Top 5 T20I batting performances of 2021

2021 saw Australia finally end their T20 World Cup jinx and lift their maiden men’s T20 World Cup title. In terms of overall stats, Pakistan had the most impressive numbers. They won 20 out of the 29 T20I matches they featured in, giving them a win percentage of 76.92. However, they faltered on the big stage, going down to Australia in the T20 World Cup semi-finals.

In contrast, Australia lost 12 of the 22 T20I matches they played in 2021. However, they won the matches that mattered the most and were crowned the new champions of the T20 format. The stats are, of course, a bit misleading, as Australia were without their key players for the twin tours of West Indies and Bangladesh, losing both series' by 1-4 margins.

Among the other top teams, England won 11 of 17 T20I games, but went down to New Zealand in the T20 World Cup semis. India, meanwhile, won 10 of 16 but crashed out in the Super 12 round of the T20 World Cup. New Zealand, the T20 World Cup runners-up, emerged victorious in 13 of 23 T20I games, while South Africa won 15 of 23 and Sri Lanka eight out of 20.

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Memorable T20I batting efforts of 2021

Batters played a key role in their teams' success this year. With 2021 drawing to a close, we rewind to the top five memorable batting performances of the year.

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#5 Mohammad Rizwan (104* off 64 balls)

Mohammad Rizwan batting against South Africa. Pic: Getty Images

Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan hardly put a foot wrong in 2021 when it came to T20Is. He shattered records, becoming the first batter to score 1000 T20I runs in a calendar year and 2000 runs in T20s. Rizwan was also among the top run-getters in the T20 World Cup.

The 29-year-old scored a blazing 104* off 64 balls in a T20I against South Africa in Lahore. The knock featured six fours and seven sixes as Pakistan batted first and posted 169 for 6 on the the board. Rizwan jumped to a 35-ball fifty with three sixes in an over from Junior Dala. He was dropped twice as he reached the 90s and eventually crossed three-figures by hoicking Andile Phehlukwayo for a maximum over deep midwicket.

Reeza Hendricks (54) and Janneman Malan (44) kept the Proteas in the hunt during the chase of 170. However, Usman Qadir and Haris Rauf claimed two wickets each as Pakistan sneaked home by three runs.

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#4 Babar Azam (122 off 59)

Pakistan captain Babar Azam. Pic: Getty Images

Pakistan captain Babar Azam was in tremendous form in T20Is in 2021, finishing as the second-leading run-getter of the year in the format and the leading run-scorer in the T20 World Cup. He also smashed the second-highest individual score of the year. Azam hammered 122 in 59 balls against South Africa in Centurion in April as Pakistan chased down a target of 204 in emphatic fashion - with nine wickets in hand and 12 balls to spare.

Responding to South Africa’s 203 for 5, Azam led from the front, featuring in an 197-run opening stand with Mohammad Rizwan (73*) in 17.4 overs. Azam went completely berserk during the course of his innings, whacking 15 fours and four sixes.

The Pakistan captain needed only 27 balls to reach his fifty and progressed to three-figures off 49 balls, clobbering Tabraiz Shamsi for a six and a four. Azam was eventually dismissed off a bouncer by Lizaad Williams, but Pakistan eased to victory.

#3 Liam Livingstone (103 off 43)

England all-rounder Liam Livingstone. Pic: Getty Images

Although Liam Livingstone’s blazing T20I hundred came in a losing cause, but it was an extraordinary effort nonetheless. Chasing 233 in Nottingham against Pakistan in July, built around the half-centuries of Azam and Rizwan, England seemed down and out at 48 for 3. Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali were all back in the hut. However, Livingstone gave Pakistan a scare with his audacious knock.

The England batter struck six fours and nine sixes in his 43-ball 103, which translated to a strike rate of 239.53. Livingstone smacked Haris Rauf for two sixes and a four in the last over of the powerplay to get his innings underway. He never looked back after that. Consecutive sixes followed in the next over from Shadab Khan.

Livingstone raced to fifty in 17 balls, the fastest by an England batter in the T20Is. While wickets kept falling at the other end, Livingstone continued to find the boundaries. He reached his hundred in dominant fashion, walloping Shadab over long-on for a six.

Livingstone’s 42-ball century is the fastest by an Englishman in the T20Is. He was dismissed on the very next ball and with him, went England’s faint hopes of a win.

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#2 Jos Buttler (101* off 67)

Jos Buttler celebrates his century against Sri Lanka. Pic: Getty Images

England’s dashing wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler played arguably his finest T20I knock till date in the T20 World Cup clash against Sri Lanka in Sharjah. Sent into bat after losing the toss, England crumbled to 3 for 35 inside the powerplay. However, Buttler single-handedly brought England back into the contest with a blazing 101* off 67 balls.

The 31-year-old struck six fours and as many sixes in the innings on a challenging surface. With England having lost early wickets, Buttler was subdued in the first half. He reached his fifty off 45 balls, his slowest T20I half-century.

But Buttler was back to his aggressive best in the second half of his innings. He smacked Lahiru Kumara for two sixes in an over and followed it up with two sixes and a four off consecutive deliveries against Dasun Shanaka. He reached his hundred off the last ball of the innings with another maximum off Dushmantha Chameera.

Thanks to Buttler’s brilliance, England reached a competitive 163 for 4 and won the T20 World Cup clash by 26 runs.

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#1 Mitchell Marsh (77* off 50)

Mitchell Marsh celebrates with Glenn Maxwell after Australia win the T20 World Cup final. Pic: Getty Images

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh might not be remembered as one of the greatest to have played the game. However, he played one of the most significant knocks in the history of Australian cricket. Marsh’s blazing 77 not out off 50 balls led Australia to a thumping win over New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final.

Batting first, Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson lifted New Zealand to a competitive 172 for 4, courtesy of a sublime knock of 85 off 48 balls. In response, Australia lost Aaron Finch for 5. While David Warner scored a brisk 53 off 38, New Zealand had hope after Trent Boult sent him back with the score reading 107 for 2 in the 13th over.

Marsh, however, kept on attacking the Kiwi bowlers and lifted Australia to one of their most famous wins. In the fourth over of the chase, he whacked Adam Milne for a six and two fours off consecutive deliveries. He brought up his fifty off 31 balls with a maximum off Ish Sodhi.

Marsh was at the other end when Glenn Maxwell hit the winning runs and was fittingly named Player of the Match for his excellent knock in the summit clash.