first-innings total of 242. No single batsman really took control. There were only three scores over 40. Pakistan started disastrously and slumped to 32 for 4 when Shahid Afridi walked in. First, in the company of Umar Akmal, then his brother Kamran, Afridi played arguably his best innings for Pakistan. There was clean hitting in the form of eight fours and seven sixes. He was dismissed at 205 for 7, scoring 109 out of 173 runs scored while he was at the crease. Muttiah Muralitharan, the crafty genius, went for 71 in ten overs, but he captured the important wicket of Afridi, after which, Pakistan fell away and lost by 16 runs. Afridi's HSI value was 1.88.

The three-run defeat against Australia in Hyderabad was heart-breaking for Sachin Tendulkar,who had led the chase with 175 Getty Images

5. ODI# 2923. Australia won by three runs

November 5, 2009, Hyderabad

Australia: 350 for 4 in 50 overs, India: 347 all out in 49.4 overs

Sachin Tendulkar 175 (141)

This was an innings I will never forget since I consider this to be the best ODI innings Sachin Tendulkar played. The Australian batting line-up did very well to set India the huge task of 351. Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag started well and put on 66. The next three batsmen contributed single-digit scores, and at 162 for 4, it was touch and go. Suresh Raina played an excellent supporting innings of 59 and helped add 137 for the sixth wicket.

India looked like winning when they needed 52 in eight overs with six wickets in