On This Day — MS Dhoni smashes 15 Runs off Last Over to win the West Indies Tri-Nation Series Finals

With India needing 15 runs in the last over and just one wicket left, Dhoni kept his calm. He was joined by Ishant Sharma at the other end, and Dhoni hit a six, a four, and another six in the final over to seal a thrilling win. His calmness under pressure and ability to finish in style once again made the difference. India won the title, and this match became one of the most memorable Dhoni finishes in Indian cricket history.

India vs Sri Lanka: 11th July 2013

On July 11, 2013, the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, buzzed with anticipation for the West Indies Tri-Nation Series final between India and Sri Lanka. What unfolded was a nail-biting contest, with India scraping through to a 1-wicket victory, chasing 202 with just two balls left. MS Dhoni, India’s captain, played the hero, guiding his team through a tense finish with a display of nerves and skill that left fans roaring.

Sri Lanka batted first after India chose to bowl, hoping to post a strong total on a pitch that gave bowlers a slight edge. Their openers, Upul Tharanga and Mahela Jayawardene, started carefully against India’s tight bowling. Tharanga looked lively, cracking two boundaries, but fell for 11 off 29 balls in the seventh over, caught by Dhoni off Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s swinging delivery. The score read 20/1, and Sri Lanka needed to regroup. Jayawardene, elegant as ever, scored 22 off 28 balls, hitting two fours and a big six, but he too fell, caught by Ravichandran Ashwin off Kumar in the 14th over, leaving Sri Lanka at 49/2.

Kumar Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne stepped up, stitching together a vital 122-run stand for the third wicket. Sangakkara was the anchor, playing a polished 71 off 100 balls, with six fours and a six, his strokes blending caution and flair. Thirimanne chipped in with a steady 46 off 72 balls, finding four boundaries, as they pushed Sri Lanka past 100 by the 28th over. Sangakkara’s fifty, off 85 balls, was a masterclass in pacing an innings.

But the tide turned in the 38th over when Ishant Sharma got Thirimanne to edge one to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, breaking the partnership at 171/3. Sangakkara didn’t last much longer, falling for 71 in the 40th over, caught by Vinay Kumar off Ashwin’s spin, leaving Sri Lanka at 174/4. The middle order faltered under pressure. Kusal Perera, sent up the order, scored just 2 off 4 balls before Dhoni stumped him off Ashwin.

Dinesh Chandimal’s quick 5 off 7 ended when he was caught by Ashwin off Ravindra Jadeja, who was bowling with pinpoint accuracy. Angelo Mathews, the captain, tried to steady things but crawled to 10 off 24 balls before Ishant Sharma had him caught by Vinay Kumar in the 46th over, making it 193/7. The lower order collapsed against India’s spinners and Rangana Herath made 5 off 10 before Dhoni stumped him off Jadeja. Lasith Malinga fell for a duck, caught by Bhuvneshwar off Jadeja, and Suranga Lakmal scored 1 off 5, stumped again by Dhoni. Jadeja’s 4/23 in 7.5 overs was devastating, and though Shaminda Eranga stayed not out on 5 off 12, Sri Lanka were all out for 201 in 48.5 overs.

India’s bowlers kept things tight. Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled economically, taking 2/24, while Ishant Sharma grabbed 2/45 and Ashwin 2/42. Sri Lanka’s 23 extras, including 13 wides, helped their cause, but their failure to push on in the final overs, especially during the batting powerplay (overs 35.1-40, which yielded 36 runs but cost three wickets), kept their total below 250.

India’s chase of 202 got off to a shaky start. Openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan were cautious, but Dhawan fell for 16 off 35 balls, caught by Sangakkara off Eranga in the ninth over. Virat Kohli, usually a rock, managed just 2 off 5 before edging Eranga to Sangakkara, leaving India at 27/2 in the 11th over. Rohit found support in Dinesh Karthik, who scored a brisk 23 off 37 balls with three fours. Their 50-run stand for the third wicket took India past 50 in the 18th over. But Rangana Herath, Sri Lanka’s crafty spinner, broke through, getting Karthik caught by Jayawardene in the 23rd over, making it 77/3.

Rohit kept going, reaching a gritty fifty off 80 balls, and built a 62-run partnership with Suresh Raina, who played with intent, scoring 32 off 27 balls with a four and a six and India crossed 100 in the 26th over, looking in control. But Herath struck again, bowling Rohit for 58 off 89 balls (5 fours, 1 six) in the 32nd over. Raina fell soon after, caught by Sangakkara off Lakmal for 32 in the 35th over, leaving India at 145/5. Herath wasn’t done, trapping Jadeja (5 off 14) and Ashwin (0 off 1) lbw in the 37th over, reducing India to 152/7.

With 50 runs needed off 13 overs, Dhoni took charge, his calm presence steadying the ship and Bhuvneshwar Kumar laboured for 0 off 15 balls before Malinga trapped him lbw in the 42nd over. Vinay Kumar scored 5 off 16 before Mathews had him caught by substitute Sachithra Senanayake in the 47th over, leaving India at 182/9. With 20 runs needed off 22 balls, Dhoni, unbeaten on 45 off 52 (5 fours, 2 sixes), was joined by Ishant Sharma, who had 2 off 7.

The final over, bowled by Shaminda Eranga, was pure drama. India needed 15 runs with one wicket left. Dhoni, on 29 off 48 at the start, faced a full, wide first ball and missed, leaving the score at 187/9. The crowd was on edge as Eranga bowled a length ball next. Dhoni launched it for a huge six straight over the bowler’s head, crashing into the roof, bringing India to 193/9, needing 9 off 4. The third ball, another length delivery, was sliced by Dhoni over point for a four, cutting the target to 5 off 3.

With the game hanging in the balance, Eranga bowled another length ball, and Dhoni smashed a glorious six over extra cover to seal the victory. Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, and teammates rushed out, mobbing Dhoni in celebration. Sri Lanka’s bowlers fought hard. Herath’s 4/20 in 10 overs was nearly match-winning, while Eranga took 2/50, and Lakmal and Malinga got one each.

Their 15 extras, including 11 wides, didn’t help. India’s chase, rocked early and wobbling in the middle, was saved by Dhoni’s ice-cool 45 not out off 52 balls. That final over, with 15 runs needed, showcased his finishing prowess, turning a tense chase into a memorable triumph. This classic final, decided by the slimmest margin, highlighted the grit and brilliance of both sides, but it was Dhoni’s day.