Top 25 One-Day Internationals in the History of Lord's

Lord's established itself as a pivotal venue when one-day internationals became part of the cricketing landscape in the 1970s, hosting the first three World Cup finals at four year intervals between 1975 and 1983.

In total, Lord's has hosted 57 one-day internationals and has exhibited some thrilling run chases, some outstanding individual performances with bat and ball, and incredibly two tied matches in the 42 years since its first.

The format has also undergone a great evolution since the uncompetitive second ODI that opened the 1975 World Cup. In that fixture, India deemed England's total of 334 unreachable and did not even try, ending their 60 over innings on 132/3 with opener Sunil Gavaskar carrying his bat for 36 from 174 balls.

Players have become more adventurous and inventive, a process accentuated by the advent of Twenty20, and here we celebrate the best 25 ODIs at the home of cricket.

Rankings have been determined by the closeness of the contest and the margin of victory, as well as the unpredictability of the result where momentum has shifted back and forth. Furthermore, the stakes are taken into account, with World Cup finals in particular taking on greater significance, and memorable individual performances are also observed.

Read on for our count down of the top 25 ODIs in the history of Lord's.

25. England vs. West Indies, 1995

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Result: England won by 73 runs

This was not a particularly close game as England posted 273 and some excellent bowling from Angus Fraser and Dominic Cork, with three wickets apiece, prevented the West Indies from getting anywhere near the total.

It sneaks into this list as a game that will be memorable to those who attended due to the rare sight of Mike Atherton posting a century, his first in a one-day international and something he would only repeat once more in his 55 games for England in coloured clothing.

More remarkable still was Atherton landing the ball over the ropes—the only six he struck in his entire ODI career for England.

24. Australia vs. Zimbabwe, 1999 World Cup

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Result: Australia won by 44 runs

Zimbabwe were the surprise package of the 1999 tournament, advancing to the Super Sixes stage from Group A at the expense of hosts England and holders Sri Lanka. Though they failed to win a game at this stage, they played their part in an entertaining fixture at Lord's against the eventual champions.

Mark Waugh's century at the top of the order and Steve Waugh's 62 at a shade over a run per ball left the Zimbabweans with the daunting task of chasing 303.

Ultimately, they fell short as three middle order wickets fell to Paul Reiffel in quick succession, but their 259/6 kept the crowd entertained and Neil Johnson played a wonderful innings, batting throughout the 50 overs to end the game with 132 not out.

Johnson's knock came from 144 balls containing 14 fours and two sixes, ensuring a game that was to many a foregone conclusion had a pleasing element of intrigue.

23. England vs. Australia, 1981

Result: England won by six wickets with 20 balls remaining

England got one over on the old enemy with a well-paced run chase in this 1981 fixture.

Australia set England a modest target of 210 from their 55 overs, with only Allan Border progressing beyond 28 with an unbeaten 73.

Geoff Boycott anchored the response well with a leisurely 75 not out from 135 balls, while opening partner Graham Gooch was more aggressive in making 53 from 89 balls with six fours and one maximum.

David Gower was his usual elegant self, ushering England closer to their target with a boundary-laden 47 from 50 balls and Ian Botham wasted no time in finishing things off with a few lusty blows to ensure the final few overs were not required.

22. Australia vs. Pakistan, 1999 World Cup Final

Result: Australia won by eight wickets with 179 balls remaining

Sadly for such a showpiece occasion, the 1999 World Cup final had little to offer as a contest, with Australia reducing Pakistan to a disappointing 132 all out inside 40 overs before cruising to victory in 20 overs and one ball.

What makes it memorable is the exhibition provided by some of the greatest players ever to grace the game as part of arguably the greatest side ever to share a cricket field.

Glenn McGrath was exemplary with the new ball with figures of 1/6 including three maidens from his first six overs and would end with 2/13 from nine.

Shane Warne then demonstrated his breathtaking skill with 4/33 from his nine overs to help blow Pakistan away.

Adam Gilchrist, perhaps the most destructive opening batsman of his era in ODIs, made a mockery of Pakistan's total by blasting 54 from 36 balls as Australia rattled along at 7.5 per over to gobble up more than half of their target in ten overs.

