The T20 World Cup 2024 has ended, and cricket fans will miss the exciting matches from the past month. India won the final against South Africa by seven runs at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday, June 29, reclaiming the trophy they last held in 2007.
The tournament had many thrilling games, but none matched the intensity of the final. South Africa, needing 30 runs from 30 balls with Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller at the crease, seemed poised to win. However, Klaasen’s dismissal changed the game. Suryakumar Yadav’s brilliant catch sent Miller back in the final over, while Hardik Pandya stayed calm to secure India’s victory.
Here are the top five nail-biting games from the tournament.
5. Oman vs Namibia
Oman and Namibia started the tournament with an exciting match at Kensington Oval. Oman batted first but were all out for only 109 runs, largely due to Ruben Trumpelmann taking four wickets.
Namibia, chasing the target, struggled and ended their innings at 109-6, with David Wiese managing only a bye on the last ball when they needed two to win. This led to a super over, where Wiese and Gerhard Erasmus scored 21 runs against Oman’s Bilal Khan. In reply, Wiese bowled for Namibia and limited Oman to 10-1, securing Namibia’s victory.
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4. South Africa vs Nepal
In this tournament, one of the most exciting games was between South Africa and Nepal. At the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingston, St Vincent, South Africa batted first and scored 115-7. Reeza Hendricks was their top scorer with 43 runs from 49 balls. Nepal almost chased down the target with Asif Sheikh scoring 42 and Anil Sah scoring 27 runs. However, they fell short by just one run. In the final moments, South African bowler Ottniel Baartman bowled a dot ball and then got Gulsan Jha run out off the next ball when Nepal needed two runs from two balls.
3. Bangladesh vs Afghanistan
Bangladesh and Afghanistan played a very important match in the Super Eight stage. It was a crucial game because the winner had a chance to reach the semifinals, competing directly with Australia.
If Bangladesh had won, Australia would have advanced to the semifinals. But Afghanistan’s victory meant they moved on to the semifinals instead.
Afghanistan batted first and scored 115 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in their 20 overs. Then, they bowled Bangladesh out for just 105 runs in the second innings.
Litton Das played well for Bangladesh, scoring 54 runs not out, but he didn’t get much help from his teammates.
This loss meant Bangladesh was out of the competition, while Afghanistan reached the semifinals of an ICC event for the first time.
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2. India vs Pakistan
India and Pakistan had an exciting match in the group stage. In New York, India batted first but struggled, scoring only 119 runs before getting all out in 19 overs.
Pakistan had a chance to beat India in an ICC tournament, but India’s Jasprit Bumrah and teammates bowled superbly. Pakistan could only reach 113-7, and India won by six runs. This victory kept India’s strong record in ICC events intact.
1. The final – India vs South Africa
The tournament’s best match likely happened in the final between India and South Africa. It was a thrilling game where the result was uncertain until the very end.
Players like Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, and Quinton de Kock nearly led South Africa to victory, but India managed to turn the game in their favor.
South Africa needed 30 runs from 30 balls while chasing a target of 177. However, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh played crucial roles in India’s victory, ending their 11-year wait for an ICC trophy.
Hardik Pandya’s final over, highlighted by Suryakumar Yadav’s brilliant catch at long off to dismiss David Miller, will be remembered for a long time.
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