Imagine you need just 4 runs off 7 balls with 4 wickets intact and an established batsman on the non striker end. And you still lose the match!!
West Indies vs South Africa, 2005
This was the third ODI of the bilateral series between the two teams. South Africa whitewashed West Indies in both tests and ODI'S. This particular ODI was important for South Africa to win the series as they had won the first two matches of the five match series. West Indies didn't wanted to lose a series in their home.
So South Africa batted first and with the help of century from Boeta Dippenaar and 87 from Jack Kallis, scored 284/6 in 50 overs. West Indies counter attacked and Chris Gayle scored a brilliant century to take West Indies deep. At one point West Indies were playing at 258/5 at 45.3 overs needing 27 off 27 balls. This is when Gayle got out for 132 runs. But West Indies had Dwayne Bravo at the crease along with Brown and Bradshaw to follow who just a few months ago had stitched a partnership of 70 runs for the 9th wicket to win the champions trophy for West Indies. Brown and Bravo played cautiously and By 48.5 overs West Indies were on the verge of victory with the score 281/6. And here we saw a massive collapse.
48.6 Courtney Brown tried to hit a big shot and Andre Nel caught him on the bowling of Makahya Ntini. By the time the catch was taken the batsman cross - Big mistake because it meant that the tailenders were at the crease at the end of the over.
Last over to be bowled by Charles Langeveldlt (9–0–60–2)
First ball single by Bradshaw, WI 282/7
Second ball single by Bravo, again a big mistake, the established batsman should have kept the strike with himself, WI 283/7, only 2 runs need off 4 balls.
Third ball, Bradshaw swings, stumps rattled, WI 283/8, 2 needed off 3 balls.
Fourth ball, played by Darren Powell, again a swing and a miss, ball on stumps, bowled, WI 283/9, 2 needed off 2 balls
Fifth ball, played by Collymore, batsman tries to play, ball hits the pad, huge appeal and up goes the finger, Langeveldt took a Hattrick and a 5 wicket hall.
South Africa won the match by just 1 run. Langeveldt became the first South African player to take a hattrick in ODI'S
Some really careless and unthoughtful batting by West Indies and brilliant bowling in the death overs by South Africa cost WI the match which was set for them on the platter by Chris Gayle.