Down Memory Lane: Five memorable matches of the World T20

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West Indies are the most successful team in the history of World T20

T20 cricket ever since its advent in 2003, has transformed cricket in the 21st century just like Kerry Packer did with the World Series of Cricket back in the late 70s and early 80s of the last century.

Like every new product, T20 cricket too had its detractors who feared the purity of cricket was at stake and that the bowlers would be deemed no more than a bowling machine.

However, the format Magnum opus arrived when it staged its first ever world event named as the World T20 in 2007.

The tournament caught the imagination of the world with some thrilling cricket between bat and ball and has since then had gone on from strength to strength with its last edition being held at India in 2016.

On that note, here's a look at the most memorable matches played at the World T20 over the course of ten years.


#5 South Africa vs West Indies, Johannesburg, World T20 2007

Gayle lits up the WT20 2007
Gayle lits up the WT20 2007 with a fine hundred

The World T20 couldn't have hoped for a better start than the one it got when the hosts South Africa and the West Indies went head to head in the tournament opener on 12 September 2007.

Chris Gayle (117) gave a glimpse of what we were to witness from him in the following years, as he powered his way to a brutal hundred.

Gayle was specifically severe on the Proteas ace bowler Shaun Pollock taking him for plenty. The Windies amassed 6-205 in 20 years, which in those days was unheard of.

However, Herschelle Gibbs (90) had other plans as he with the able support from Justin Kemp (46) pulverised the Windies bowling barring Fidel Edwards into submission and stroll their way to an outlandish win by eight wickets.

Result: South Africa won by eight wickets

#4 Australia vs Pakistan, 2nd S/F ICC World T20, Barbados 2010

<p>Hussey plays the T20 innings of his lifetime</p><p>E
Hussey plays the T20 innings of his lifetime

The second semi-final at the 2010 WT20 between Australia and Pakistan turned out to be a riveting affair.

Pakistan batted first and on the back of substantial knocks by Kamran Akmal (56) and his brother Umar Akmal (50) posted a competitive 6-191 in 20 overs.

In reply, Australia lost Warner (0) early to Mohammad Amir and kept losing wickets at regular intervals, and at 7-144 in 17.1 overs when Cameron White (43) holed out at long off, Australia's hopes of a miracle hinged on one man - Mike Hussey.

Australia required 18 runs off the last over when Hussey, in an excruciating display of hitting proceeded to hit Ajmal for 22 that included a six over deep square-leg, a couple over long-on and rounded it off with a scintillating boundary towards backward-point knock the defending champions out of the World T20.

Result: Australia won by three wickets

#3 West Indies vs England, ICC WT20 Final, Eden Gardens, Kolkata 2016

Image result for wi v eng wt20 2016 sportskeeda images
Brathwaite pulled off a sensational heist in the final of the last edition

A humdinger of a game was played out between England and the West Indies in front of a packed Eden Gardens in the April of 2016. The occasion- World T20 Final.

England batted first and posted a competitive 9-155 in 20 overs thanks largely to a defiant 54 from Joe Root, who was having a great tournament.

In reply, Windies lost Gayle early and although Samuels played a fluent 85, England was ahead in the game till the 19th over.

In walked Carlos Brathwaite.

Brathwaite was not having a substantial World T20 leading into the finals but the flamboyant West Indian turned it around when it mattered the most.

19 runs were required off the last six balls, and Brathwaite was up against Ben Stokes in front of a packed Eden Gardens.

The Caribbean who had not really got going heaved the first ball off Stokes for a leg-side six. 13 off 5 now and suddenly England looked worried.

Stokes charges in misses his length and Brathwaite hikes it straight over the bowlers head. He followed it with a massive strike over long-off and then another one over mid-wicket to pull off a sensational heist for the men from the Caribbean.

A visibly excited Ian Bishop shouted from the commentary box, "Carlos Brathwaite!! Remember the name", it is well and truly remembered.

Result: West Indies won by five wickets.

#2 India vs Bangladesh, Group Match, ICC World T20, M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru 2016

Image result for india vs bang wt20 2016 sportskeeda images
Dhoni outruns the Fizz to seal
memorable
win

India and Bangladesh have developed an interesting rivalry in white ball cricket in the past few years and it all came to a head in a league match of 2016 edition of the World T20.

Batting first, India's innings never really gathered any momentum and they eventually finished with a below par 7-146 in 20 overs.

At no point during their chase was Bangladesh behind the desired run-rate thanks to handy cameos from Tamim Iqbal (35), Sabbir Rahman (26) and Shakib Al Hasan (22) and when Mushfiqur Rahim creamed Pandya for consecutive boundaries of the first two balls of 20th over, victory looked imminent.

However, this is where the real drama starts. Mushfiqur who had proceeded to celebrate prematurely after hitting the second boundary went for the glory shot and hoked out to Shikhar Dhawan at deep mid-wicket.

Two off two balls now and Dhoni made a magic move to remove Jadeja from covers to the deep.

Mahmudullah obliged by going for a slog off the full toss and Jadeja ran to his right to claim a diving catch.

The pressure got to Bangladesh as Mustafizur then got run-out off the final delivery engineered primarily due to the presence of mind and athleticism of MS Dhoni.

Bangladesh lost three wickets in as many balls to fell to an agonising one-run loss.

Result: India wins by one run

#1 India vs Pakistan, ICC World T20 Final, Johannesburg 2007

A sensational win over Pakistan
A sensational win over Pakistan

The 2007 World T20 bore witnessed to two Indo-Pak potboilers, one which ended in a bowl out (which India and won 3-0).

The other one though came on the most prominent stage of them all, the Final of 2007 marquee event.India on the back of a pristine 75 off 54 balls by Gautam Gambhir posted a competitive 5-157 in 20 overs.

Pakistan got off to a good start lost their way in the middle over and slipped to 6-77 in 11.4 overs.

Misbah Ul Haq, aided by handy cameos from Arafat (15) and Tanvir (12), then proceeded to counter-attack to eventually reduce the equation to 12 off the last over.

In an unprecedented move, Dhoni tossed the ball to Joginder Sharma for the 20th over.

Sharma started with a wide and then conceded a six over long-off to reduce the equation to six of the last four when Misbah went for a paddle sweep only to see the ball land in the hands of Sreesanth at fine-leg.

Result: India won by 5 runs

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Edited by Alan John