It was not a great game, but the likes of McGrath, Warne and Gilchrist demonstrated their greatness with a memorable performance.

21. England vs. Australia, 1985

Result: England won by eight wickets with 36 balls remaining

Not as close as the Lord's fixture four years earlier between the two sides, the 1985 ODI between England and Australia served up a high-scoring affair with an exemplary run chase executed by Graham Gooch and David Gower.

Australia set a challenging target of 254 from their 55 overs, driven by Graeme Wood's unbeaten 114 from 165 balls at the top of the order and boosted by a partnership of 96 with Allan Border.

England delighted the home crowd by making light work of the chase, with Gooch matching his opposite number with a hundred not out, making 117 from one ball fewer, while Gower made a fluent 102 from 118 deliveries.

20. England vs. Australia, 2012

Result: England won by 15 runs

A tense affair where England just held Australia at bay, the 2012 fixture between England and Australia is best remembered for Eoin Morgan's late blitz that set up victory.

The Irishman came to the crease with England's innings looking typically pedestrian, and at 189/3 after 40 overs England looked set for a total below par.

But Morgan had played himself in with 31 from 33 balls and proceeded to smash 58 from his next 30 balls, helping England rattle along at better than ten runs per over in the final five of the innings.

Australia started positively and David Warner and Michael Clarke helped themselves to fifties with matching strike rates of 91 but wickets fell too regularly, and a superb 46th over where Stuart Broad took two wickets left them 231/9 and swung an absorbing game decisively in England's favour.

19. England vs. India, 2002

Result: India won by six wickets with seven balls remaining

India's golden generation was taking shape in 2002, and the side overcame a mid-innings hiccup to chase down England's 271 with six wickets in hand and seven balls remaining.

Virender Sehwag was at the explosive end of an opening partnership worth 109, blasting 71 from 65 balls before his wicket sparked a mini-collapse and 109/0 became 141/4. Their innings ground to a halt over the course of ten slow overs.

Enter Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh to drive India mercilessly towards their target, easing the England bowlers around the ground to ensure the home side's sparky performance with the bat would be deemed inadequate.

A score of 272 was reached with an over and a ball to spare, with Dravid 73 not out from 86 balls and Yuvraj making 64 from the 65 he faced.

18. England vs. Sri Lanka, 1999 World Cup

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Result: England won by eight wickets with 19 balls remaining

England's excellent victory over reigning champions Sri Lanka in the 1999 World Cup opener at Lord's proved a false dawn as they failed to get out of their group and watched Zimbabwe progress instead.

It was nonetheless a fine performance from the hosts in an entertaining game, with Alan Mullally impressing with the ball in taking 4/37 and Alec Stewart's 88 providing the foundations for a successful run chase.

Graeme Hick played the most eye-catching innings of the day, accelerating through the gears to take England to victory with a brisk 73 from 88 balls, ending the game in style by launching the last ball of the 47th over into the stands.

17. England vs. Sri Lanka, 1998, Emirates Triangular Tournament Final

Result: Sri Lanka won by five wickets with 17 balls remaining

Sri Lanka arrived in England for the triangular tournament with England and South Africa as world champions following their stunning World Cup triumph in 1996, and they confirmed their pedigree with this impressive run chase against England in the final.

Nick Knight's 94 had helped England to 256/8 to give themselves a chance, though a fine start with an opening partnership of 132 was undermined by Muttiah Muralitharan who dismissed five of the top six for just 34 runs from his ten overs.

In the end it was a fine innings from Marvan Atapattu that proved the difference. The Sri Lankan No. 3 stroked a classy 132 not out with 14 fours to shepherd his side home with just under three overs remaining.

16. Australia vs. West Indies, 1983 World Cup

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Result: West Indies won by seven wickets with 13 balls remaining

This 1983 World Cup group fixture featured the finalists of the inaugural World Cup eight years earlier.

There was never much doubt that the result would be the same once the West Indian chase got going, but it was thoroughly entertaining watching them confirm this.

