Fitting Finishes: Three of the best T20 World Cup Finals

Brathwaite

The T20 format of the game in the world of cricket revolutionized how fans perceived the entire thing. In the shortest format of the game, fans around the world started having more entertainment as they didn’t have to wait long for the results. Lesser time period, more fun, more glitz, and glamour, this is all that T20 cricket brought to all of us.

Explosive hitting, chasing big targets and everything related started appealing so much to the people that they waited every year for the game to start. In the same light, let’s take a look at the best T20 finals of the game.

3. West Indies vs Sri Lanka 2012

The final of T20 WC in 2012 was the second time when Sri Lanka entered the finals. Choosing to show up with the bat first, Windies skipper Darren Sammy and the company were struggling at the start. With only 14 runs in six overs, the innings of the team was stabilised by Marlon Samuels. Samuels’ lightning knock of 78 runs off 55 balls pushed the team to put up 137 on the board.

The Sri Lankan chase never really got going as they started losing early wickets. Kumar Sangakkara was set to provide the base, but his dismissal gave more hopes to the opponents. Nuwan Kulasekara displayed a short fight back but couldn’t fetch the desired result for his team. The whole Lankan team was bundled out for 101 in 18.4 overs and gave West Indies the precious honour they were looking for.

2. West Indies vs England 2016

The 2016 T20 WC final was another memorable event in the history of this format. England had a terrible start with Jason Roy, Alex Hales, and captain Eoin Morgan returning cheaply to the pavilion. England were three wickets down at just 23 runs. However, Joe Root’s innings led the English team to post a respectable 155 on board.

In return, West Indies were even horrible in the beginning and were down at 11/3. With 19 needed in the last over, the English team were the favourites, but at that very moment, Carlos Braithwaite decided to own the night. He hit Ben Stokes for four straight sixes and clinched the precious trophy in front of the absolutely shocked England team.

3. India vs Pakistan 2007

The inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup couldn’t have been more interesting and thrilling as Men in Blue stepped up to lift the T20 WC trophy in South Africa. Arch-rivals Pakistan were their opponents, whom they defeated by five runs to bring home the precious honour. Batting first India posted 157 on board with the help of a stunning innings by Gautam Gambhir (75 off 54).

Despite losing early wickets, Pakistan kept moving with the same intensity till the end. When 13 runs were needed in the last over with only one wicket remaining, it looked all in India’s favour. But Misbah-ul-Haq smashed Joginder Sharma for a six, and the fans moved to the edge of their seats. A mistimed scoop shot by Misbah was caught by Sreesanth and gave India all their deserved joy and happiness in T20 WC’s inaugural edition.