Memorably close ODIs between India and Australia

Ahead of India-Australia World Cup clash at The Oval, a look at four close ODI encounters between the two cricketing nations:

1987 WORLD CUP, CHENNAI

After Geoff Marsh's 110 helped Australia post 270/6, India were comfortably placed at 207/2 and seemingly cruising towards a win. But once Navjot Singh Sidhu, on his ODI debut, fell for 73, Australia found a foot in the door. The equation eventually boiled down to eight runs off the last over and two off the last ball with one wicket left, but Steve Waugh held his nerve with the ball and took the Aussies to victory.

Aus 270/6 in 50 overs (G Marsh 110) bt Ind 269 in 49.5 overs (N Sidhu 73, C McDermott 4/56) by 1 run.

WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

1992 WORLD CUP, BRISBANE

Australia had notched up 237/6 from their 50 overs but India's target was revised to 236 from 47 overs after rain interrupted proceedings. It came down to four from one ball with Javagal Srinath on strike, and he played a mighty slog towards wide long-on off Tom Moody's final delivery. While Waugh dropped the catch, he made amends with a pinpoint throw that ran out Venkatapathy Raju, who was attempting the third run. Five years later, Australia had once again defeated India in the World Cup, by the same margin.

Aus 237/9 in 50 overs (D Jones 90; Kapil Dev 3/41) bt Ind (target 236 in 47 overs) 234 in 47 overs (M Azharuddin 93) by 1 run.

2ND FINAL, CB SERIES, BRISBANE, 2008

One of India's greatest ODI triumphs. MS Dhoni's boys pulled off a 9-run win over a dominant Australian side to clinch the series. After winning the first final in Sydney by six wickets, they successfully defended 258 at the Gabba to ensure that a third final was not required.

Ind 258/9 in 50 overs (S Tendulkar 91) bt Aus 249 in 49.4 overs (P Kumar 4/46) by 9 runs.

5TH ODI, HYDERABAD, 2009

A reprise of the 1990s, when India were over-reliant on Sachin Tendulkar. The Men in Blue fell 4 runs short of victory while chasing 351, despite the Mumbai maestro smashing 175 off 141 balls. He fell with India needing 19 runs from three overs with four wickets in hand, but what followed was a familiar tale of woe as India folded for 347.

Aus 350/4 in 50 overs (S Marsh 112) bt Ind 347 in 49.4 overs (S Tendulkar 175) by 3 runs.