In pursuit of 274 to win, Gordon Greenidge made a fluent 90. After the first wicket fell, he was joined at the crease by Viv Richards, author of a majestic hundred on the same ground in the final four years earlier.

Richards did not repeat the feat but only because he ensured the West Indies completed the run chase before he had the chance. His sparkling innings took him to 95 not out with nine fours and three sixes as the game was up with just over two overs to spare.

15. England vs. Australia, 1997

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Result: England won by six wickets with six balls remaining

A victory that will live long in the memory thanks to the memorable debut innings of 19-year-old Ben Hollioake, the 1997 ODI between England and Australia was a high-scoring affair that was settled by an excellently paced run-chase executed by the English middle order.

Australia failed to last the 90 overs thanks largely to an inspired Darren Gough, who took 5/44, but Mark Waugh's 95 and a number of smaller contributions helped them post a competitive 269.

England lost Mike Atherton early, but that brought Ben Hollioake to the crease and, with Alec Stewart scoring comfortably at the other end, the youngster set about flaying the legendary Australian attack to all parts.

Hollioake's 63 came from 48 balls and 50 runs came from boundaries. When he fell for 63, Alec Stewart and John Crawley rode the crest of his wave to make their own half centuries and Graham Thorpe ensured the chase came to a successful end in the 49th over, ending with 45 not out.

England secured a memorable victory that sticks in the mind even more vividly as a testament to the talent of Hollioake that was so sadly unfulfilled following his fatal road accident five years later.

14. England vs. Pakistan, 2003, NatWest Challenge

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Result: England won by four wickets with nine balls remaining

This ODI ebbed and flowed nicely, and in the end England were, as was so often the case, indebted to classy opener Marcus Trescothick for a fine century that saw them home.

Pakistan did not look like posting anything competitive for a long time as they stuttered to 61/4.

However, some useful stands down the order bolstered by a measured 63 from Younis Khan and a more belligerent 64 from Abdul Razzaq helped them to 229/7 and gave their bowlers something to defend.

England wickets fell at regular intervals with only one man passing 30. Fortunately for England, that man was Trescothick, and his perfectly paced 108 not out from 145 balls settled the contest with nine balls to spare.

13. England vs. Australia, 1989

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Result: Australia won by six wickets with three balls remaining

The third and most thrilling encounter between England and Australia at Lord's in the 1980s was a high-scoring affair which Australia edged courtesy of a run-chase executed with precision.

England posted a strong total with 278/7 from their 55 overs, thanks largely to the opening pair of David Gower and Graham Gooch.

Captain Gower made 61 but it was Gooch who pushed on to register a second consecutive hundred against Australia at Lord's following his effort four years earlier, eventually being bowled for 136.

Australia steadily moved towards their target with opener Geoff Marsh matching his opposite number with a century, ably supported by Allan Border who made 53 and Steve Waugh who stroked a brisk 35.

When Australia overhauled England's total with three balls to spare, Marsh remained unbeaten on 111, defying the supposed bad luck associated with the score known in the lexicon of English cricket.

12. England vs. West Indies, 1980

Result: England won by three wickets with three balls remaining

In 1980 England achieved their only victory over the West Indies in five ODIs between the sides that year, inspired by the talismanic Ian Botham.

Several West Indian batsman got starts without pushing on beyond 50 before their innings petered out thanks to a pair of run outs and Bob Willis clean bowling the final pair in the space of a few balls.

The visitors posted 235/9, and England got off to a strong start with opening pair Peter Willey and Geoff Boycott both making fifties in a stand of 135.

The next 25 runs came at the cost of four wickets, but Ian Botham kept his cool and took England to victory with three balls to spare, ending 42 not out from 49 balls.

11. Australia vs. Pakistan, 2004

Result: Australia won by 10 runs

Michael Kasprowicz helped Australia engineer a remarkable turnaround to win a game that appeared to be drifting towards a comfortable Pakistan victory.

A total of 104 not out from Andrew Symonds off 103 deliveries had helped the Aussies post 269 in the first innings, but Pakistan's middle order seemed equal to the task and Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana put on 162 to help their side recover from a precarious 66/4.

