Tied ODI Matches | List of Tied ODI Matches in World Cup

Australia vs South Africa (1999 ODI World Cup):

It was the second semi-final match that was being played at Birmingham. Little did they know that this match would be the first entrant on the list of tied ODI matches.

• South Africa had won the toss and opted to bowl first. The decision seemed to be right, as Australia was reduced to 68/4.
• But Steve Waugh (56) and Michael Bevan (65) ensured that Australia reached a respectable total of 213.
• In reply, South Africa was going great guns. Jacques Kallis (53) and Jonty Rhodes (43) both taking charge. But Australia had managed to remove both of them, and it fell to Lance Klusner (31) to see his team home.

But a horrible mix-up in the final over saw Allan Donald get run out, which meant the Proteas were all out for 213 and the match got tied.

South Africa vs Sri Lanka (ODI World Cup 2003)

The host team was under pressure to win this match, but instead, the game became the second entry to the list of tied ODI matches and South Africa were knocked out.

• Sri Lanka had won the toss and opted to bat first, and thanks to Marven Atapattu (124) and Aravinda de Silva (73), they had posted a formidable 268/9.
• In reply, South Africa needed 269 to win, but the rain showers ensured that they were left stranded at 229.

When Duckworth Lewis came into play, South Africa had tied the match with Sri Lanka. And that wasn’t enough, which meant they were knocked out of a home ODI World Cup.

Ireland vs Zimbabwe (ODI World Cup 2007):

Ireland had batted first at Kingston, Jamaica. They had posted a total of 221/9, riding on the century from Jeremy Bray (115).

• In reply, two players from Zimbabwe’s top order scored fifties and were on course for a huge win, but fate had other ideas.
• From 203/5, they collapsed to 221, losing their five wickets within 118 runs.

The match was a thrilling tie and certainly no less of a win for Ireland who were in a precarious position an hour ago.

India vs England (2011 ODI World Cup):

• In one of the most thrilling encounters, India and England remained inseparable and played out a tie no one was expecting.
• India had batted first on a belter of a pitch in Bengaluru, and riding on Sachin Tendulkar’s century, India were at one stage at 305/4.
• But a lower-order collapse ensured they were all out for 338.
• In reply, England were on course for an easy win, with Andrew Strauss smoking a century.

But once Zaheer Khan removed him, England started losing their wickets very quickly, getting restricted to 338/8, ending the match in a thrilling tie.

England vs New Zealand (2019 ODI World Cup Final):

It was the ODI World Cup final between England and New Zealand. By the end of it, England would beat New Zealand in a super-over thriller, but not before the match became the last and final entrant in our list of tied ODI matches.

• New Zealand had batted first and were restricted to a score of 241/8 in the fifty overs.
• England were struggling despite fifties from Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler. That was when a throw from Martin Guptill ricocheted off Stokes’ bat and went to the boundary.

The umpire awarded the hosts five runs which would change the equation, and England would tie the match before winning the game on a super over.

Final Thoughts

These five games are the only tied ODI matches in the history of ODI World Cup. While one of the games was a World Cup final, we also had a World Cup semi-final, which went on to become a tie.

These tied games keep the audience on the edge of their seats as the pendulum swings from one end to the other.

To be frank, tied ODI games have always been a great advertisement for ODI cricket, a format that is staving off challenges from T20 as well as Test matches.

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