World T20: Top 10 moments
It's been five years since India lifted the inaugural World T20 title in 2007. It will be the fourth edition of the Twenty20 Championship this year. And in these four editions, we have witnessed some great moments. Here are the top 10 moments.
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It's been five years since India lifted the inaugural World T20 title in 2007. It will be the fourth edition of the Twenty20 Championship this year. And in these four editions, we have witnessed some great moments. Here are the top 10 moments.(AP & AFP Photos)
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India vs Pak's bowl out: Can you ever forget that? This particular event highlighted just how different and more exciting Twenty20 cricket was from ODIs and Test cricket. In the 10th Group D match between the archrivals, India scored 141 in 20 overs. Pakistan leveled the score and it came down to the Bowl Out. Each team had five chances to aim at the stumps. While India's Sehwag, Bhajji and Uthappa got it right, Pakistan's Afridi, Gul and Arafat missed the stumps, losing 0-3 through a bowl-out.
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India vs Pak final: After the thrilling group encounter, the two archrivals met again - this time for the title. It again went down to the wires. The gamble of asking Joginder Sharma to bowl the last over paid for Dhoni. When Misbah scooped the last delivery for six, a billion hearts skipped a beat and then all eyes turned to Sreesanth, who was right under the ball. As soon as he took the catch, the entire nation erupted into celebrations. The title was an important achievement after India's disappointing 50-over World Cup exit in the Caribbean. It was India's first World title after the 1983 World Cup title.
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Zimbabwe beat Australia: The fourth match of the inaugural T20 World Cup proved not even the World Champions Australia could take the format for granted. Zimbabwe, who did not even have the Test status, stunned the Australians by 5 wickets. Elton Chigumbura wreaked havoc with his 3-wicket haul. Andrew Symonds and Brad Hodge took Australia to 138 but that was not sufficient. Brendan Taylor scored 60 off 45 to take his side to victory.
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Yuvraj's Six Sixes: Doesn't that knock underline India's World T20 experience in 2007? Yuvraj slammed six sixes in an over of Stuart Broad to teach Andrew Flintoff and the entire world an important lesson - never rub a Punjab da Puttar the wrong way, it backfires!
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Brett Lee's hat-trick: Stung by a humiliating defeat vs Zimbabwe, Australia came down heavily on another minnow - Bangladesh. Australian pacer Brett Lee savaged the Bangla tigers with the first hat-trick of the Twenty20. He dismissed Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza and Alok Kapali to restrict Bangladesh to 123 runs.
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An upsetting start: The 2009 World T20 started with an upset. The rain washed out the opening ceremony and that was not really an auspicious start. Put in to bat, England scored a modest 162 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. But an uncertain format this Twenty20 is. In a nail-biting last-ball finish, the Netherlands beat higher ranked England by 4 wickets. Tom de Grooth and Ryan ten Doeschate were the stars of the game.
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Sri Lanka vs Pakistan final in 2009 (After Lahore terror attacks): The significance of this match goes beyond the sport. The two teams were playing for the first time since the Lankan team were attacked by some terrorists in Lahore, which had left a few players injured. Pakistan lifted the trophy but it was the triumph of cricket and its impact on the society.
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Australia vs England final in 2010 (Archrivals): If it's India and Pakistan in the sub-continent then it is Australia vs England everywhere. Their rivalry is legendary and these archrivals locked horns for the title in the final of the World T20 2010. England pacers did a fantastic job and restricted the Australians for 147 runs in Bridgetown. In reply, Craig Kieswetter and Kevin Pietersen thrashed the Aussie bowlers to make sure England lift the trophy.
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Chris Gayle's century start the World T20 extravaganza: The inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup got just the start it needed. Chris Gayle started the tournament with a blistering century. He slammed 117 runs off 57 and powered the West Indies to 205 against South Africa. However, his century went in vain as Herschelle Gibbs and Justin Kemp blasted the Caribbean bowlers and took their side to victory. It was a treat for the fans nevertheless!
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Afghanistan making its debut in World T20 2010: One of the few things that brought smiles on the faces of the Afghan people, after gaining freedom from the clutches of the Taliban, is cricket. The sport became very popular and the Afghanistan team very quickly made a niche for itself. A national team was formed only in 2001 and in less than 10 years, it gained the status of an ODI team. But it was in 2010 that Afghanistan announced its arrival on the big stage. They played as one of the associate members.