Five Best Moments of ICC World T20 2016

Darren-Sammy-with-World-T20
West Indies captain Darren Sammy with the World T20 trophy in front of Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. Image Source: Xtra Time

Moment # 1: Braithwaite’s blitz help Windies win the T20 title at Eden Gardens  

A packed Eden Gardens crowd witnessed a breathtaking effort from Carlos Brathwaite when he slammed 4 sixes of the last over bowled by England bowler Ben Stokes to guide West Indies to an improbable win in the final. Starting the tournament not even as the probable quarter finalist Darren Sammy led West Indies proved every critic wrong and won the T-20 World cup for the second time after 2012. West Indies needed 19 runs of the last over. But young Braithwate to everyone’s awe won it for the Caribbean’s. In spite of constant feud with its own Cricket Board (WICB) with contract issues the determined West Indies team crossed all hurdles by defeating tournament favorites South Africa, Sri-lanka and England in the group stages and host India in the semi-final.

Braithwaite-at-Eden-Garden
Carlos Braithwaite stunned Ben Stokes as he hit him for 4 sixes in the final over to help West Indies lift the WT20 title. Image Source: Xtra Time

Moment # 2: Kohli’s effort against Australia in Super 10 Group 2 match at Mohali

Although host India lost in the semi final to the Caribbean’s but en-route to the semi’s India’s star batsman Virat Kohli hit the popularity chart and earned comparison with the great Sachin Tendulkar for his continuous match winning innings for the country. Kohli scored a staggering 273 runs in 5 matches including back to back half-centuries against arch-rivals Pakistan and Australia. For his astonishing performance Kohli bagged the Man of the Tournament award, ICC T-20 number one ranking and also dethroned Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the captain of the ICC T-20 squad.

Virat-Kohli-after-his-match
Virat Kohli , the Man of the Tournament was easily the best batsman for India.

Moment # 3: Minnows Afghanistan stun West Indies in Super 10 Group 1 match at Nagpur

Afganisthan’s shock victory over champions West Indies is definitely one of the highlights of World T20. West Indies had won their previous three group matches and seemed set to maintain their 100% record when the associate side was restricted to 123 for seven. But two of Afghanistan’s four-man spin attack, Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, took two wickets apiece as the favorites, who rested star batsman Chris Gayle, limped to 117 for eight in reply.

Chris-Gayle-with-Afghanista
Chris Gayle posing with the Afghanistan cricketers following their surprise win over West Indies.

Memory # 4: Pandya wins a thriller for India in Super 10 Group 2 match at Bangalore

India scraped to a one-run win against a tenacious Bangladesh at the Chinnaswamy stadium in a thrilling Super 10 match, keeping their hopes of World Twenty20 glory alive. India was restricted to 146 for seven after being sent in to bat, thanks to some spirited Bangladesh bowling. Bangladesh came tantalizingly close to chasing down the total, but poor shot selection and three critical dismissals by skipper Hardik Pandya eventually saw the home side scramble home by the slimmest of margins. Pandya, who bowled the last over with Bangladesh needing 10 runs to win became a National Hero by taking two wickets in the 4th and 5th ball of the over. Dhoni’s brilliance got India home when he ran out Mustafizur Rehman in the last ball to clinch a thrilling 1 run win.

Pandya-wins-a-thriller-for-
Bangladesh batsman made a mess of it as India clinched a thriller in the last over bowled by Harduk Pandya.

Memory # 5: Root-Roy set record chase against Proteas in Super 10 Group 1 match at Wankhede

England pulled off the second-highest run chase in Twenty20 international history to stun South Africa and get their World T20 campaign back on track. Chasing 230 in Mumbai, Joe Root struck a composed 83 off 44 balls after Jason Roy blitzed 43 from 16 balls. England lost two wickets in the last over with the scores level before Moeen Ali won the match with two balls to spare. South Africa earlier posted 229-6, with Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock and JP Duminy all making half-centuries. At the time, that was the second-highest score at a World T20, only for England to trump it with a display of hitting that bettered the Proteas, who in turn bowled as badly as England.

Joe-Root-dashes-Proteas-hop
Joe Root played a brilliant knock to guide England to a record chase in the tournament.