On the first day, of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan’s team was bowled out for 116 runs in 20 overs. Pakistan stopped Sri Lanka at 85 runs due to the excellent performance of the spinners. Captain Fatima Sana scored 30 runs and took 2 wickets.

Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 31 runs on Thursday due to the all-around play of captain Fatima Sana and the excellent performance of the spinners. With this, Pakistan made a great start to its campaign in the Women’s T20 World Cup.

Batting first, Pakistan’s team was bowled out for 116 runs in the stipulated 20 overs. But its spinners made this score like a mountain for Sri Lanka, whose team could only score 85 runs for nine wickets.

Captain Fatima played an important role in Pakistan’s victory

If Pakistan’s team was able to reach triple figures, the credit goes to captain Fatima Sana, who played an innings of 30 runs in 20 balls. Fatima, who bowls at a medium pace, then took two wickets for 10 runs.

Left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal was their most successful bowler. She took three wickets for 17 runs in four overs. She also got good support from left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu (two wickets for 15 runs) and off-spinner Amima Sohail (two wickets for 17 runs).

Sri Lankan spinners also performed strongly

Earlier, Sri Lankan spinners also performed well in favorable conditions. From their side, left-arm spinner Sugandhika Kumari (three wickets for 19 runs) played an important role in wrapping up the top order, off-spinner Chamari Atapattu (three wickets for 18 runs) in the middle order, and medium pacer Udeshika Prabodhini (three wickets for 20 runs) in the lower order.

However, captain Atapattu could not show any magic in batting and returned to the pavilion after scoring only six runs.

Sri Lanka had scored only 26 runs in the power play

Sri Lanka scored 26 runs in the power play and in the meantime lost the wicket of Harshita Samarawickrama (07). After bowling her, Amima Sohail also dismissed new batsman Hansika Perera (08).

Sri Lanka’s team was struggling after scoring 44 runs for three wickets after 10 overs. Opener Vishpi Gunaratne held one end till the 13th over. But she could not score runs at the expected pace, which increased the pressure on the team.

She scored 20 runs in 34 balls which included a four. Neelakshi de Silva (22) was the second batsman from Sri Lanka to reach double figures.

Pakistan had chosen to bat after winning the toss

Earlier, Pakistan, who came to bat after winning the toss, had to struggle from the beginning against Sri Lanka’s spin attack. They lost the wickets of all three top-order batsmen Gul Ferozza (02), Muniba Ali (11), and Sidra Amin (12) in the powerplay itself. Meanwhile, Pakistan scored 32 runs.

Experienced Nida Dar (23) tried to improve the innings along with Amima Sohail (18) but after their 25-run partnership for the fourth wicket broke, Pakistan’s middle order faltered. In such a situation, Fatima Sana took the responsibility.

Despite not getting enough support from the other end, she hit some powerful shots and took Pakistan to a respectable score. Fatima hit three fours and a six in her innings.

ALSO READ: BAN vs SCO, Women’s T20 World Cup: BAN Seals The Victory

Women’s T20 World Cup commenced this Thursday 3rd of October with the opening match of Bangladesh vs Scotland. The match started with Bangladesh batting first and presenting a low total on the board of 119 runs, however, the bowlers came into play and claimed their 1st victory of the tournament. 

Opening match overview of Women’s T20 World Cup, BAN vs SCO

Even the brilliant innings of opener Sarah Bryce could not help Scotland win against Bangladesh in the Women’s T20 World Cup match and they had to face defeat by 16 runs in a close match. Bangladesh thus won a match in this tournament for the first time since 2014. This global tournament started with this match of Group B played in Sharjah.

Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bat first in this match, but Scotland’s bowlers led by Saskia Horley performed well and restricted Bangladesh to a score of 119 runs for seven wickets in 20 overs.

Sobhana Mostari scored the highest 36 runs for Bangladesh, while Saskia took three wickets for 13 runs in two overs. In reply, Bryce played an innings of 49 runs with the help of one-four on 52 balls, despite this Scotland could only score 103 runs for seven wickets in the stipulated overs.

