The past seven editions saw some exciting matches which went down to the wire and made the people stand to their feet. With 8th edition of the Champions Trophy starting from 1st June, we look back at the top 5 best matches in Champions Trophy history.
- India vs. England (2013 finals)
After a long rain delay in the finals of the 2013 Champions Trophy held at Edgbaston, Birghinam, the match was reduced to 20 overs side. In this match, England won the toss and elected to field. The innings did not off to a great start losing an early wicket of Rohit Sharma for 9 runs. The powerplay overs were reduced to overs. India scored 19 for 1 in those 4 overs. Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli steadied the innings with 31 runs partnership for the second wicket. India lost wickets at regular wickets with Virat Kohli at the other end. Jadeja played a cameo off 33 in 25 balls with 2 sixes and 2 fours to help India post 129 for 7 in 20 overs.
Chasing the target of 130, Umesh Yadav gave an early breakthrough of Alistair Cook for 2. In the first four overs, England scored 24 runs. After the powerplay, the Indian spinners showed their class picking regular wickets. From 46 for 4 in 8.4 overs, Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara shared 64 runs for the 5th wicket. With 28 runs required in 18 balls, England looked favourites to win the match but Ishant Sharma picked 2 wickets of Eoin Morgan for 33 runs in 30 balls and Ravi Bopara for 30 runs in 25 balls to change the tide in favour of India. With 15 runs required in the last over, Ravichandran Ashwin gave away 10 runs. India won the match by 5 runs to help India clinch their second CT title.
India 129 for 7 ( Virat Kohli 43, Ravi Bopara 3/20) beat England 124 for 8 in 20 overs ( Eoin Morgan 33, Ravi Bopara 30, Ravindra Jadeja 2/24, Ravichandran Ashwin 2/15) by 5 runs.
- New Zealand vs. India (2000 finals)
Both India and New Zealand reached the finals of ICC Knockout tournament held at Nairobi, Kenya on 15th October 2000. New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming won the toss and elected to field. Indian openers Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly gave the team a flying start putting on 141 runs for the first wicket. Sachin was dismissed for 69 in 83 balls with 10 fours and 1 six. Sourav Ganguly scored a brilliant 117 in 130 balls with 9 fours and 4 sixes. The other Indian batsmen failed to make big runs and were restricted to 264 for 6 in 50 overs.
Chasing the target of 265, New Zealand lost an early wicket of Spearman for 3 runs. They were struggling at 132 for 5 in 23.2 overs. Chris Cairns and Chris Harris showed their class with a brilliant 122 runs for the sixth wicket. Chris Cairns remained not out on 102 in 118 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes. New Zealand won the match by 4 wickets with 2 balls to spare. It was their first major ICC title.
New Zealand 265 for 6 in 49.4 overs (Chris Cairns 102, Venktash Prasad 3/27) beat India 264 for 6 in 50 overs (Sourav Ganguly 117, Sachin Tendulkar 69, Scott Syris 2/53) by 4 wickets.
- West Indies vs. England ( 2004 finals)
England was involved in a thrilling match during the finals of Champions Trophy 2004 held at England. The finals between England and West Indies took place on 25th September 2004 at Oval, London. West Indies captain Brian Lara won the toss and fielded first. England were struggling right from the start losing wickets at regular intervals. Marcus Tresthoick was only England batsmen to play with aggressive intent scoring 104 runs in 124 balls with 14 fours. Ashley Giles scored vital 31 runs in 37 balls. The hosts were bowled out for 217 in 49.4 overs.
Chasing the modest target of 218, West Indies too started on a bad note losing the first five wickets for just 80 runs. At the score of 147, Shivraine Chanderpaul was dismissed for 47. Ian Bradshaw and Courtney Browne put up an heroic unbeaten stand of 71 runs for the 9th wicket to help West Indies clinch an impossible 2 wicket win with 7 balls to spare.
West Indies 218 for 8 in 48.5 overs ( Shivnarine Chanderpaul 47, Courtney Browne 35*, Ian Bradshaw 34, Andrew Flintoff 3/38) beat England 217 in 49. 4 overs (Marcus Trescothick 104, Wavell Hinds 3/24) by 2 wickets.
- India vs. South Africa ( 1st semi-finals 2002)
India was involved in a thrilling match of Champions Trophy. The match between India and South Africa was played at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on 25th September 2002. Sourav Ganguly won the toss and elected to bat. Contributions from Virender Sehwag 59 in 58 balls, Rahul Dravid 49 in 67 balls and Yuvraj Singh 62 in 72 balls with 6 fours helped the Men in Blue to post a competitive total of 261 for 9.
Chasing the target of 262, South Africa lost an early wicket of Graeme Smith before Herschelle Gibbs and Boeta Dippenear put on 178 runs for the second wicket. Gibbs retired hurt on 116 in 119 balls and then came the twist as South Africa lost wickets at regular intervals and fell 10 runs short of the target. The Indian bowlers showed great discipline restricting the South African team to 251.
India 261 for 9 in 50 overs (Yuvraj Singh 62, Virender Sehwag 59, and Shaun Pollock 3/43) beat South Africa 251 for 6 in 50 overs (Herschelle Gibbs 117 retired hurt, Boeta Dippenear 97, Virender Sehwag 3/25) by 10 runs.
- Pakistan vs. Australia (2009)
This was another thrilling match in the Champions Trophy with Pakistan taking on Australia in the league match at Centurion on 30th September 2009. Australian captain Ricky Pointing won the toss and fielded first. Pakistan batsmen failed to convert starts into big scores as the top scorer in innings was Mohammad Yosouf with 45 in 69 balls, Misbah- ul- Haq with 41 in 53 balls, Shahid Afridi with 44 in 63 balls helped Men in Green post 205 for 6 in 50 overs.
Chasing the modest target of 206, Australia lost wickets of Shane Watson and Tim Paine with 59 runs on the board. Ricky Pointing and Mike Hussey put on 81 runs for the third wicket with 140 runs on the board when they the third wicket. The Pakistani bowlers took wickets at regular intervals and were struggling at 187 for 8. Nathan Haurtiz and Brett Lee gave the Australian team a nervous win off the final ball to clinch a great 2 wicket win. Australia then went to win the CT title by beating New Zealand in the finals.
Australia 206 for 8 in 50 overs ( Mike Hussey 64, Saeed Ajmal 2/31, Mohammad Asif 2/34) beat Pakistan 205 for 6 in 50 overs ( Mohammad Yousouf 45, Shahid Afridi 44, Shane Watson 2/32, Mitchell Johoson 2/45) by 2 wickets.