Whenever a sporting extravaganza takes place, people will remember that particular tournament because of some memorable moments that were close to their heart. The World T20 too had some memorable moments in its history right from Gayle’s ton in the very first match way back in 2007 to the West Indians’ celebration in the 2012 World T20 finals. Here, we bring you the top five memorable moments from the World T20.
5. Yuvraj Singh Six Sixes, 2007
The year 2007 saw South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs scoring six sixes off Netherlands’ Dan Van Bunge in a Group A game in the 2007 cricket World Cup. Few months later, the world witnessed yet another instance of 36 runs being scored in a single over. This time, it was in Durban and the crowd at the Kingsmead was witnessing the greatest masterpiece from a most under-rated batsman till that night. After choosing to bat against England in the super-eight of the 2007 World T20, India were cruising along with a run-rate of over 9 per over at the end of 16th over. Then it was the turn of India’s dashing southpaw Yuvraj Singh to take charge. After scoring 14 runs off his first six balls, Yuvraj chose Pacer Stuart Broad to deliver the knockout punch. Yuvraj, spurred by comments from Andrew Flintoff before the penultimate over, launched the first ball of the 19th over bowled by Broad to the cow corner, the second ball was disappeared over backward square leg, the third and fourth rocketed over extra cover and point respectively with the fifth flew over midwicket, and the sixth six landed in the stands at long-on. Yuvraj’s 12-ball fifty is a record in all forms of international cricket.
4. Chris Gayle’s century in the inaugural match, 2007
Well begun is half done. This is what the inaugural edition of World T20 saw a way back in 2007. On the opening night, West Indies faced South Africa and straight away West Indian opener began with a boundary off the very first ball of the tournament. He accounted for more as Chris Gayle set the World T20 on fire by scoring a swashbuckling ton against South Africa at the Wanderers, Johannesburg in the inaugural match of 2007 World T20. With that ton against Proteas, Gayle also became the first man to score a hundred in International T20’s. It was a devastating innings from the Gayle Storm as he went for a leather hunt against the South African bowlers from the word go that made even the crowd to go for cover. He scored a record ten sixes in his 57 ball 117 that propelled the Windies to a challenging 205. Gayle was particularly severe on veteran Shaun Pollock as he made the former South African skipper look like a net bowler as the big man from Jamaica plundered a massive 44 runs off 14 balls from that particular bowler.
3. West Indies celebration, 2012
It is so hard for a country which dominated the game in the early years and lost its way in the transition period and to make a comeback. West Indies went through that tough period. The last time they played a World Cup final was way back in 1979 and they even went on to win the tournament. After 33 long years, West Indies made their way to the finals of the 2012 World T20 that took place in Sri Lanka. They were the most loved team by the people in the tournament courtesy their way of celebration. Their opener Chris Gayle not only led the team to the finals but also was handed the responsibility of being the leader of the pack when it comes to celebration. Gayle single-handedly made the Korean Song “Gangnam Style” sung by Psy a blockbuster hit by demonstration the step from that song for any celebrations. The calypso men from Caribbean saved their best for the finals. After winning the finals against the home side Sri Lanka, the entire team aligned themselves and started celebrating with the famous dance move. Their wicket keeper Denesh Ramdin started cartwheeling and the players were celebrating like anything to the Gangnam Style song which was played at the stadium. And when the team posed for a photograph with the trophy, Gayle came out and started taking some push-ups in front of the team which was cheered by his teammates from behind. Simply saying, Windies won the tournament and made the entire World happy with their celebration.
2. Mohammad Aamir’s over, 2010
When Australia faced Pakistan in a Group A game in St. Lucia, there was something bizarre took place. After winning the toss, Australia were cruising at 191 for 5 in the first 19 overs with some gritty knocks from Shane Watson, David Hussey and David Warner. It was when Pakistan’s young pacer Mohammad Aamir came into bowl with a figures of 3-0-23-0. As Aamir completed the last over, it went into the history books. For the first time in the history of cricket, as many as five wickets fell in a single over. All of a sudden, Aussies were collapsed from 191 for 5 to 191 all out in a matter of 6 balls. Out of the five wickets, Aamir accounted for 3 wickets and 2 batsmen ran themselves out searching for a bye. This is what happened in the 20th over bowled by Aamir.
19.1: Aamir to Brad Haddin, out. Haddin c Sami b Aamir 1(2)
19.2: Aamir to Mitchell Johnson, Out. Johnson b Aamir 0(1)
19.3: Aamir to Steve Smith, Out. Mike Hussey runout (Kamran) 17(19)
19.4: Aamir to Dirk Nannes, Out. Smith runout (Kamran) 0(1)
19.5: Aamir to Shaun Tait, 0 runs
19.6: Aamir to Shaun Tait, Out. Tait b Aamir 0(1)
1. The Only Bowl-Out, 2007
In case a Twenty20 game ends in a tie, Super Over will come into play in order to determine the winner. Before Super over came into existence, a method called Bowl-Out was implemented. The only instance bowl-out took place in a World T20 match was a group game between India and Pakistan in the 2007 World T20, the match in which both the teams ended their 20 overs with a score of 141. Bowl-Out took place with India asked to start the proceedings. Both the teams were given five chances to break the stumps with a proper bowling run-up. This is what happened in the historic tie-breaker at Durban:
India have nominated Sehwag, Uthappa, Sreesanth, Pathan and Harbhajan and it will be Gul, Tanvir, Arafat, Afridi and Asif for Pakistan.
Round 1: Virender Sehwag hits the stumps and Yasir Arafat misses the off stump.
India lead 1-0 after the first round.
Round 2: Harbhajan Singh breaks the stumps and Umar Gul misses.
India lead 2-0 after the second round.
Round 3: Robin Uthappa knocks the stumps and Afridi fires it down the leg side.
India win the Bowl-Out 3-0 and wins the match against Pakistan.
