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Top 5 Shocking Upsets in T20 World Cup History: USA vs Pakistan
USA achieved one of cricket’s monumental upsets by defeating Pakistan in their T20 World Cup 2024 clash in Dallas.
The match, decided by a thrilling super over after scores were tied in the regulation 20 overs, reverberated across the cricketing world. Many experts now speculate that cricket could gain significant traction in the traditionally baseball-dominated United States.
Here are the top five upsets, ranked by their sheer astonishment, in the 17-year history of the T20 World Cup:
- USA stuns Pakistan: 2024 Co-hosts USA, ranked 12 places below the 2009 champions, had never faced Pakistan before their encounter in Dallas. Riding high from a victory over Canada in their tournament opener, USA capitalized on Pakistan’s recent form slump following a series loss to England. Despite their limited cricketing infrastructure and inexperienced squad, USA displayed composure and professionalism to orchestrate a stunning upset, sparking celebrations and excitement in the USA cricketing community.
- Netherlands upsets England: 2009 In the inaugural T20 World Cup match at Lord’s, hosts England set a formidable target of 163 runs. However, the Netherlands chased it down with a composed batting performance, led by Tom de Grooth and Peter Borren, shocking the cricketing world with a historic win.
- Nepal surprises Afghanistan: 2014 Making their T20 World Cup debut, Nepal clinched a memorable victory against Afghanistan, who were touted as rising stars in world cricket. Nepal’s determined performance, led by captain Paras Khadka, saw them edge past Afghanistan’s star-studded lineup.
- Namibia defeats Sri Lanka: 2022 Namibia, a stalwart in associate cricket circles, stunned former T20 World Cup and 50-over World Cup champions Sri Lanka with a dominant display. After posting a competitive total of 163, Namibia’s bowlers dismantled Sri Lanka’s batting lineup to secure a historic triumph.
- Afghanistan overpowers West Indies: 2016 Despite the West Indies’ status as favorites and boasting T20 superstars like Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell, Afghanistan showcased their spin-bowling prowess to restrict the Caribbean side to 123 runs. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi starred with the ball, guiding their team to a remarkable victory against the eventual tournament champions.
These unforgettable upsets highlight the unpredictable and thrilling nature of T20 cricket, where underdogs often defy the odds to create lasting memories on the world stage.