Let us now look at the most memorable cricket matches, which can be ranked as the top 4 of all time! Here goes!
PART - 3
#4. India vs Australia – 2001 Kolkata Test - Eden Gardens - The Laxman & Dravid Show
Dates : 11–15 March 2001
Venue : Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Result : India won by 171 runs, after being made to follow-on.
Moment : Laxman & Dravid’s epic 376-run stand, Harbhajan’s hat-trick
Act I : Invincibles Arrive
Australia, led by Steve Waugh, came in riding a record-breaking wave — 16 consecutive Test wins, steamrolling every team in their path. This wasn’t just another tour — this was a conquest. Waugh called it the “Final Frontier.”
In Mumbai, Australia bulldozed India by 10 wickets. In Kolkata, they enforced the follow-on — the ultimate humiliation. India were 274 runs behind. Every fan watching quietly braced for another loss.
Act II: The Walls Rise
India walked out to bat again. No one watching could’ve guessed that this was about to become cricketing folklore.
VVS Laxman, batting at No. 3, and Rahul Dravid, at No. 6, came together with India teetering at 232/4. What followed was pure poetry.
Laxman danced down to Warne, whipped seamers through midwicket, and unfurled wristy drives. He was elegance with an edge — scoring 281, the highest individual score by an Indian at the time.
Dravid, ever the fortress, batted through dehydration, cramps, and exhaustion to score 180. The two added 376 runs, batted through an entire day without losing a wicket — Day 4 belonged to them, and them alone.
“It was like we were batting in a dream. Time stood still.” – VVS Laxman
“It was the most satisfying day I’ve had on a cricket field.” – Rahul Dravid
Act III: Harbhajan’s Final Blow
India declared at 657/7, setting Australia 384 to win on Day 5. Eden Gardens, packed with 80,000 fans, trembled with hope.
Then came Harbhajan Singh, who’d already taken a hat-trick in the first innings — the first Indian ever to do so in Tests.
He picked up 6 wickets, foxing the Australians with sharp turn, bounce, and courage. Steve Waugh fought hard with a gritty 67, but eventually, India bowled Australia out for 212.
“I never thought I’d see a Test like this again.” – Sunil Gavaskar
Harbhajan Singh @harbhajan_singh
— Zohaib (Cricket King)🇵🇰🏏 (@Zohaib1981) April 13, 2020
Sourav Ganguly @SGanguly99
A Famous Hat trick @ Eden Gardens Kolkata vs Australia 2nd Test 2001 pic.twitter.com/hXwEsyr6b4
Act IV: The Final Frontier Cracked
India’s victory was only the third time in Test history that a team won after being forced to follow-on. Australia’s streak was snapped. Eden Gardens had witnessed a resurrection.
“That match changed Indian cricket. We realized we could win from any situation.” – Sourav Ganguly
#OnThisDay in 2001, a classic between India and Australia at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 15, 2018
What's your memory of that clash? https://t.co/jJWT3XjskH pic.twitter.com/ZQXFEAzoR9
Some more details of this epic match:
Have a look at the detailed full match scorecard here!
Full Match Highlights
The Electric Hatrick by Harbhajan
#3. India vs England – 2002 Natwest Final, Lord's, England
Date: 13 July, 2002
Venue : Lord’s Stadium, London, England
Result : India won by 2 wickets, chasing a 300+ total
Moment : Yuvraj & Kaif’s partnership, Ganguly waving his shirt at the balcony
Act I : An English Avalanche
At the home of cricket, England batted first and put on a batting masterclass.
Marcus Trescothick (109 off 100) and Nasser Hussain (115 off 128) led a merciless charge. Hussain, often criticized for poor batting, answered with fire and fist-pumps. The score soared to 325/5 — an enormous total in 2002.
India’s bowlers looked rattled. At the innings break, the trophy felt half-engraved with “England.”
“A score over 300 in a final? It felt like Everest.” – Sourav Ganguly
Act II : The Chase Nobody Believed
India’s reply was brisk. Sehwag and Ganguly thrashed a 106-run opening stand in just 14 overs. The Lord’s crowd hushed.
Then came the collapse. From 106/0 to 146/5, the dream was unravelling. Dravid, Mongia, Dinesh Mongia — all gone.
Enter two young men: Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif. One a stylish left-hander known for flair, the other a wiry 21-year-old still proving his place.
“We didn’t think. We just batted.” – Yuvraj Singh
Their partnership was electric — boundaries through cover, flicks to fine leg, diving singles. They put on 121 runs, dragging India back from the dead.
Yuvraj’s dismissal for 69 brought tension again. But Kaif remained, scoring a fearless 87 off 75*, dodging cramps, sledges, and pressure. He was ice under fire.
Act III : The Run That Changed Everything
When Zaheer Khan hit the winning runs, it was Kaif who sprinted to the other end, arms aloft.
But up on the balcony, it was Ganguly, shirtless, waving his jersey wildly — reversing Flintoff’s shirtless celebration from Mumbai earlier that year.
“It was raw emotion. We wanted to show we could win outside India.” – Sourav Ganguly
💬 "That was my most favourite and least favourite game I've ever played in."
— ICC (@ICC) July 13, 2020
Nasser Hussain on one of the most epic ODIs – the 2002 NatWest series final against India 👇 pic.twitter.com/VH3aOOqFC9
Act IV : The Symbol of a New India
The victory at Lord’s wasn’t just about a trophy. It was India’s first major win in an overseas final. It was the day Indian cricket’s new generation — bold, aggressive, and fearless — arrived.
“We realized we belonged. We could beat anyone, anywhere.” – Mohammad KaiF
Some more details of this epic match:
Have a look at the detailed full match scorecard here!