Earlier, Bangladesh’s batting was poor and no batsman could make a big partnership. Apart from Sobhana, opener Shathi Rani scored 29 runs, and then lower-order batsman Fahima Khatun scored 10 runs in five balls to take the team to a fighting score. Bangladesh’s bowling was good which successfully defended the low score.

Apart from Bryce, no batsman from Scotland could impress

While chasing the target in the opening match of Women’s T20 World Cup, Scotland’s batting was poor and apart from Bryce, no other batsman could impress. Only three batsmen for Scotland were able to touch the double-digit mark.

Bryce was handling from the other end, but no one could stay at the crease to support him which became a big reason for Scotland’s defeat.

ALSO READ: Tim Southee Resigns From Captaincy: Tom Latham Takes the Charge

India Ends 11-Year Trophy Drought with Dramatic Win Over South Africa, Their Second T20 World Cup Title, defeating South Africa in a nail-biting final on June 29th. This victory marks the end of an 11-year wait for an ICC trophy for the passionate Indian fans, sending the nation into madness.

Diverse Pitches and Upsets Galore

The aim of the 2024 T20 World Cup, which was hosted by the USA and the West Indies, was to increase cricket’s popularity in the US. Stadiums in Dallas and New York were packed with American fans, proving the tournament’s ability to promote the growth of the sport.

The unique aspect of this session was the variety of pitches given at various locations. Fast bowlers were favoured by the Nassau County Cricket Club in New York, which made scores between 120 and 130 very close. The Caribbean leg provided a sharp contrast, as high-scoring matches were produced by batting-friendly surfaces in Barbados and St. Lucia. Pitch support for spinners was provided in places like Trinidad, Antigua, St. Vincent, and Guyana, where totals of 150–160 were difficult to reach. There could not have been a T20 World Cup with such a diverse range of playing conditions.

Underdogs Shine Brightly

The 20 team competition provided a platform for thrilling underdog stories. The co-hosts, the USA etched their names in cricketing history by defeating Pakistan in a dramatic Super Over and then qualifying for the Super 8 stage. Afghanistan, another underdog, stunned New Zealand in the group stage, securing their place in the Super 8 at the expense of the Kiwis. Their journey did not end there as they pulled off a sensational victory against Australia to reach the semi-finals exceeding everyone’s expectations. Even Scotland came close to a Super 8 falling short only on the net run rate.

Also Read: Top 5 Underrated Knocks of T20 World Cup 2024

T20 World Cup 2024 An Unprecedented Final: Two Unbeaten Teams Go Head-to-Head

India and South Africa were the two undefeated teams playing in the final of the T20 World Cup for the first time. With victories in all seven of their campaign’s games—all of which were close contests that powered the greatest T20 World Cup debate—They had a perfect run.

The actual final was a difficult situation. Many predicted that South Africa would win easily, needing just 27 runs from 28 deliveries with six wickets left. But a strong bowling attack from India and some smart leadership choices turned the tide, setting up a thrilling climax that had fans on the edge of their seats right up until the very last delivery.

The South African batters almost won the Proteas their first world cup trophy, had it not been for the superb bowling display from the Indian pacers.

The Indian Cricket team won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 by beating South Africa in a nail-biting match. The match was not over until it was not over. The South Africans put up a great fight and did not make it easy for the Indians to lift the trophy.

The South African batters almost won the Proteas their first world cup trophy, had it not been for the superb bowling display from the Indian pacers.

India waited for 13 years to clinch another World Cup trophy. It already had three in the cabinet.  On the other hand South Africa is yet to open its account. Their cabinet still lies empty.

The Proteas reached the final of a World Cup for the first time with this edition. Having remained unbeaten in the tournament, they showed grit and resilience in each match to make their debut in a World Cup final match. They had mostly crashed out in the semi-finals.

Also Read: 5 Best Knocks In T20 World Cup Finals

Once the semi-final jinx was broken, the South African team had been hoping to win the final match. And to their credit, they left no stone unturned. They restricted India to 176/7 in the first innings. In the second half, South Africa looked confident with its solid batting depth.

Heinrich Klaasen with 52 off 27 and David Miller’s 21 off 17 came charging on the Indian spinners paving way for what looked like a South African victory. But, it was not to be. Fate had different plans. Indian bowlers planned and executed their strategy to remove both the batters and turned the table in the game. Once Klaasen and Miller were removed, the Proteas could not recover. The game slipped away from their hands.