When Inzamam departed at the end of the 45th over, 40 were required from the final five overs with five wickets in hand, and with Youhana in commanding form Pakistan were surely favourites.

That all changed in a remarkable 47th over in which the required eight runs per over were scored but at too high a price. Kasprowicz took the key wicket of Youhana with his first ball and caught and bowled Abdul Razzaq three balls later.

The run out of Naved-ul-Hasan from the final ball of the over left Pakistan needing 23 from the final three overs but with only two wickets in tact.

Moin Khan fell to Jason Gillespie, and it was fitting that Kasprowicz, so often an unsung hero for Australia, sealed victory by 10 runs by clean bowling Mohammad Sami in the penultimate over.

10. England vs. West Indies, 2004

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Result: West Indies won by seven wickets with five balls remaining

There were runs aplenty when the West Indies visited Lord's in 2004, as England set a competitive total only to see Chris Gayle mastermind a perfectly timed chase to seal victory in the final over.

Andrew Strauss made exactly 100 in the middle-order from 116 balls, but it was crowd favourite Andrew Flintoff who lit up the England innings with 123 from 104 balls, lashing eight fours and launching seven sixes into the stands.

Ramnaresh Sarwan kept the West Indies ticking along briskly with 89 from 78 balls, but it was Chris Gayle, no stranger to exhibition ball-striking himself, who marshalled the run chase expertly.

Gayle's mature innings of 132 not out from 165 balls contained 12 fours and a single six and ultimately proved a match-winning one, as West Indies reached the target in the final over with five balls to spare.

9. England vs. Sri Lanka, 2014

Result: Sri Lanka won by seven runs

Earlier this summer England and Sri Lanka served up a classic at the home of cricket with a high-scoring, tight game decorated by a pair of centuries as good as anything you are likely to see in the format.

When Sri Lanka batted, it was the evergreen Kumar Sangakkara who delivered a masterclass, effortlessly compiling 112 from 104 balls without a six hit in anger. Tillakaratne Dilshan offered able support with 71 as the pair laid the platform for the tourists' 300/9.

Lasith Malinga removed both England openers cheaply, and when Eoin Morgan went in the 29th over England required almost nine per over with just five wickets remaining.

Ravi Bopara nudged his way to 51 from 47 balls but the game was turned on its head when Jos Buttler came in and let loose, smashing a sensational 121 from 74 balls with 11 fours and four sixes.

Ultimately his inexperience told when, with 12 needed from the final over, Malinga's yorkers tied him up in knots and Buttler was run out desperately attempting a suicidal single.

England ended seven runs adrift, but rarely have so many England fans left with a smile following defeat having witnessed Buttler's astonishing knock that made an improbable victory seem possible right up to the last.

8. England vs. Pakistan, 2001

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Result: Pakistan won by two runs

A vintage knock from Marcus Trescothick nearly inspired England to a scarcely deserved victory as the rest of the batting folded in pursuit of 243 runs for victory.

Owais Shah, making 62 in a fourth wicket stand worth 170, was the only support act who could count himself unlucky to be on the wrong side of the smallest winning margin in terms of runs in the history of ODIs at Lord's.

Pakistan's total was built around Yousuf Youhana's patient 81, and bolstered by a number of smaller contributions in the 20s, 30s and 40s.

Trescothick took the attack majestically to India and, when Shah departed with 47 required from the final ten overs, England's hopes of victory rested on his shoulders.

He reached his ton from 104 balls and took England to within six runs of victory when he was caught in the deep with four balls to go, but an exciting conclusion was guaranteed.

Every result was possible with one wicket left and two runs required to tie or three to win. Saqlain Mushtaq held his nerve to float one through Andy Caddick's attempted drive, leaving Rashid Latif with a simple stumping to clinch the narrowest of victories.

7. India vs. West Indies, 1983 World Cup Final

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Result: India won by 43 runs

The scorecard does not tell half the story in this low-scoring but compelling World Cup Final.

