OTD: India-Zimbabwe played out a thrilling tie in Indore in 1993

On November 18, 1993, India and Zimbabwe produced one of the most thrilling finishes in ODI history at the Nehru Stadium in Indore during the C.A.B. Jubilee Tournament. The contest went down to the final ball and ended in a tie, India’s first in over a decade.

India began the tournament with a win over Sri Lanka but were embarrassed in Ahmedabad when West Indies bowled them out for 100. With two league matches left, the hosts needed at least one win to stay alive. 

However, on the eve of the match, captain Mohammad Azharuddin faced unnecessary hostility from local police during practice. In the game, India were put in to bat on a surface.

India’s innings was built around Manoj Prabhakar’s 91 off 126 balls, stitched together with a 122-run stand alongside Vinod Kambli, who made 55. Meanwhile, Raman and Vijay Yadav both went for ducks but Azharuddin’s unbeaten fifty and Sachin Tendulkar’s 24 off 16 pushed the team total to 248/5. Stephen Peall was Zimbabwe’s most successful bowler with three wickets.

Chasing a target of 249 Zimbabwe’s chase began on a poor note as Grant Flower and Alistair Campbell departed early before Andy Flower and Dave Houghton stabilised the innings. Houghton’s attacking 22 kept Zimbabwe in the game, but once he and Flower (56) fell, India looked ahead. Following that, Ali Shah (37 off 31) and Guy Whittall (33) counter-attacked brilliantly, taking advantage of India’s fielding.

However, three quick wickets again got the hosts back in the contest. Zimbabwe’s hopes rested on Heath Streak and John Rennie. The duo took the game to the last over, needing 10 off six balls against Prabhakar. Rennie hit a boundary and pushed for singles, narrowing it down to two runs needed off the final ball.

Prabhakar produced a perfect yorker as Rennie managed only a single, and Streak was run out going for the second. Zimbabwe finished on 248, tying the match. Prabhakar’s all-round brilliance of 91 and 2/41, earned him Player of the Match.

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