It’s only a week that has gone by in the T20 WC 2024 hosted jointly by the West Indies and the USA. But it has not been short of a thriller with upsets and anti-climax changing equations for teams involved in the quadrennial showpiece event. Minnows came of age to stun giants. Giants struggle against each other like club teams and so on. Nonetheless, it has been a dramatic first week of T20 WC 2024. Let’s read out some interesting developments.
USA Beat Pakistan – The Biggest Drama of T20 WC 2024
The biggest upset of T20 WC 2024 has to be the USA upstaging Pakistan in the latter’s first game of the tournament. Put into bat, Pakistan, courtesy of Babar Azam’s 44 and Shadab Khan’s 40, reached a competitive 159. A below-par performance from the Pakistani unit.
In reply, the USA got off to a solid 36-run opening stand before Naseem Shah provided the breakthrough to Pakistan. Monank Patel, the wicket-keeper batter continued to dominate the Pakistani bowlers by scoring 50 off 38 balls
At the end of 16 overs, it looked as if the USA would easily surpass the Pakistani challenge. But then, the Pakistani bowlers came back by picking wickets. It was down to 5 off the last ball for the USA to win. Nitish Kumar, the USA batter, hit down the ground for four, bringing the entire New York crowd into raptures. The match went into the Super Over.
The USA scored 18 runs in the Super Over. In reply, Pakistan could only muster 13 runs, losing the game by 5 runs and sending shockwaves across fans. A huge blow to Pakistan who were tipped as semi-final contenders of T20 WC 2024.
Afghanistan Gave New Zealand a Real Hammering
Group C featuring Afghanistan, New Zealand, West Indies, Uganda and Papua New Guinea, was considered the group of death before the start of the tournament. And it proved that way only as Afghanistan humbled New Zealand by a massive 84-run margin. The Rashid Khan-led Afghanistan team scored 159 on a tricky surface at Georgetown, Guyana, courtesy of a 56-ball 80 from Rahmanuallah Gurbaz.
At the halfway stage, most thought New Zealand would win, maybe with some difficulties.
But little did the Blackcaps know that the Afghan team would hunt them down so badly. The demolition started with the very first ball of New Zealand’s inning as Fazalhaq Farooqi disturbed Finn Allen’s furniture with an inswinging delivery. He followed it up by dismissing Devon Conway and Daryll Mitchell in quick succession, leaving New Zealand reeling at 28 for 3.
Then it was the time for Rashid Khan and Mohd Nabi to take wickets at regular intervals. Finally, Afghanistan wrapped up the Kiwi innings at 75, clinching a mammoth 84-run victory over the Blackcaps.
South Africa Nearly Made a Mess of a Modest 104-run Chase Against Netherlands in T20 WC 2024
The Group D encounter between South Africa and the Netherlands proved to be a mouthwatering contest out of nowhere.
Put into bat, Netherlands never got going as wickets fell like ninepins. S. Engelbrecht was the only saving grace for the Dutch as he scored 40. No other could stand the hostility of the South African pace attack on a two-paced track at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. O. Baartman was the pick of the bowlers by snaring four wickets, with Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje picking two wickets each to restrict the Netherlands to a mere 103.
South Africa, in reply, lost the first wicket of Quinton De Kock on the very first ball of the innings as he got run out without facing a ball. Worst possible start for the Proteas. Soon, SA were reduced to 12 for 4 with Rizza Hendricks, Aiden Markram and Henrich Klaasen joining De Kock in the dugout.
It seemed the Netherlands would once again haunt South Africa after two back-to-back wins over the Proteas in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 and ICC 50-over Cricket World Cup 2023.
However, David Miller had other ideas. He first stitched a 65-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs before he cut loose to unleash a match-winning 59 off 51 balls, hitting three fours and four mammoth sixes. South Africa, after all that drama, won the game by four wickets.
India vs Pakistan T20 WC 2024 Epic Clash Saw an Anti-climax
It was June 9, 2024, the day when India went head to head against arch-rivals Pakistan in New York. The toss was delayed due to rain. After a short delay, the toss happened with Pakistan Skipper Babar Azam calling it right. He rightly put India into bat on a two-paced surface with some moisture underneath.
The decision was proved right as India lost both their openers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in quick succession. India were reeling at 19 for 2 before Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel stitched a 39-run partnership for the third wicket.
Axar, while stepping out to Naseem Shah in the 8th over of the Indian innings, missed the ball completely and saw his stump get rattled. At 58 for 3, India looked in some trouble before Pant played some breathtaking strokes to take India to 89 before he lost his partner Surya Kumar Yadav. After that, it was a procession as Pant and others fell like ninepins to end up at a paltry 119 in 19 overs.
How Was the Pakistan’s Reply?
Pakistan, in reply, got off to a steady start by accumulating 24 runs for the first wicket before Jasprit Bumrah dismissed the Pakistan Skipper Babar Azam with a sharp away going delivery. However, Rizwan looked in control by playing shots and milking deliveries. However, as the score read 57, Axar got to skid off the deck to trap Usman Khan LBW. The on-field decision had to be reversed as the DRS revealed that the ball was going to hit the stump. Soon Fakhar Zaman fell off the bouncer from Hardik Pandya, glubbing it to Rishabh Pant behind the stump.
Pressure started to show on the faces of the Pakistan team as Rizwan played a terrible shot to get out off the bowling of Bumrah. He was bowled by Bumrah. The score was 80 for 4 in 14 overs. From there, Pakistan could not recover as Indian bowlers tightened the screws. Runs dried up and the pressure got piled too much on the Pakistan team. The pressure led to the dismissal of Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim and Iftikhar Ahmed in quick succession. It was down to 18 off the last over. Arshdeep Singh was the bowler. Although Naseem Shah hit two consecutive boundaries, it was too late in the day as India registered a thrilling 6-run victory over Pakistan.
Wrapping Up
What an amazing run T20 WC 2024 has had so far with sharp twists and turns and changes in fortunes. Expect another week of thrillers as the race to Super 8 intensifies among the teams. Hope you have liked the analysis on behalf of zarooribaathai.in – The Voice of Truth. For more insights on sports, economy, personal finance, women empowerment, beauty and health, do visit us.
