Redefining moments from T20 cricket world cup
Today we look at few moments from the previous world cups which defined the new age cricket game and showed some defining moments in this belter of a competition.
# Yuvraj Singh - 2007
At a time when the world of cricket has just opened up to adapting and transforming cricket in to the need of a fast paced format, the inaugural T20 world cup lived up to its hype.
Match 21 - Ind vs Eng at Durban, 2007
India were cruising normally at 159/3 after the end of over 17. The next over from Andrew Flintoff Yuvraj hit him for 2 consecutive boundaries which flared the Englishman up.
Before the start of next over Flintoff reportedly said to Yuvraj " I am going to cut your throat off" which resulted in a verbal spat between the two and had to be intervened by the umpires.
The next over from Staurt Broad was nothing sort of a thunderstorm for the English team as Yuvraj hit all the 6 balls to different parts of the ground for sixes and accumulated 36 runs from the over, hitting a record 12 ball half century and putting India to a total of 218.
India went on to win the world cup and it was Yuvraj Singh as the Player of the series and the image that stays with cricket fans even after 15 years.
#Zimbabwe upset mighty Australia
Match 4 of the inaugural T20 world cup at Cape Town.
Zimbabwe had been grappling with internal geopolitical scene which had a severe effect on their cricketing units and hence came as minnows into this world cup. Also they have had little to no exposure of playing the T20 format and were placed opposite sides the most dominant teams of the time led by Ricky Ponting - Australia.
The side which Australia comprised of superstars like Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Mathew Hayden, Andrew Symonds and "Mr. Cricket" Michael Hussey were bundled out for 138/9 in their allotted 20 overs.
Everyone did believe that with their express superior bowling line up with the likes of Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson along with Brad Hodge will limit up the inexperienced Zimbabwean batting line up until this man came to the crease. The Zimbabwean side reached the target with one ball to spare at 19.5 overs.
This victory also showed the angle of this new revolutionary game format in which a side does not have to necessarily be the top strategic side like in Tests, ODIs to win . The world gracefully accepted the change and the media had their share of coverage of the great underdog story.
#Mr. Cricket lives up to Australianism
2010 T20 World cup , Semi final at Gros Islet
T20 world champions Pakistan with their complete formidable bowling attack were defending 192 runs against an Australian side that were still finding their firm feet in this format of the game for a shot at defending the title.
At the end of 19 overs Australia were poised to a extreme uphill task of needing 18 runs to win with the field spread out and that times number one bowler Saeed Ajmal to bowl. Australians are not known to be specialists of spin coupled with that it was a semi final and Michael Hussey was the last recognized batsman at the crease. Facing Ajmal was Mitchell Johnson - a number 9 batsman.
Start of the over and Johnson steals a single and what happened next was just magical - Hussey goes 6,6,4 and 6 to end the game with one bowl to spare.
John Arlott , a reputed BBC journalist had written in 1948 - "Australianism," wrote Arlott, "means single-minded determination to win - to win within the laws but, if necessary, to the last limit within them. It means where the 'impossible' is within the realm of what the human body can do, there are Australians who believe that they can do it - and who have succeeded often enough to make us wonder if anything is impossible to them. "
#Re-emergence of the West Indies ft Marlon Samuels
2012 T20 World cup final at R Premdasa Stadium.
The last time West Indian had won a world title in cricket led back to 1979. West Indies were now touted as the dark horse running up to the 2012 edition of the world cup.
Sri Lana were touted as the firm favorites playing at their home ground and having a stable team under long time captain Mahela Jayewardene and experienced players like Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakara and Lasith Malinga.
The Srilankan team reduced West Indies to 2-14 in 5 overs. The West Indian team's score at the end of 11 overs was 38/2.
In came Marlon Samuels and started a recovery with Dwayne Bravo and later tore apart the Sri Lankan bowlers apart with his power hitting scoring 78 runs in 56 balls hitting 6 sixes in the process. Samuels also hit the longest six of the tournament at 108 m.
