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It was a historic day for Afghanistan cricket as they qualified for their first-ever semi-final in any World Cup after beating Bangladesh in a must-win Super 8 clash at the Arnos Vale in St Vincent. From what Afghanistan had to face in their day-to-day life to giving their nation something to rejoice in is an extraordinary achievement for a side who has been bombarded with difficult situations in their country.
The victory against Australia turned out to be a sweet revenge after their heartbreak in the ODI World Cup. On the back of their victories against Australia and Bangladesh, Afghanistan became the last team from the Super 8 stage to book their place in the semi-finals.
For a country that was struggling to make a mark in world cricket not long ago and to win against so many top teams suggests the fact that Afghanistan has become a world-beating force now in white-ball formats. Despite their batting not rising to the occasion against Bangladesh, the bowling unit bowled out of their skin to defend an under-par score of 114.
The match went down to the wire and it took some brilliance from Afghanistan to eventually win a cliffhanger. Playacting from Gulbadin Naib was a feature of the day but it was certainly one of the most dramatic matches in World Cup history.
Having said that, let us have a look at the five most dramatic matches in the history of the Men’s T20 World Cup:
# 5. Australia vs Pakistan, 2010 T20 World Cup semi-final
Up until the last three overs of the game, Pakistan had dominated the game through and through and looked set to qualify for the final but it was a blistering knock from Mike Hussey that took the game away from Pakistan in the last three overs and took Australia to an unlikely victory.
On the back of superb half-centuries from Akmal brothers Kamran and Umar, Pakistan went on to post a more than competitive score of 191 and at one stage it looked like they would defend it comfortably.
However, with Australia being reduced to 144/7 in the 18th over, the match seemed dead and buried. Mike Hussey hadn't given up hope and started taking on Saeed Ajmal with utmost comfort. With 18 runs required from the final over, Hussey went berserk and smashed three sixes and a four to see Australia over the line with a delivery to spare.
# 4. South Africa vs Nepal, 2024 T20 World Cup
For people who don't follow cricket too often, this encounter would come as a surprise but the Asian minnows Nepal managed to almost upstage a resurgent South African side, who have been the only team in the ongoing T20 World Cup to have won all their matches.
The Proteas qualified for the Super 8 after four consecutive wins in the group stage but they were given a stern challenge by Nepal who were just playing their second T20 World Cup. In the final group game against Nepal, South Africa struggled big time and could just scrape their way to a below-par score of 115 in their allotted 20 overs.
Nepal looked very much in the ascendancy till the 14th over mark with Aasif Sheikh and Anil Sah stitching a vital partnership that kept defying the South African bowlers. Some lusty blows brought them back into the game but the Proteas had all the experience to come back strongly and eventually won the game by one run.
# 3. West Indies vs England, 2016 T20 World Cup final
This match could go down as one of the best games in the 20-over format's history. On the back of an incredible brutal assault from Carlos Braithwaite, West Indies managed to win their second T20 World Cup beating England in the final of the 2016 edition.
On the back of a brilliant half-century from Joe Root and a useful contribution from Jos Buttler, England managed to post more than a competitive score of 155 in their allotted 20 overs.
The English bowlers bowled brilliantly all through the first 19 overs but with 19 runs required in the final over, Ben Stokes conceded four consecutive sixes in the first four deliveries of the final over to help the Windies register a historic victory.
# 2. India vs Pakistan, 2022 T20 World Cup
The modern-day chase master, Virat Kohli had a masterclass in store for us during India's opening match of the 2022 T20 World Cup against arch-rivals Pakistan. In the company of Hardik Pandya, the former Indian captain stitched a valiant partnership before taking India over the line in the final over.
On the back of superb spells from Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya, India managed to restrict Pakistan to a below-par score of 159 and it looked like India were well on top at the halfway stage. However, the Pakistan bowlers started breathing fire from the outset and reduced India to 31/4 in the 7th over.
Kohli and Pandya built an extraordinary partnership but the match seemed destined to slip out of India’s hand as the equation became very tough with 28 required off 8 deliveries. That is when Kohli struck back-to-back sixes off Haris Rauf to reduce the equation in the final over.
A waist-height no ball drama in the final over, followed by the free hit going for three runs despite Kohli getting bowled, confirmed the fact that the day was meant for India. Ravichandran Ashwin scooped the final delivery over mid-off before bailing out to win a wide on the penultimate delivery.
# 1. Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, 2024 T20 World Cup
The Afghans, who had beaten Australia in their previous Super Eight game, needed a win against Bangladesh to book their place in their first-ever World Cup semi-final. Rashid Khan won the toss and opted to bat on a tricky Arnos Vale wicket where they had beaten Australia just a couple of days ago.
The two Afghan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran took their time early on but by the time they tried to take on the Bangladesh bowlers, the conditions had become quite difficult. They were eventually restricted to a below-par score of 115 but it wasn't going to be a straightforward ask for Bangladesh.
Fazalhaq Farooqi started the slide after a brisk start from Litton Das. Bangladesh kept losing wickets at regular intervals and despite the rain playing spoilsport at different junctures of the game, the Afghan bowlers managed to hold their nerves at important stages of the game. Naveen-ul-Haq took the final two wickets to take Afghanistan to their maiden semi-final birth after an eight-run win.
