The colossal upsets that shock both the competing players and the spectators tend to be some of the finest moments in the T20 World Cup international competition.
Undoubtedly, a surprise result is not good for anybody involved, but unaffiliated spectators who are pulling for the underdog to triumph love it whenever it happens.
Over the years, there have also been many surprises at the T20 World Cup. In the prestigious competition, there have been a few instances when the dynamics of the game were completely altered. As these events do not occur frequently, an underdog winning a game leaves a lasting impression on the supporters.
The T20 World Cup’s five biggest upsets
5.Zimbabwe against Australia (2007) FIFA World Twenty20
The reputation the Aussies have established means they seldom enter any competition without being considered favourites. The Zimbabweans, an African nation, gave the Australians a humiliating setback in the opening match of their campaign at the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup in 2007, which witnessed the tournament’s first significant shock.
(Cricket fans outside of Australia) will likely remember it as a memorable match. With a low score of 138/9 after 20 overs, Australia seemed rusty. It was nevertheless anticipated that Australia would rally and claim victory.
However, Brendan Taylor had different ideas, and his side’s triumphant pursuit was sparked by his flashy 45-ball 60*. Additionally, the addition of speed spearheads like Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson to the bowling lineup had little impact as the team ultimately lost the first game, sealing their fate.4The 2007
4.ICC World Twenty20 match between West Indies and Bangladesh
The encounter between Bangladesh and the West Indies in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 attracted a lot of attention as well. The two teams were grouped in Group A with South Africa, which won the group.
The West Indies, on the other hand, appeared to be the team most likely to advance to the elimination round. The Windies were in a slump after losing to the Proteas, thus beating Bangladesh was imperative.
The West Indies, who batted first, recorded a respectable total of 164. However, Bangladesh’s Mohammad Ashraful and Aftab Ahmed, who combined for 123 runs, guided their team to victory in an incredible run-chase. The Windies’ unceremonious withdrawal, commanded by Ramnaresh Sarwan, came next.
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3. World T20 2009 matchup between the Netherlands and England
After the Netherlands shocked England with a surprise victory at Lord’s in the tournament opener, England had a terrible performance against them. England was given the opportunity to bat first, and outstanding performances from Ravi Bopara and Luke Wright enabled the team to reach a score of 162 in just 20 overs.
England had done half the work when they entered the game as favourites, but a tenacious Dutch team had some important tricks up their sleeves. The team inched ahead of England in the game thanks to valiant hits from Ryan ten Doeschate, Peter Borren, and Tom de Grooth.
Furthermore, the Dutch team added two runs off the final ball to assist them to reach the target. Not just in 2009, but also in the T20 World Cup 2014, the Dutch repeated their victory over England.
2.T20 World Cup 2016: Afghanistan vs. West Indies
The West Indies’ loss to Afghanistan was considered the biggest upset of the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup and was yet another devastating setback for them. Prior to their encounter against Afghanistan, the Darren Sammy-led team had already advanced to the knockout phase by winning all three of their matches.
However, they ended their World T20 campaign by defeating the West Indies by six runs in a low-scoring thriller. Afghanistan had a very different campaign as they had lost all three of their prior matches.
Afghanistan set a 124-run chaseable goal in 20 overs. With 40 runs needed from the final five overs, the Caribbean side was poised to win the match. But in an intriguing change of events, spin revealed the West Indies’ vulnerability as Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi both took two wickets, helping Afghanistan score their first in the tournament.
1.Namibia vs. Sri Lanka in the 2022 T20 World Cup
In the opening match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 against Namibia, Sri Lanka was the overwhelming favourite. Namibia, however, projected absolute domination as they successfully held onto their competitive total of 163 points.
Sri Lanka entered the match as the champions of the 2022 Asia Cup after defeating Pakistan in the championship match. Fans had anticipated Namibia to challenge the Lankan Lions and make them work for their victory. However, Sri Lanka lost wickets often during their pursuit, which worsened their situation in terms of net run rate.
After causing one of the biggest upsets in recent memory by defeating the Lankan Lions, Namibia now appears to have a strong chance to make the Super 12. It would be intriguing to watch how the Lankan Lions bounce back from the setback.
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