In a thrilling match held in Dallas, USA has achieved one of the most remarkable upsets in T20 World Cup history by defeating Pakistan in a super over after the scores were tied at the end of 20 overs. This victory has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world and sparked hopes that cricket might finally gain traction in the baseball-dominated USA.
1. USA Defeats Pakistan: 2024 Before this match, the USA had never faced Pakistan in any format. Ranked 12 places below Pakistan, the USA entered the game with momentum from their win over Canada in the tournament's opening match, while Pakistan was recovering from a series loss to England. Despite the stark differences in their cricketing backgrounds and form, few would have predicted that the USA, a team of recently-turned-professional cricketers, could topple a cricket giant like Pakistan.
The American squad includes players who previously competed in India, Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa, and New Zealand. Despite their limited cricket infrastructure, the USA team displayed remarkable calm and professionalism, securing a shocking win and kicking off the biggest cricket celebration in the USA.
2. Netherlands Shocks England: 2009 The 2009 T20 World Cup started with a bang at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, where host England faced the Netherlands. England posted a solid score of 163, considered strong in the early T20 days. Despite losing an early wicket, the Netherlands' middle-order, led by Tom de Grooth and Peter Borren, formed a crucial partnership, leading to a stunning victory against England under the gloomy skies of London.
3. Nepal Overcomes Afghanistan: 2014 In their T20 World Cup debut, Nepal had already claimed a win over Hong Kong. Facing Afghanistan, a team with rising stars like Mohammad Shahzad and Mohammad Nabi, Nepal was seen as the underdog. However, Nepal's captain Paras Khadka guided his team to set a target that Afghanistan fell short of by nine runs, marking a memorable victory for Nepal.
4. Namibia Upsets Sri Lanka: 2022 Namibia, though a familiar name in associate cricket, faced a formidable challenge against the 2014 T20 champions and 1996 World Cup winners, Sri Lanka. Posting a competitive total of 163, Namibia's bowlers then delivered an exceptional performance, dismissing Sri Lanka for 108 in just 19 overs, sparking joyous celebrations for Namibia.
5. Afghanistan Triumphs Over West Indies: 2016 The West Indies entered the 2016 tournament as one of the favorites, with stars like Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell. Despite restricting Afghanistan to 123, the West Indies struggled against Afghanistan’s spin attack led by Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi. Afghanistan secured a six-wicket win, and the West Indies' subsequent tournament victory highlighted the magnitude of Afghanistan's achievement.
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