Though the winning margin appears comprehensive, this belies the tension as underdogs India displayed great skill to defend a below par total in what The Wisden Almanack observed as "an absorbing game of increasing drama" as per ESPN Cricinfo.

The West Indies were firm favourites having won both World Cups to date at the famous Lord's ground, and at the halfway stage there was little evidence that an upset was on the cards.

The fearsome pace attack of Joel Garner, Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding had lived up to their reputations to bowl India out for 183.

With 50 on the board for one wicket and Desmond Haynes and Viv Richards at the crease a procession seemed inevitable until Richards mistimed a hook shot and was athletically caught by Kapil Dev. The tide turned as Madan Lal struck twice more to take three wickets for six runs.

A tense finale was brewing as Jeff Dujon and Marshall put on 43 for the seventh wicket, but when Mohinder Amarnath removed both in quick succession to reduce the West Indies to 124/8, the writing was on the wall for a famous victory.

6. England vs. Pakistan, 1992

Result: Pakistan won by three runs

England and Pakistan have made a habit of close encounters of the ODI kind at Lord's, and this tense game was a fiercely contested re-run of the World Cup final from six months earlier.

Again it was Pakistan who emerged victorious, though the margin was even smaller this time round.

Pakistan rather laboured to a total of 204/5, with only Javed Miandad hitting 60 from 50 balls and Wasim Akram with 23 from 26 balls at the end of the innings showing any real urgency.

The target of 205 appeared well within England's grasp as they reached 191 with four wickets in hand thanks largely to Ian Botham's 40 at the top of the order and Allan Lamb's 55 at the heart of the innings.

Things were rarely so simple with Waqar Younis and Wasim bounding in, and some inspired end of innings bowling held England at bay.

Waqar clean bowled Richard Blakey for 25 and Wasim accounted for Chris Lewis and Phil DeFreitas for one run between them in the space of three balls. Richard Illingworth never stood a chance as Waqar sent his bails flying, and the pace duo stole a magnificent victory from the jaws of defeat.

5. England vs. India, 2011

Result: Match Tied

The end of this thrilling encounter was borderline farcical, as rain forced the sides back and forth from the famous pavilion and the Duckworth-Lewis method favoured a different side with each rain shower, but it merely added to the drama.

A disastrous tour for winless India did not appear to be getting any better, as they slumped to 110/4 just after the halfway point in the innings at Lord's.

Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni had other ideas, steadying the ship before spanking the bowling to all parts, putting on 169 in the second half of the innings, with Raina out in the final over for 84 from 75 balls and Dhoni unbeaten on 78 from 71 deliveries.

At 173/5 in the 36th over and with the required run-rate approaching eight per over, India's first international win of the tour appeared on the horizon. But Ravi Bopara was just hotting up, and he played a magnificent innings to take England to the brink.

Rain in the 44th over left England two runs behind on Duckworth-Lewis, but another over squeezed in between showers saw England nudge ahead by the same margin.

When play resumed, England edged their noses in front before Graeme Swann and Ravi Bopara were dismissed from what would be the final two deliveries in the 49th over. Bopara, out for 96, was England's nearly-man and the calculator determined that the game was tied.

4. Australia vs. West Indies, 1975 World Cup Final

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Result: West Indies won by 17 runs

1975 saw the first of four World Cup finals take place at Lord's, as the West Indies narrowly got the better of Australia in a highly enjoyable game that fully justified the establishment of the new global event.

In 60 overs, West Indies amassed 291/8 in an innings decorated by a half century from Rohan Kanhai and positively illuminated by a blistering century from captain Clive Lloyd, who made 102 from just 85 balls, with 12 fours and two maximums.

Australia played their part with a gallant attempt to overhaul the total but ultimately ran out of wickets when 17 adrift in the penultimate over. Alan Turner and Ian Chappell gave the innings impetus at the top of the order with a second wicket stand of 56 as Turner made 40 and Chappell top-scored with 62.

The match hinged on a trio of run-outs executed by Viv Richards, who removed the pair as well as Ian's brother Greg, leaving the lower order with too much work to do.

