T20I cricket has had some very exciting games that have excited fans. With close matches decided in the last over and dramatic super-overs, these games have become legendary.
Here are five of the most unforgettable T20I finishes that kept viewers on the edge of their seats with thrilling action.
1. India vs Afghanistan-T20 series 2024
In an exciting third Twenty20 International match between India and Afghanistan, India successfully chased a target of 212 runs in just 20 overs. The match was so close that it went into a Super Over, where both teams had a chance to win. Eventually, the game ended in a tie.
Rinku Singh and Rohit Sharma played crucial roles for India. They rescued the team from a difficult situation when India was struggling at 22 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. Together, they managed to score 212 runs for 4 wickets, which set a new record for India’s highest partnership in T20I history.
Even after this impressive effort, Rohit Sharma’s job wasn’t over. He had to participate in the Super Over to decide the winner. Despite getting injured during the first Super Over, Rohit Sharma returned for the second one and guided India to a thrilling victory.
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2. India v Pakistan, 2007-T20 World Cup final
India and Pakistan played against each other in the final match after tying and having a bowl-out in their earlier game. It was a very exciting match. India scored 157 runs. Rohit Sharma, a 20-year-old player, got the team off to a quick start, and Gautam Gambhir scored 75 runs.
Pakistan stayed competitive in the game because of Misbah-ul-Haq, even though India’s fast bowlers kept taking wickets. In the final over, Joginder Sharma was hit for a six on his second ball. This left Pakistan needing six runs from four balls with only one wicket remaining. India won the first T20 World Cup when Misbah attempted a scoop shot but was caught at short fine leg.
3. England v Netherlands-2009
In the first match of the T20 World Cup 2009, Netherlands surprised everyone by defeating England. England began strongly but only scored 162 runs. Despite a shaky start in their own batting, Netherlands caught up with England’s score thanks to Tom de Grooth and Peter Borren’s fast partnership. In the last over, Stuart Broad needed to defend six runs, but Netherlands successfully won the match.
4. West Indies v England-2016
In the final over at Eden Gardens, Brathwaite hit three big shots over the boundary off Ben Stokes, helping West Indies win their second World T20 trophy. The match was thrilling right from the start. England struggled early, losing three wickets with only 23 runs on the board. However, Jos Buttler (36 runs from 22 balls) and Joe Root (54 runs from 36 balls) helped their team reach a total of 155 runs. Root also took two important wickets early on, including Chris Gayle’s. Despite losing wickets, Marlon Samuels played an outstanding innings, scoring 85 runs from 66 balls without getting out. Needing 19 runs in the final over, Brathwaite’s performance became one of the most memorable moments of the decade.
5. India v Australia-2016
Australia started strong in an important match, with openers Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja scoring 54 runs in just over 4 overs. On a pitch that was good for spin bowling and had uneven bounce, they set a tough target of 161 for India. Virat Kohli then played one of his best T20I games, scoring 82 not out from 51 balls. Despite the hot weather in Mohali, he ran seven twos, which were key to keeping India in the game. With 43 runs needed, hitting boundaries became crucial. After MS Dhoni outplayed Shane Watson, Kohli hit James Faulkner for two fours, a six, and a two, turning the match in India’s favor.
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