), while wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher's unbeaten half-century helped the hosts clinch the high octane clash and the series.

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Best Cricket Match of All Time

3. Australia vs. England: The Ashes, 2nd Test, Edgbaston (2005)