Also Read: 5 Unique Records Of Rohit Sharma In T20I Cricket

The fact of the matter is South Africa did their best. They went past any other South African team in history. They deserve this credit. But for now, the trophy drought for South Africa continues. One hopes they break the jinx sooner than later.

The Indian cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, defeated South Africa by seven runs in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados on Saturday, June 29, and lifted the prestigious ICC trophy after a gap of 11-long-years. The last ICC trophy India won before last night was in 2013 – Champions Trophy. Their previous World Cup win came in India during the ODI edition of the World Cup in 2011.

Talking about the iconic T20 World Cup 2024 win, the Indian cricket team elected to bat first after winning the toss. The Men in Blue made a comeback from a poor start to put up 176 runs on the scoreboard, all thanks to Virat Kohli’s innings.

Virat Kohli, who was going through a tough time with the bat, stood out for his team. He top-scored with the bat with 76 off 59 balls, smashing six fours and two sixes. He brought the much-needed momentum back to the game after India had lost Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant in quick successions.

Axar Patel, who was promoted up in the batting order, played a quick-fire knock of 47 runs off 31, while Shivam Dube also contributed with a crucial innings of 27 runs off 16 balls, smashing a few stunning boundaries.

While chasing, South Africa looked all set to create history, after having reached 151-4 after 16 overs. However, lethal bowling from Indian bowlers Jasprit Bumrah (2-18), Hardik Pandya (3-20), and Arshdeep Singh (2-20) turned the tables for the team.

It was a night to remember, and on the expected lines, everyone – from the captain, coaches, and players to the millions of fans, everyone was emotional after India’s stunning win. There were tears of joy. As the players celebrated the iconic win, there were a few heartwarming moments that melted our hearts.

Check out the 5 heartwarming moments from team India’s T20 World Cup 2024 win:

1. Rohit Sharma’s emotional celebration:

 

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Right after India won the final match, Rohit Sharma fell to the ground and hit the turf several times with his hand. Rohit’s emotions were on full display. He later tasted the soil of Barbados, where team India won the final clash.

2. Virat Kohli’s emotional moments with the family:

 

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Virat Kohli won the Man of the Match award for his performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 final and became emotional after the victory. After the game, Kohli celebrated the memorable win with his family members and was also spotted talking on his phone.

3. Tears of redemption & joy:

 

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Hardik Pandya faced a lot of hate and criticism, before heading into the T20 World Cup 2024. However, he turned all the hate that he received during the IPL 2024 to love the moment he showed for his team. He was back to his best, doing everything right on the biggest stage.

4. All about the family of Jasprit Bumrah:

 

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Jasprit Bumrah once again made every Indian proud of him. He was outstanding for India throughout the T20 World Cup 2024 tournament. Jasprit Bumrah came to India’s rescue whenever India was in trouble. In the summit clash, when India found itself in trouble, Jasprit Bumrah came to India’s rescue.

5. Iconic celebration by The Wall:

 

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Rahul Dravid, known as “The Wall” of Indian cricket, is celebrated as a legendary player, however, he could never win the World Cup as a player despite his best efforts. However, what he couldn’t achieve back then as a player, he achieved it as a coach for the Indian cricket team. And his wild celebration after India’s T20 World Cup 2024 win showed how much winning the World Cup meant to him.

As the world gears up for the ultimate showdown, let us have a look at the five best knocks in the history of T20  World Cup finals. 

India is set to lock horns with South Africa in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024. The summit clash will take place at Kensington Oval in Barbados. 

As the world gears up for the ultimate showdown, let us have a look at the five best knocks in the history of T20  World Cup finals. 

Gautam Gambhir- 2007 T20 World Cup

India won the maiden edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007. India faced arch rivals Pakistan in Johannesburg in the final match that went down to the wire. India won the match in a last bowl thriller to lift the trophy

India posted a total of 157/5 in the first innings. The large part of the total was contributed by Gautam Gambhir who scored a controlled 75 in 54 balls. Gambhir hit eight fours and two sixes in his winning knock in the T20 World Cup final.

