In any sport, an inexperienced team defeating a strong, well-established team is considered an upset. Just like in football and hockey, cricket has also witnessed its share of major upsets. Currently, the ninth edition of the ICC T20 World Cup is underway in the USA and the West Indies, offering thrilling matches. Recently, the experienced Pakistani team was defeated by the USA, marking another major upset.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has highlighted the five biggest upsets in the history of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Let’s delve into these surprising victories that have stunned the cricketing world.
1. USA’s Historic Win Over Pakistan (2024)
On a Thursday night in the ongoing T20 World Cup, an unexpected event took place. The host team USA, playing their first World Cup, stunned the strong and experienced Pakistan team by defeating them in a super over, creating a massive upset.
In a Group A match held in Dallas, USA’s captain Monank Patel won the toss and opted to field first. Pakistan set a target of 159 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their 20 overs. In reply, the USA also scored 159 runs for the loss of 3 wickets, leading to a super over.
In the super over, USA scored 18 runs, setting a target of 19 for Pakistan. Thanks to brilliant bowling by Saurabh Netravalkar, Pakistan could only manage 13 runs, leading to a historic victory for the USA. This win is considered one of the biggest upsets in T20 World Cup history.
2. Ireland’s Triumph Over England (2022)
In the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup held in Australia, Ireland once again shocked England by defeating them via the DLS method, marking a significant upset in the tournament.
During a match in Melbourne, Ireland batted first and scored 157 runs. England, while chasing the target, was at 105 runs for 5 wickets in 14.3 overs when rain interrupted the match. According to the DLS method, England was 5 runs short, and the match was awarded to Ireland. This was not the first time Ireland had upset England; they had previously defeated them in the 2011 ICC World Cup as well.
3. Namibia’s Victory Over Sri Lanka (2022)
Another upset in the 2022 T20 World Cup occurred when associate nation Namibia outclassed the experienced Sri Lankan team. Namibia posted a total of 163 runs for 7 wickets. In response, Sri Lanka’s batting lineup collapsed, and they were all out for 108 runs, giving Namibia a memorable victory and another major upset in the T20 World Cup.
4. Afghanistan’s Win Against West Indies (2016)
In the 2016 T20 World Cup held in India, the inexperienced Afghanistan team surprised everyone by defeating the strong West Indies team. In a group stage match, Afghanistan scored 123 runs, and their exceptional bowling restricted West Indies to 117 runs, leading to a 6-run victory. Notably, Afghanistan’s team back then was not as strong and experienced as it is today.
5. Netherlands’ Shock Defeat of England (2009)
In the 2009 T20 World Cup, the seemingly weaker Netherlands team caused a major upset by defeating the host team, England, in the very first match of the tournament. England batted first and scored 162 runs. In a surprising turn of events, the Netherlands chased down the target on the last ball of the match, securing a shocking victory over England.
Conclusion
These upsets are a testament to the unpredictable nature of cricket, where any team, regardless of their experience or reputation, can turn the game around and achieve a remarkable victory. Such unexpected outcomes add excitement and thrill to the sport, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. The ongoing T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies continues to promise more thrilling encounters and potentially more surprising upsets in the future.