Full Match Highlights
The Winning Partnership between Yuvraj & Kaif
#2. South Africa vs Australia - SA chase down 435 - The Day Cricket Lost Its Mind
Dates : 12 March, 2006
Venue : Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Result : South Africa won by 1 wicket
Why It’s Iconic : The highest successful run chase in ODI history — 438/9 chasing 434
Act I: The Australian Cyclone – 434/4
Nobody at the Wanderers that day could’ve predicted the carnage about to unfold.
Batting first, Australia exploded out of the gates. Adam Gilchrist, Simon Katich, and Michael Hussey set the tone — but it was Ricky Ponting, the captain, who delivered a masterclass for the ages. His 164 off 105 balls, studded with 9 sixes and 13 boundaries, was pure destruction.
“We just wanted to keep going. Didn’t realize we were rewriting cricket history.” — Ricky Ponting
Australia’s final total: 434/4 — then the highest total in ODI history. The crowd was shell-shocked. Commentators began penning the obituary for South Africa’s chase before it even began.
Act II: South Africa’s Fury – Enter Gibbs & Smith
A world record chase? Against McGrath, Bracken, and Lee? It sounded ridiculous.
But Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs didn’t think so.
Smith’s 90 off 55 balls was a captain’s blitzkrieg, but it was Gibbs who turned the world upside down.
“We believed. Even if no one else did.” — Graeme Smith
Herschelle Gibbs’ 175 off 111 balls, with 21 fours and 7 sixes, became the most unforgettable innings of his life. His strokeplay was fearless, outrageous — and effective.
“They say if you’re gonna chase 434, you need to bat like a video game. That’s what I did.” — Herschelle Gibbs
Act III: Collapse, Panic, and Glory
South Africa was cruising at 299/4 in 31 overs. Then, as if scripted by a cruel hand, wickets started tumbling. Gibbs, Kemp, Hall — all gone.
At 433/9, the dream teetered on a nightmare. One wicket remained. Makhaya Ntini was at the non-striker’s end. Mark Boucher stood alone.
1 run to win. 1 ball to make history.
Boucher punched a low full toss down the ground. The ball kissed the turf and crashed into the boundary rope.
Wanderers. Went. Wild!
“That feeling — it’s like winning a war you weren’t supposed to survive.” — Mark Boucher
On this day in 2006, the most EPIC ODI ever. Australia 434/4 (50), South Africa 438/9 (49.5). http://t.co/HMx3eCtJdV pic.twitter.com/t2xJ0IrZ0h
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 12, 2015
Final Score :
Australia: 434/4 (Ponting 164, Katich 79, Hussey 81*)
South Africa: 438/9 (Gibbs 175, Smith 90, Boucher 50*)
Some more details of this epic match:
Have a look at the detailed full match scorecard here!
Full Match Highlights
#1. Australia vs South Africa - Choked at the Edge : The 1999 World Cup Semi-Final
Date : 17th June, 1999
Venue : Edgbaston, Birmingham
Result : Match tied – Australia advanced to the final due to a superior Super Six finish
Why It’s Iconic : This match immortalized the word “choke” in South African cricket folklore. It also cemented Klusener as both a hero — and a tragic figure.
Act I: Pressure Mounts – A World Cup Final Beckons
It was more than just a semi-final. It was a battle of redemption and rivalry.
Australia, once on the verge of elimination, had clawed their way back with four consecutive wins. South Africa, carrying a generation’s burden, had a golden opportunity to finally shrug off the label of “underachievers.”
“We knew what was at stake. One mistake, and you’re out.” — Steve Waugh
Act II: Tug-of-War in Edgbaston
Australia batted first. After losing early wickets, they rebuilt slowly. The pitch was tricky. The nerves, visible.
Steve Waugh (56) and Michael Bevan (65) stitched a crucial middle-order partnership.
Shaun Pollock, in peak form, took 5 for 36, snatching momentum late.
Australia: 213 all out in 49.2 overs
A chaseable target — but in a World Cup semi-final, pressure warps logic.
Act III: The Lance Klusener Blitz
South Africa stumbled in reply.
Herschelle Gibbs fell early. Jonty Rhodes and Daryl Cullinan couldn’t convert starts.
Shane Warne spun a web: 4 for 29, including the key wicket of Gibbs and Hansie Cronje.
Enter Lance Klusener, the man who had terrorised bowling attacks all tournament.
“Every ball I hit felt like a cannon. I just wanted to take us home.” — Lance Klusener
With 9 balls to go, SA needed 16 runs. Klusener smashed two fours off Fleming. Now 1 run needed off 4 balls. All wickets lost except one.
Act IV: The Most Famous Run-Out in ODI History
Ball 3: Dot.
Ball 4: Klusener thumped it straight — but too straight. Allan Donald at the non-striker’s end didn’t run. Klusener already halfway down the pitch.
Mad scramble. Donald dropped his bat. Out. Run out. Match tied.
“I froze. I just froze.” — Allan Donald, years later
Australia’s celebration was wild, yet composed. They had tied the match, but moved to the final thanks to their superior Super Six record.
South Africa was out.
“It was the greatest game of cricket — and the most painful ending for South Africa.” — Ian Chappell
Final Score :
Australia: 213 all out (Bevan 65, Waugh 56; Pollock 5/36)
South Africa: 213 all out (Klusener 31*, Rhodes 43; Warne 4/29)
Some more details of from this epic match:
Have a look at the detailed full match scorecard here!
Full Match Highlights
The Infamous Last Over & The Run Out!
Now, that you have looked at our ranking of the best cricket matches, do you think there is a match that you would like to include in this list? Drop your opinions in the comments below!
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