The Wisden Almanack was thrilled by the spectacle as per ESPN Cricinfo, noting "It might not be termed first-class cricket, but the game has never produced better entertainment in one day."

3. England vs. Australia, 2005 NatWest Series Final

Result: Match Tied

The second tied game at Lord's was a nail-biter that concluded the 2005 NatWest Series, and in the phoney war preceding the Ashes series, England's recovery to force the tie had greater resonance than the rain-affected tie with India in 2011.

This was a low-scoring encounter where the initiative appeared to change hands constantly.

At 93/5, England had Australia on the ropes before a partnership between Andrew Symonds and Mike Hussey resuscitated the Australian innings, with the latter's 62 not out helping them to reach 196 all out.

England's top order struggles eclipsed their Australian counterparts, as Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee tore through the top five, none of whom reached double-figures as England tottered at 33/5.

For Hussey and Symonds, read Paul Collingwood and Geraint Jones. Both hit half centuries in a partnership of 116 before being dismissed in consecutive overs, followed two balls later by Simon Jones.

Momentum seemed to be moving inexorably towards Australia with England 34 runs adrift with two tail-end wickets to spare, but Ashley Giles and Darren Gough inched them ever closer.

With 10 required from the final McGrath over, England reduced the equation to three from two before Darren Gough was run out from the penultimate ball.

England needed three and Australia a wicket from the last ball. A huge lbw shout was waved away, and a misfield by Brett Lee at third man enabled Giles to return for a second to leave the scores all-square. England's refusal to yield laid down a notable marker for the imminent Ashes series.

2. England vs. West Indies, 1979 World Cup Final

Result: West Indies won by 92 runs

The second World Cup final pitched hosts England against the all-conquering holders from the Caribbean and had all the ingredients to be a cracker.

The convincing margin suggests the game was lacking as a contest, but it did not look like it would be quite so comfortable until Joel Garner engineered a dramatic collapse.

Viv Richards had already thrilled the crowd with a masterful knock of 138 not out with 11 fours and three sixes, still the highest individual ODI score at Lord's.

England started well enough as Mike Brearley and Geoff Boycott put on 129 for the first wicket and England progressed to 183/2 before Garner intervened.

Gooch and Gower were both clean-bowled by Garner with the score on 183, and the other six batsman fell for only 11 further runs. Garner took 5/38 as four batsman had their stumps rearranged, three without a run to their name.

The winning margin was vast but the comprehensive dismantling of the England innings by Garner was a wonder to behold, and the collapse was in many ways more dramatic than a close finish may have been.

1. England vs. India, 2002 NatWest Series Final

Result: India won by two wickets with three balls remaining

The final of the 2002 NatWest series contested between England and India was a thriller that went down to the wire and swung back and forth throughout India's run chase to provide the most memorable ODI at Lord's to date.

Marcus Trescothick led from the front, biffing his way to 109 from 100 balls, while Nick Knight's early dismissal brought skipper Nasser Hussain to the crease under huge pressure to justify his place in the top three having yet to score a century in 71 ODIs.

Hussain responded in fine style, making 115 from 128 deliveries before gesturing to the press box with three fingers as well as pointing the the No. 3 on the back of his shirt.

Andrew Flintoff played a fine cameo, smashing 40 not out from 32 balls to help England reach 325, the highest total in a 50-over one-day international at Lord's.

India launched a stirring riposte with Virender Sehwag and Saurav Ganguly putting on 106 inside 15 overs before the latter's dismissal for 60 triggered a collapse. When Ashley Giles bowled Sachin Tendulkar to leave India 146/5 after 24 overs, 326 looked a long way off.

With eight per over required, Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif turned the tide again, putting on 121 from 106 balls. After Yuvraj departed, Harbhajan Singh put on 47 with Kaif and India looked home and dry with 14 needed from the final three overs with four wickets in hand.

Flintoff threw everything into doubt again with two wickets in three balls, and going into the final over all three results were feasible.

India held their nerve and scraped home with three balls and two wickets to spare, a jubilant Kaif playing the decisive innings to end on 87 not out from 75 balls.

All Statistics taken from ESPN Cricinfo