Australia’s One-Run Thriller: Narrowest Victory in ODI World Cup History
Australia’s Narrowest Victory in ODI World Cup History: A Thrilling One-Run Triumph Over India
In the annals of ODI World Cup history, the 1987 encounter between Australia and India at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium stands as a testament to the sport’s captivating nature. The match, played on October 9, 1987, etched itself into cricket folklore as the tournament’s narrowest victory, with Australia prevailing by a mere single run.
Australia, batting first, set a formidable target of 270/6 in their allotted 50 overs. Geoff Marsh anchored the innings with a magnificent century (110), ably supported by David Boon (49) and Dean Jones (39). India’s chase began promisingly, with Kris Srikkanth (70) and Navjot Singh Sidhu (73) providing a solid foundation.
However, Australia’s bowlers, led by Craig McDermott’s four-wicket haul, kept chipping away at India’s progress. As the match reached its climax, India found themselves tantalizingly close to the target but ultimately fell short by just one run. The Indian team was bowled out for 269, leaving the home crowd in disbelief.
This match became a defining moment of the 1987 World Cup, remembered for its intense finish and Australia’s razor-thin victory. The Australians went on to win the World Cup title after beating England by 7 runs in the final.