With the evolution of this beautiful sport, several implementations have taken place. Be it the 60-over format being reduced to the 50-over format or the high-voltage T20 format being discovered in the early 2000s, cricket has undergone a paradigm shift.
Media sports news websites have played an integral role in the promotion of the T20 format as it involves a lot of skill and action. The T20 format is essentially a marriage of cricket and entertainment.
Cricket online Fantasy has also seen a massive upsurge and cricket fans and lovers can earn a fortune through these means. The ICC T20 World Cup is the premier T20 tournament at the international level and this year’s marquee tournament will be taking place in West Indies and USA.
As this is a rapid format, there is no room for complacency. And it is because of complacency that a few heavyweight teams have been swept under the carpet by minnows.
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In this article, we take a look at the greatest upsets in the history of the ICC T20 World Cup:
1. Netherlands vs South Africa in 2022
Considered as one of the greatest upsets in this format at the highest level, Netherlands had beaten South Africa by 13 runs on 6th November 2022 at the ICC T20 World Cup 2022. Netherlands had batted first and had posted a modest total of 158 runs.
In response, the Proteas could manage only 145 runs as the Dutch bowlers scythed through their batting department. While Bas de Leede and Fred Klaassen had taken 2 wickets each, Brandon Glover had notched up 3 wickets.
2. England vs Netherlands in 2009
Another fantastic performance from the Dutch came in the ICC T20 World Cup 2009 in England. They had taken down the mighty English team by 4 wickets. The Netherlands had to chase 163 runs and they had a last-ball finish.
Tom de Grooth was adjudged the player of the match for his top-notch knock of 49 runs in just 30 deliveries. Ryan ten Doeschate had played a match-winning cameo of 22* runs in 17 balls.
3. Australia vs Zimbabwe in 2007
Perhaps one of the sweetest victories ever, Zimbabwe had taken down the mighty Australian team in the ICC T20 World Cup 2007. The Australians had a great run and were unbeaten in 2 World Cups.
But Zimbabwe bowled exceptionally well in that game and reduced Australia to 138/9 at the end of the first innings. In response, Brandon Taylor played a magnificent knock of 60* runs in 45 balls to take the Zimbabweans home.
4. Namibia vs Sri Lanka in 2022
Sri Lanka had won the Asia Cup 2022 after beating the likes of Pakistan and India and were on route to another exceptional performance in the T20 World Cup. But Namibia played spoilsport and defeated Dasun Shanaka and co. by a humongous margin of 55 runs.
The bowlers punched above their weight and skittled the Lankans for a paltry score of 108 runs while they were chasing down the total of 164 runs. Jan Frylinck bagged the player of the match for his all-round prowess. He scored 44 runs in 28 deliveries and bagged 2 wickets.
5. Afghanistan vs West Indies in 2016
Afghanistan’s jaw-dropping performance in this game in the ICC T20 World Cup 2016 sort of announced their arrival at the international stage. They had put up a decent score of 123 runs on the board after the end of the 1st innings.
In response, West Indies, who were also the champions of that edition in India, failed to gun down that total. Amir Hamza bowled a dream spell of 1/9 in 4 overs and Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan bagged 2 wickets each as West Indies were humbled in front of the Afghans.
6. Ireland vs Bangladesh in 2009
Ireland produced a remarkable performance against Bangladesh in the ICC T20 World Cup 2009. Niall O’Brien was the cynosure of all eyes as he notched up a knock of 40 runs in 25 balls while chasing down a modest total of 138 runs.
With the white cherry, it was Trent Johnston who impressed one and all and bagged 3 wickets. Every bowler of Ireland had taken a wicket in that game in what was a landmark moment for Irish cricket.
7. Hong Kong vs Bangladesh in 2014
The hosts Bangladesh were looking like a formidable side in the ICC T20 World Cup 2014. But their loss against tournament debutants, Hong Kong, was a thorn in their flesh.
Nadeem Ahmed spun a web and bamboozled the Bangladeshi batters as he picked up 4 wickets. With the willow, Irfan Ahmed and Munir Dar performed exceedingly well as they scored 34 and 36 runs respectively.
8. Netherlands vs England in 2014
After toppling the inventors of cricket in 2009, the Netherlands once again proved their mettle in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, when they defeated England by a huge margin of 45 runs.
Their bowling department was breathing with fire in this game as they humbled England and brought them down on their haunches. Logan van Beek and Mudassar Bukhari took 3 wickets each and took center-stage in this game at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.