Throughout the seven editions of the T20 World Cup, there have been several nail-biting matches and moments engraved in the fans’ minds. From six sixes in an over to many more upsets in the competition, the mega event has lived up to all its hype over the seasons.
This edition also promises to have such games and moments long remembered in the sport’s history. We look at and relive some of these moments which occurred in this tournament:
#1 Zimbabwe beat Australia, 2007 T20 World Cup
In the inaugural edition in 2007, the Australians were the team to beat as their squad compromised players like Gilchrist, Hayden, Symonds, Hussey etc. Their campaign in that world cup took a massive detour when a team like Zimbabwe defeated this team by playing out of their skins.
People would have thought that the Aussies should have cruised along this match, but that is what didn’t take place. Zimbabwe played a fearless brand of cricket, displaying exceptional fielding and tight bowling, which restricted the Aussies to a score of 138-9.
The chase was anchored by Brendon Taylor, who was unbeaten on 60 of 45 balls to take the team home. Ponting after the game said, “We’ve been outplayed.” He called the batting effort “diabolical” and added, “It’s a mental thing for us – we’ve got to start respecting the game a bit more.”
#2 6 sixes in an over, 2007 T20 World Cup
Every person remembers the triumphant campaign of India for the six sixes which Yuvraj Singh had hit in the 2007 world cup against England. Flintoff had provoked Yuvraj before Broad started to bowl his over.
Instead of replying to him at that moment, he let his bat do the talking. Broad had bowled six deliveries, which were deposited into the stands by Yuvraj after hitting these sixes. In that particular over, he had entered some beast mode where he could clear the boundary on all occasions.
Dhoni and Yuvraj both enjoyed this moment with a burst of laughter. These sixes helped India reach a target of 218-4. India had eventually gone on to win this game against the three lions. English fans would never like to be reminded of this moment.
#3 The Netherlands beating hosts England at Lords
One of the biggest upsets in the 2009 edition of this tournament was when the Netherlands beat the three lions in the opening match. England scored 162-5 courtesy of Luke Wright’s 71 of 46 balls.
The Dutch required seven off the last over, which required two runs of the last ball. The batters, Ryan ten Doeschate and Edgar Schiferli ran for their lives when Stuart Broad missed a run-out opportunity resulting in an overthrow that set off scenes of celebration never seen before.
Tom de Grooth top-scored for the Dutch by scoring 49 off 30 balls and helping them pace their chase of 163. At all times, they were always ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis as steady rain kept interrupting the match.
#4 Carlos Braithwaite hitting four consecutive sixes
In the 2016 T20 world Cup final, West Indies required 19 off the last six balls to lift the trophy for a record 2nd time. England had scored 155-9, powered by Joe Roots’ half-century. The only thing standing between the teams lifting the trophy was 19 runs.
The batter on strike was Carlos Braithwaite, and the bowler was Ben Stokes. Braithwaite came through for the team and single-handedly took the team across the line by hitting four consecutive sixes off the bowling of Stokes at the iconic Eden Gardens.
This led to former West Indian screaming the words in excitement, “Carlos Braithwaite, remember the name!”
#5 The end of the drought for Pakistan in T20 World Cup against India
The only ICC tournament in which they got a hold of India was the Champions Trophy, and they would constantly be mocked for losing to them in the World Cup of both 50 and 20 over format.
This drought ended in the last world cup when they triumphed over India by ten wickets. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s unbeaten opening stand of 152 helped the Pakistanis achieve this historic win. This defeat in the opening clash between the two teams virtually sealed India’s exit from the tournament.
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