The 2024 T20 World Cup finished with India securing the trophy after an intently contested final in opposition to South Africa. Virat Kohli achieved the Player of the Final award for his highest scorer of the tournament, surpassing his blended runs from all previous innings.
Throughout the tournament, there were several remarkable innings. Rohit Sharma’s explosive 92 against Australia was pivotal in their elimination. Players like Nicholas Pooran, Aaron Jones, Sherfane Rutherford, and Andries Gous also delivered innings that captured attention.
However, amidst these standout performances, there were a few innings that went unnoticed. They either played second fiddle to better performances within the same match or were contributed by players from less high-profile teams.
Here are the top five overlooked innings of the 2024 T20 World Cup:
#1 Axar Patel vs South Africa
Virat Kohli obtained the Player of the Match award, and Jasprit Bumrah’s stint was crucial in converting the match momentum. However, Axar Patel performed an important position in India’s victory over South Africa in the final.
Entering the crease with India struggling at three early wickets down, Axar had the dual task of stabilizing the innings and setting a competitive total. While Kohli played cautiously at the other end, Axar took on the responsibility of being the aggressive partner.
Axar scored 47 runs, including four boundaries and a six, which proved vital in India’s recovery from the initial setbacks and helped them regain control of the match.
#2 Nicholas Kirton vs Ireland
A left-handed batter with flair from Trinidad, Nicholas Kirton—distinct from the more well-known Nicholas Pooran—played superb innings for Canada, leading them to victory over a favoured Ireland team in New York.
Despite the challenging pitch at Nassau County International Stadium, Kirton stood out. He was the only Canadian batter to achieve a strike rate above 130, scoring 49 runs off 35 balls and helping his team set a defendable total.
Canada’s bowlers then performed well, and despite a late surge from Mark Adair, Ireland fell 12 runs short.
#3 Michael Jones vs England
This match ended without a result due to rain, but during the 10 overs played, Michael Jones delivered an impressive performance, putting Scotland in a strong position to potentially upset the eventual semifinalists, England.
Jones hit four fours and two sixes, showcasing excellent shots against England’s top bowlers. When the rain-interrupted, Scotland was at 90/0 in 10 overs, poised to set a challenging target for Jos Buttler’s team. Had the game not been shortened by rain, Scotland’s chances of securing a win would have been even greater.
#4 Roston Chase vs South Africa
Roston Chase played a couple of important innings for the West Indies in the 2024 T20 World Cup, including one against South Africa. Although this performance didn’t receive much attention since it was in a losing effort, Chase was in excellent form.
On a difficult pitch in Antigua, only Kyle Mayers and Chase managed to score more than 15 runs for the West Indies. With the spinners getting assistance from the pitch, Chase had to dig in. He scored 52 runs off 42 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes.
Although South Africa captured the total within the last over, Chase’s effort, noted by his reliable reinvention as a cricketer, deserves a reputation.
#5 Monank Patel vs Pakistan
This feels like a distant memory. The United States of America accomplished many memorable feats after defeating Pakistan, making it easy to overlook how they initially captured attention.
In a challenging chase of 160 against one of the tournament’s best bowling attacks, USA captain Monank Patel needed to anchor his team. He excelled in this role, hitting seven fours and a six while consistently rotating the strike.
Andries Gous and Aaron Jones contributed crucially as well, helping the USA tie the score on the last ball and win the ensuing Super Over, securing their spot in the Super 8 stage. Although Monank didn’t play further in the tournament due to injury, his invaluable innings marked a historic moment for American cricket.
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