World Cup, 1987-88, Chennai
Finishes don't get much more nail-biting. India, desperate to get off to a good start as hosts and defending champions, put the Aussies in on a typically gentle turner. They didn't bank on the batting heroics of Geoff Marsh, but after India got off to a flying start, Marsh's century – and an outstanding gesture of sportsmanship from Kapil Dev that gave Australia two extra runs - seemed an irrelevance ... until Craig McDermott came back. He ripped through the middle order, setting up a tense last over in which the last man Maninder Singh had to scrape six runs any which way he could. Steve Waugh with ice in his veins, had other ideas.

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World Cup, 1991-92, Brisbane
A three-over rain interruption during India's reply meant they had to chase a revised target of 236 runs from 47 overs - which, thanks to the farcical rain-rules used for the tournament, was only one run less than the Australian total. Nevertheless, the Indian lower order, encouraged by Mohammad Azharuddin's fine 93 and Sanjay Manjrekar's cameo 47 off 42 balls, gave it their all and ended up needing 13 runs from the final over. It was Tom Moody v Kiran More and More struck first blood with two fours from the first two balls. But Moody got his revenge the next delivery, eventually leaving Javagal Srinath to hit the four runs needed off the last ball ...

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World Cup, 1995-96, Mumbai
Even though he would still cut the mustard in this World Cup, Australia don't need Mark Waugh anymore - much to the relief of India. He averaged just under 40 against them, and their World Cup clash in 1995-96 was his finest hour. After a rollicking 100-run opening stand with Mark Taylor, Waugh went on to 126 before being run out: a lower-order collapse meant he accounted for almost half Australia's total. After a bad start, India made good ground with Sachin Tendulkar leading the way gloriously. But as Waugh found out, when you outfox Tendulkar with a legside wide, you know it's your day.

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Wills International Cup, 1998-99, Dhaka
This quarter-final clash ended up a fairly comfortable victory for India, thanks to a breathtaking performance from you know who. This was the definitive allround Tendulkar masterclass. He bludgeoned a majestic 141 from 128 balls, including 13 fours and three sixes. And despite a typically dashing innings from Mark Waugh, Australia never looked like reaching their target of 308. But just to make sure they didn't, Sachin picked up four important wickets, including Steve Waugh and Michael Bevan. Top man.

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ICC KnockOut Trophy, 2000-01, Nairobi
It's not often that old meanie Glenn McGrath has a bad day at the office, but in this encounter the Indians sent him - and the Australian team - home in a real strop. Sachin Tendulkar started things off when he smashed McGrath for three sixes in consecutive overs and 18-year-old Yuvraj Singh, in his first innings for India, gave a hint of what was to come with a classy 84 from 80 balls. McGrath finished with 0 for 61 from nine overs, while the other young Indian hero of the hour, Zaheer Khan, grabbed two for 40, including the crucial wicket of Steve Waugh.

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Freddie Auld is editorial assistant of Wisden.com.

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