Top 10 Matches That Ended in a Tie but Felt Like Wins

Tied cricket matches are as rare as they are thrilling. But some ties don’t feel like a deadlock—they feel like victories. Whether it’s a comeback from nowhere, a miraculous last-ball six, or surviving against impossible odds, these are the matches that ended in a tie yet won the hearts of fans.

Here are 5 legendary encounters where the scoreboard Ended in a tie, but the emotions screamed victory.

1. England vs New Zealand – 2019 World Cup Final (Lord’s)

• Date: July 14, 2019
• Venue: Lord’s, London
• Match Result: Ended in a Tie (England won on boundary count)

Arguably the greatest ODI match in cricket history, this tied final came down to a Super Over—which was also tied! England was declared winners based on hitting more boundaries.

Why It Felt Like a Win:
For England, it was their first-ever World Cup title. For fans, it was an emotional explosion. For New Zealand, it was a heartbreak like no other.
Iconic Moment: Ben Stokes’ accidental overthrow that added 6 crucial runs.

2. India vs Pakistan – 2007 T20 World Cup Group Stage

• Date: September 14, 2007
• Venue: Kingsmead, Durban
• Match Result: Ended in a Tie (India won via bowl-out)

Chasing 141, Pakistan tied the game in the final over, thanks to Misbah-ul-Haq. But the game went to a bowl-out—cricket’s version of a penalty shootout. India hit the stumps 3 times; Pakistan missed all 3.

Why It Felt Like a Win:
India not only won the bowl-out but built momentum for their maiden T20 World Cup title. The drama, the rivalry, the celebration—it was fireworks on every front.
Iconic Moment: Sehwag, Harbhajan, and Uthappa all hitting the stumps dead-on.

3. Australia vs South Africa – 1999 World Cup Semi-Final

• Date: June 17, 1999
• Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
• Match Result: Ended in a Tie (Australia advanced to final)

South Africa needed 9 runs off 1 over with 1 wicket left. Lance Klusener smashed the first two balls for 4s. Then chaos: a mix-up with Allan Donald led to a run-out and a tied match. Australia advanced due to their superior net run rate.

Why It Felt Like a Win (for Australia):
The tie took them straight into the World Cup Final. The celebration was electric, while South Africa was left heartbroken.
Iconic Moment: Donald dropping his bat mid-pitch during the fateful run-out.

4. India vs Sri Lanka – 1993 Hero Cup (Kolkata)

• Date: November 18, 1993
• Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
• Match Result: Ended in a Tie

India, chasing 226, needed 4 runs off the last ball. Anil Kumble hit the ball and ran three before getting run out attempting the fourth. The match was tied—but for India, it was a moral victory.

Why It Felt Like a Win:
The crowd erupted, proud of the fight shown by the tail-enders. The never-say-die attitude in front of a packed Eden Gardens felt like a triumph in itself.
Iconic Moment: Kumble collapsing at the crease, just short of victory.

5. New Zealand vs India – 2020 T20I (Hamilton Super Over Tie)

• Date: January 29, 2020
• Venue: Seddon Park, Hamilton
• Match Result: Ended in a Tie (India won Super Over)

With 9 runs needed off 6 balls, Kane Williamson nearly took New Zealand home. But Mohammad Shami bowled a brilliant last over, defending the final ball and forcing a tie.

Ended in a tie In the Super Over, India chased 17 to win.

Why It Felt Like a Win (for India):
The comeback in the last over, the Super Over chase, and the emotional scenes that followed made it a moment of triumph.
Iconic Moment: Rohit Sharma hitting 2 sixes in the Super Over to seal it.

6. Pakistan vs Zimbabwe – 2022 T20 World Cup (Perth)

• Date: October 27, 2022
• Venue: Perth Stadium
• Match Result: Tie (Zimbabwe won by 1 run, but Pakistan tied at 129 before the final ball)

While this was officially recorded as a 1-run loss for Pakistan, it had all the chaotic tie-like emotions—an outcome decided by a mix of panic and brilliance. The final ball saw Mohammad Nawaz dismissed while running for the tying run.

Why It Felt Like a Win (for Zimbabwe):
Beating Pakistan in a T20 World Cup as underdogs gave Zimbabwe a historic high.
Iconic Moment: Zimbabwe players sprinting onto the field as if they’d won a World Cup.

7. West Indies vs New Zealand – 2012 T20I (Lauderhill, Florida)

• Date: June 30, 2012
• Venue: Central Broward Park
• Match Result: Ended in a Tie (West Indies won in Super Over)

Chris Gayle’s explosive 85 helped West Indies post 177. New Zealand matched it exactly in the last over. The game went into a Super Over, where West Indies prevailed.

Why It Felt Like a Win (for both teams):
A high-scoring classic played in the USA, with both sides delivering fireworks. Fans were treated to an all-time thriller.
Iconic Moment: Gayle’s 3 sixes in the Super Over.

8. India vs New Zealand – 2023 ODI (Rajkot)

• Date: Hypothetical/Inspired Match (as no official tie in Rajkot yet)
• Venue: Rajkot
• Match Result: Ended in a Tie

Imagine India chasing 315, falling short by exactly 1 run—but then a wide on the last ball levels the scores. It ends as a tie but feels like a last-ball escape.

Why It Felt Like a Win (for India):
Avoiding a loss at home in front of a massive crowd via a dramatic wide kept spirits alive.
Iconic Moment: Crowd erupting on the last-ball equalizer.

9. England vs India – 2011 World Cup (Bangalore)

• Date: February 27, 2011
• Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
• Match Result: Ended in a Tie

A classic. India posted 338 (thanks to Tendulkar’s ton). England, led by Andrew Strauss (158), matched it exactly. It ended in a dramatic tie, but England came back from a hopeless position.

Why It Felt Like a Win (for England):
From 280/5 with a mountain to climb, England’s fightback made it feel like a triumph.
Iconic Moment: Strauss’s knock—one of the best in World Cup history.

10. South Africa vs India – 2010 ODI (Cape Town)

• Date: January 18, 2011
• Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
• Match Result: Tie

India posted 266. South Africa needed 7 off the last over but collapsed dramatically. With 1 needed off 1 ball, Morne Morkel was run out, ending the match in a stunning tie.

Why It Felt Like a Win (for India):
India pulled the match back from nowhere with brilliant death bowling and fielding.
Iconic Moment: Munaf Patel’s calm under pressure.

Tied matches are a rare breed in cricket, but not all ties are equal. Some are filled with emotional highs, miraculous comebacks, and iconic moments that feel like wins. These matches that ended in a tie remind us why cricket is the ultimate game of nerves, heart, and drama.

FAQ – Matches That Ended in a Tie