India will play against South Africa in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Saturday, June 29. Both teams have remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and aim to continue their winning streak to claim the trophy.
India won the T20 World Cup in 2007, while South Africa is still searching for their first ICC trophy despite their strong cricketing history.
Both teams will give their best effort in this match and cannot afford any mistakes. Excellent bowling will be crucial, as bowlers often lead teams to victory.
Here are the five best bowling performances in the Men’s T20 World Cup finals over the years:
5. Irfan Pathan (3-16, 2007)
Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan is highlighted here for his excellent performance during the 2007 World T20 final against Pakistan in Johannesburg. He took 3-16, helping India limit Pakistan to 152 runs while chasing 158. Although MS Dhoni’s decision to use Joginder Sharma for the crucial last over is often credited for the victory, Irfan’s key role in dismissing Shoaib Malik, Yasir Arafat, and Shahid Afridi earlier in the game was crucial. This tournament marked India’s historic win in the inaugural World T20.
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4. Josh Hazlewood (3-16, 2021)
Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who has consistently performed well for his team in all three formats, ranks second on this list because of his impressive bowling figures of 3-16 in the 2021 final against New Zealand.
The match took place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. New Zealand batted first and set a challenging target of 172-4. Hazlewood played a key role by dismissing three New Zealand batsmen: Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson, and Glenn Phillips.
Australia successfully chased down the target with significant contributions from David Warner (53) and current T20I captain Mitchell Marsh (77).
3. Sam Curran (3-12, 2022)
England won the last ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2022, held in Australia. They owe their victory to Sam Curran, their left-arm seamer, who took 3 wickets for 12 runs in the final against Pakistan.
The match took place at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground. Pakistan only managed to score 137-8 in their innings.
Curran played a crucial role by dismissing Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood, and Mohammad Nawaz from the Pakistani team.
England successfully chased the target with one over remaining. This victory marks their second T20 World Cup title, with their first win in 2010 against Australia in Bridgetown, Barbados.
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2. Sunil Narine (3-9, 2012)
In 2012, the WT20 final at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, was significant because the West Indies regained their former glory. They won an ICC tournament independently for the first time since 1979 (excluding the 2004 Champions Trophy). The West Indies batted first, scoring 137-6 in 20 overs; Marlon Samuels made 78 runs from 56 balls. Sri Lanka, in reply, were all out for 101 in 18.4 overs, with Sunil Narine taking 3-9 in 3.4 overs, which greatly affected the host team’s chances.
1. Ajantha Mendis (4-12, 2012)
Ajantha Mendis, a former Sri Lankan spinner, tops the list because of his impressive performance in the same match where Sunil Narine took 3-9. Mendis, known for his unpredictable deliveries alongside traditional off-breaks, played a crucial role in limiting the West Indies to 137-6 in their first innings.
However, in the second innings, Sri Lankan batsmen struggled against Narine’s tricky bowling and were dismissed for only 101 runs. This defeat gave the West Indies their first significant ICC World Cup victory since 1979.
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