Samuels also had a special liking to the famed Lasith Malinga whose figures stood at 4-0-54-0 at the end of West Indies innings.
Samuels played a supporting role to Sunil Narine and bowled out Sri Lanka to a paltry total of 101 and claimed the T20 world cup thus announcing the arrival of West Indies on the global cricketing stage and its players. Marlon Samuels was adjudged the Man of the Match award in the final.
#The sprinter MSD
25th Match of 2016 T20 World Cup, Bengaluru
There was a surreal hype circling around the India Bangladesh fixture.
Bangladesh were coming of age in terms of their cricket and also the off field antics. Lots of claims were made by fans claiming this time Bangladesh will triumph over India and India were no match against of Bangladesh. Previous incidents and on field tussles were displayed and set the stage for an engaging encounter. The edited photo was released on social media which sparked huge outrage
The obvious instinct is to run in these situations when the keeper is standing yards away from wickets to a fast bowler. Not when MS Dhoni is the wicketkeeper
"Have they run the bye? Dhoni did not throw. He ran up to break the stumps. How fast is the cutter man? Mustafizur is out! India win! Kohli exults wildly. Pandya is out of breath. It was a short ball outside off, wide outside off, Shuvagata can't reach it. and Bangladesh have fallen agonizingly short"
#Remember the name - Carlos Braithwaite
2016 T20 world cup final, Eden Gardens
The West Indian team entered the tournament in 2016 coming in from sub par records in the Test and ODI format coupled with problems within their players and the cricket board.. However the onset of franchise cricket had established some noted playing line up for them. They were number 2 ranked T20 side coming in.
England on the other hand were dominating the cricket scene and were in their newly found aggressive strokeplay mindset after their early exit from 2015 ODI world cup. The final was set in one of the biggest cricket ground - the historic Eden Gardens.
Batting first England made 155 and made constant breakthrough at the start of their defense of the total. A partnership blossomed between Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Brave (much like the 2012 final), however it all came down to 24 required in the last over of play.
On strike was new comer Carlos Braithwaite a relatively unknown figure at that time - however what happened next was the stuff legends are made of. Ben Stokes started the penultimate over with 24 to defend. Braithwaite goes 6,6,6,6 in the first 4 balls and ends the match.
Hands in air jubilant team mates running , the statement to the world was "Remember the name - Carlos Braithwaite" . West Indies won their second T20 world cup.
# The end of the streak ft Shaheen Afridi and Rizwan/Babar
Group Match 16, 2020 T20 World Cup at Dubai
India and Pakistan have a long unprecedented history in the world of cricket that has largely stemmed from the geo political background through times. This was Virat Kohli's last world cup as captain - MS Dhoni was t=assigned the mentor for this World Cup. Indian team was touted as the favorites mostly coming from playing the IPL few months back in UAE.
Add to that India never lost any match to Pakistan in the World Cups till this day. Pakistan side was fiery and class but not present in the media headlines. Multiple ads and viewpoints were shared with regards to the Indian side coming out as winners in this match as has been the case in the past.
The 21 yeas old tall lanky pace bowler Shaheen Afridi starts the first over of the match and stuns the world. The pace the angle the accuracy slumped India down to 2-6 at the end of the third over. India could not stand up from the early damage and could manage 151 in their allotted 20 overs.
India still hoped to give Pakistan tough time given their bowling attack of Jasprit Bumrah and Md Shami along with the mystery spinner Varun Chakravarti. The opening pair of MD RIzwan and captain Babar Azam had different plans though. In one of the most calm and composed chases under pressure
Pakistan stunned the world by winning the match without losing a single wicket. The streak ended and Pakistan showed their might to the world.
That was the list readers, write down in the comments below if you found the list intresting, suggest some topics you would want me to cover.
Thank You ,
Cheers !
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