5 instances where underdogs took over in style

"A winning mindset can transform an underdog into a champion, conqueror and achiever. You’re a mindset away from winning your battles" - Assegid Habtewold

In the challenging world of sports, these words seem to reflect the reality.

Have you ever happened to ponder what's so special about the story of an underdog? Is it the story of pulling oneself up from the very bottom through determination irrespective of the odds faced and hostility endured? Is it the journey that encapsulates a resonance of relatable challenges between men or women on the ground and the one watching the game at home? A bit of both, perhaps?

In the cricketing world, there have been numerous instances when underdogs held their own and induced a success story when no one believed they could. They entered the ground with something to prove, faced the hostile crowds, gave everything they had and at the end, they fist-pumped the air in delight, roared with confidence and...smiled.

Let's take a look at 5 instances where an underdog team rose to the occasion and shocked the world.

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#1 Men's cricket: Ireland vs England, World Cup 2011

Kevin O'Brien celebrated his century against England

The underdogs Ireland walked out to the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore to lock horns with the strong England side. And they left a lot of people awe-struck by the outcome at the end of Ireland's innings.

The Irish bowlers failed to deliver as the England team weaved a giant total of 328 runs batting first, courtesy of three magnificent half-centuries hammered by Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell.

At the start of their innings, Ireland struggled against the English bowlers - they were 111/5 in 24.2 overs. Then came a storm...the Kevin O'Brien storm.

Kevin smoked the English bowlers north, south and center with some thunderous strikes all over the ground. He reached his century in 50 deliveries, a record for the fastest hundred in a World Cup. He finished with 113 runs in 63 balls and stymied England's hopes of victory.

At No. 7 and 8, Alex Cusack and John Mooney struck crucial knocks of 47 and 33 runs respectively. In the end, Ireland won the game with five balls to spare.

It was truly a result that no one had seen coming.

#2 Women's cricket: England vs Pakistan, 2013

Pakistan women's team celebrating their win over England

This was a major challenge for Pakistan's national women' team.

Before the match, they hadn't won on a single occasion against England's women team - in any format of the game. But after a fantastic display of bowling, Pakistan won by 1 run in what was a nail-biting T20 contest at Loughborough.

Batting first, Pakistan managed to set a score of 116/8 in their allotted 20 overs and looked headed for a clean defeat. However, their bowlers turned the tables by sending six players back to the dugout at 52 runs in 11.5 overs.

At No. 8, England's Aaron Brindle tried her best to snatch victory with a gutsy counter-attack of 39 runs in 27 deliveries. But she got run out on the last ball of the match which resulted in a 1-run victory for Pakistan.

#3 Men's cricket: Zimbabwe vs Australia, World T20 2007

When the underdogs delivered

This is considered to be one of the best underdog victories in the history of cricket. In their very first match of the World T20 tournament in 2007 at Cape Town, Zimbabwe defeated Australia.

Australia entered the tournament as favorites given the fact that they won the ODI World Cup a few months earlier. But got a wake-up call from Zimbabwe.

Batting first, Australia struggled against the Zimbabwean bowlers and were 48-4 in 9.2 overs. Elton Chigumbara and Gary Brent sent the top-order packing with some deadly swing. But Andrew Symonds and Mike Hussey scored vital knocks of 33 and 35 runs respectively to set a score of 138/9 in 20 overs.

The dangerous trio of Lee-Bracken-Johnson troubled Zimbabwe but not effectively enough. The wicket-keeper Brendon Taylor registered a terrific knock of 60* in 45 balls and anchored his side to the win.

Down the order, Hamilton Masakadza played a sensible knock of 27 runs after Stuart Clark and Johnson destroyed the middle order. Zimbabwe won the match by 5 wickets with only one ball remaining.

#4 Women's Cricket: Bangladesh vs India, Asia Cup T20, 2018

Bangladesh women's team celebrating their maiden T20 Asia Cup title victory

In what was a truly poetic underdog story, Bangladesh claimed their maiden Women's Asia Cup title in 2018 by defeating the defending champions India - a team they had never defeated before this match.

Batting first, the Indian team struggled against the Bangladeshi bowling attack right from the beginning. It was a bowling clinic by Bangladesh at Kuala Lumpur as they restricted India to a low score of 112/8 in their allotted 20 overs.

Harmanpreet Kaur scored a gutsy 56 in the middle order but didn't get much support from her fellow players.

The Indian bowlers brought a tough fight with the ball, especially the off-spinner Poonam Yadav who bowled a splendid spell of 4-0-9-4. But her team couldn't avoid the defeat as Bangladesh won the match with three wickets remaining.

#5 Men's cricket: Australia vs Bangladesh, 2005 NatWest series

When Mohammad Ashraful rose to the occasion at the Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

This was undoubtedly one of the most memorable victories ever for Bangladesh, and one of the biggest upsets the cricketing world has seen.

A true underdog story was witnessed by the world at Cardiff during the tri-series between Australia, England and Bangladesh in 2005. This win was special for Bangladesh because, at that time, they were considered as a feeble team. This win marked the beginning of the change in the Bangladesh cricket.

Batting first, Australia were 9/2 in 5.2 overs, but this team was no ordinary team. On a challenging track, Damien Martyn and Michael Clarke scored 77 and 54 respectively in the middle order. Bangladesh were given a target of 250 runs to win.

When it was their turn to bat, Bangladesh were 72/3 in 20.5 overs and Australia had managed to put a tight grip on their middle order. That is when a talented 21-year old youngster took charge, with a bat in his hand and determination in his mind. It was a man named Mohammad Ashraful.

Against a dangerous bowling attack consisting of Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, Michael Kasprowicz and Brad Hogg, Ashraful gave Australia a hard time at Cardiff. He handled the bowling beautifully and he struck a sensible and fascinating century.

Ashraful weaved a 130-run partnership with Bangladeshi skipper Habibul Bashar who scored a fine knock of 47 runs. Down the order, Aftab Ahmad scored 21 quick runs and finished off the match with a six.

Bangladesh won by 5 wickets with 4 balls remaining to fashion a truly memorable day for cricket.