Also Read: Indian Players At T20 World Cup 2007: Where Are They Now?

Marlon Samuels- 2012 T20 World Cup

West Indies won their first ever T20 World Cup in 2021 against Sri Lanka in Colombo. After losing two early wickets, Samuels held his nerve to score a 56-ball 78 to help West Indies post a decent total of 137/6.

West Indies won the final by 36 runs. Samuels’ knock which included three fours and six sixes remains one of the iconic ones in the history of T20 World Cups.

Marlon Samuels – 2016 T20 World Cup

West Indies won their second T20 World Cup in 2016. They were struggling after losing three wickets within three overs with only 11 runs on board.

Samuel came to bat at number three and took the onus on himself to chase down the target of 156 set by England. The power hitter smashes an unbeaten 85 runs to help his team cross the line. He hit nine boundaries and four sixes in his inning.

Mitchell Marsh- 2021 T20 World Cup

Australia won their first-ever T20 World Cup in 2021. The Aussies were chasing a target of 173 runs against New Zealand.

Mitchell Marsh scored an unbeaten 77 off 50 balls. He hit four sixes and six fours in his match-winning innings at Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.

Also Read: 5 Unique Records Of Rohit Sharma In T20I Cricket

Ben Stokes- 2022 T20 World Cup

England all-rounder arrived for the team at the clutch moment. He hit an unbeaten 52 from 49 balls to help England beat Pakistan by five wickets in the 2022 T20 World Cup final in Melbourne.

The knock was also Stokes’ maiden half-century in T20 International Cricket. He hit five boundaries and one six in his special knock With Stokes hitting the winning runs, England defended the title.

Kuldeep Yadav was called up in the Playing XI for India in the later stages of the tournament. He has taken 10 wickets from four matches at an economy rate of 5.87.

The Indian cricket team is through to the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 after defeating defending champions England by 68 runs.

India posted a total of 171/7 in 20 overs. In reply, England were bundled out for 103 in 16.4 overs.

It was a day for spinners for the Indian side at the Providence stadium in Guyana in a rain-interrupted match. Indian spinners Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav took three scalps each to hand over the victory to India.

Kuldeep Yadav’s incredible run surely has created a buzz in the cricketing world. The wrist-spinner who was once on the verge of oblivion has risen from the ashes to make his presence felt and how!

The 29-year-old was called up in the Playing XI for India in the later stages of the tournament. He has taken 10 wickets from four matches at an economy rate of 5.87.

Also Read: Indian Players At T20 World Cup 2007: Where Are They Now?

Yadav’s comeback has been hailed by senior cricketers and experts.

“Kuldeep Yadav’s resurgence has been one of the greatest comebacks in the history of Indian cricket. His absence in the 2022 semi-final was a significant miss for India, but this time, he’s in prime form and ready to make a substantial impact. Kuldeep’s unorthodox left-arm wrist spin and the ability to extract turn and bounce, coupled with his deceptive variations, can be a game-changer in the middle overs,” said for Indian spin bowler Piyush Chawla ahead of the game against England.

The Dip That Kuldeep Had

Yadav slipped into a dark phase through the year 2020 and 2021. The bowler has appeared only in nine ODIs for India during the time period. His sub-par performance failed to earn him a place in the Indian team. 

The going got tougher for him when he was not included in a single game for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2021. He pulled out of the tournament due to knee injury.

The Resurgence Of Kuldeep Yadav

The dispirited spinner subsequently went for rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. It is at the NCA that Yadav worked on himself and found his mojo back.

Kuldeep Yadav came under the guidance of former Indian spinner and selector Sunil Joshi who helped him with improving his technique.

I’ve not lost my spin or drift. That hasn’t gone away. Perhaps my pace has increased a bit, which is helping me. I mainly think about hitting a good length as much as possible as a wrist spinner. What I think is that if you don’t bowl loose balls and stay consistent, it increases your chances of being successful” Yadav said after his rehab at the NCA.

Also Read: 5 Unique Records Of Rohit Sharma In T20I Cricket

Yadav’s upgrade in his bowling abilities was also visible when he started playing for the Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2022.

