Hosted by India, the sixth edition of the men’s T20 World Cup proved to be one of the most iconic white-ball cricket contests in the tournament’s young history, featuring multiple high-scoring games and numerous other matches where the victory margin was less than 15 runs.
If you’re a thrill seeker, then reliving this World Cup is where it’s at, especially the final. Commentator Ian Bishop’s famous bellowing cry of “Carlos Brathwaite, remember the name!” can still be heard as the West Indian all-rounder pumped four consecutive sixes in the final over to secure a famous and unexpected victory for the Caribbean region.
With Australia getting ready to host the eighth men’s T20 World cup in October, let’s take a trip down memory to relive why the shortest format of the game continues to capture the imagination and excitement of cricket fans all around the world.
Here are the top five matches from the men’s 2016 T20 World Cup.
3. India Edge Home In A One-Run Thriller
Bangladesh’s reputation for being a dark horse in major ICC tournaments was on show once again in this thrilling match, as they gave World Cup favourites India a mighty scare in the Super 10s.
In all honesty, it was a lackadaisical affair from both sides in this low-scoring encounter, as only a spirited bowling effort from Hardik Pandya in the final over of the match ensured that India managed to just escape the Bangladeshis’ bloodthirsty pursuit for victory.
Set 147 to win after Bangladesh bowled well to contain India, thanks to the miserly spin of veteran Shakib al-Hasan and pace of Mustafizur Rahman and Al-Amin Hossain, the Tigers were cautiously optimistic of their chances of toppling the tournament heavyweights.
A measured 35 off 32 balls from Tamim Iqbal emphasised Bangladesh’s careful approach to the run-chase, but things quickly went pear-shaped once he departed in the eighth over.
The wily spin of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja combined to prise four key Bangladeshi wickets, delivering some significant blows to their run-chase. When their main man Shakib al-Hasan was dismissed in the thirteenth over, things started to look even more wobbly despite the required run-rate being manageable, as India were now coming in for the kill.
Yet Bangladesh continued to scrap, and one of the main reasons why they brought the game into the final over was due to that man Mahmudullah, whose resolute 18 off 22 balls ensured that his side would bring the fight to very end, even as wickets tumbled around him.
The final equation – Bangladesh needing 11 runs to win off the last six balls with four wickets in hand. Should be easy, right? Wrong. Horribly, horribly wrong. Oh how they messed it up, despite getting so close.
After Mahmudullah took a single off the first ball of Pandya’s over, wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim sent shivers down India’s spine as he manufactured two fours in the next two balls to get the Bangladeshi dressing room up and about in excitement. With just two runs to win, history was beckoning for Bangladesh, but what followed next was a comedy of errors that nobody saw coming.
Mushfiqur attempted yet another big hit and was caught at deep-wicket off the fourth ball, and his team’s jubilation was instantly replaced with panic and confusion. Further disaster was to follow, as Mahmudullah was caught at cover the very next ball thanks to a brilliant diving catch by Ravindra Jadeja. With two runs now required for Bangladesh off the final ball of the match, it was now or never, and unfortunately on this occasion, it was never. Agonisingly never, by just one run.
A suicidal run-out from Mustafizur Rahman off the last ball of the game meant India completed a team-hattrick that ensured that they managed to escape with one of the unlikeliest victories, and Bangladesh were left forever wondering how they imploded and botched such a simple run-chase.