In 14 matches, Kuldeep took 21 wickets for DC in IPL 2022. He took 10 more wickets in IPL 2023.

Yadav also made an impact in the ICC World Cup 2023 where he took 15 wickets from 10 matches. 

In this article, we mention the Rohit Sharma strategy to back the Indian batting after Virat’s wicket in India vs Australia

In the recent T20 World Cup Super 8s clash between India and Australia, Rohit Sharma, the Indian skipper, played a monumental innings that left the Australian bowlers clueless. His aggressive 41-ball 92 motivated India to a commanding total of 205/5, paving the way for a comfortable 24-run victory. This knock not only secured India’s place in the semi-finals but also effectively ended Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign.

Rohit Sharma Destroy Australian Bowlers

Rohit Sharma, who is known for having an exceptional understanding of cricket, saw an important element early on: the breeze. He saw that the Australian bowlers were making the most of the wind by bowling against it to add extra swing and movement to their shots. Rohit decided to open up the off-side of the field in response to this. He was no longer limited to playing just on the leg side, where the wind favoured the bowlers thanks to this tactical change.

Also Read: 5 Times Teams Won By 10 Wickets In T20 World Cup

This change in approach confused the Australia players. The bowlers expecting Rohit to play his usual shots on the leg side, were left scrambling as he unleashed powerful drives and cuts through the off side. Once the entire field was spread out, Rohit had complete freedom to pick his spots and launch into his signature six-hit.

This wasn’t just a match-winning knock it was a record-breaking one as well. During his innings, Rohit Sharma became the first cricketer to smash 200 sixes in T20 internationals. He also surpassed Babar Azam to become the batsman with the most runs in the T20 format.

While Rohit’s knock stole the show, it’s important to acknowledge the contributions of his fellow batsman and the Indian bowlers who defended the total with grit. However, Rohit Sharma’s captaincy and his ability to adapt his batting based on the conditions played a pivotal role in India’s emphatic victory.

Afghanistan registered a historic win over Bangladesh to earn a spot in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024. Defending a below-par total of 116 Afghanistan bowled out Bangladesh for 105 thereby winning the match by eight runs by the DLS method. 

The Effort

It was a complete team effort from Afghanistan especially in the bowling department which was led by the Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan who picked up four wickets in his quota of four overs. The Afghan leg spinner was well supported by other bowlers as well who also played their part in Afghanistan’s historic Semi Final qualification in the ongoing T20 World Cup.

In this article, we will look at three key performers for Afghanistan in the historic win over Bangladesh

Rashid Khan

The Afghanistan captain was the pick of the bowler as far as Afghanistan’s bowling lineup is concerned. Coming in to bowl after the fast bowling pair of Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazzalhaq Farooqi gave the team a good start by cleaning the Bangladeshi top-order batters Rashid made full use of the help that the bowlers were getting from the wicket and cleaned up the opposition’s middle order by picking up four wickets in the middle overs which included the wickets of Soumya Sarkar, Towid Hridoy who was going all guns blazing, experienced batter Mahmudullah and spin bowling all-rounder Rishad Hossain. Apart from that the Afghanistan captain also played a valuable knock of 19 runs off 10 balls which helped Afghanistan post a respectable total on the board.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: Full Super 8s Schedule, Venues, Match Officials, Date & Time

Naveen-ul-Haq

Afghanistan’s left-arm pacer Naveen also played a crucial role in helping his team book a spot in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024 by picking up four wickets in the match. Naveen gave the team a good start with the ball as he picked up the wicket of Bangladeshi captain Najmul Hossain Shanto who was dismissed for a score of five runs. Naveen followed it up with the big wicket of Shakib Al Hasan on the very next ball of the over which put Afghanistan an early advantage. Naveen returned to clean up the tailenders thereby guiding Afghanistan to a memorable win.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: Top 3 White-Ball Knocks Of ‘King’ Virat Kohli In West Indies

Noor Ahmed

Noor Ahmed might not have picked up any wickets but was economical as he gave away runs at an economy of less than four runs per over thereby creating pressure from one end which resulted in bowlers picking up wickets from the other end. The leg spinner played the role of a supporting bowler to perfection in Afghanistan’s historic win over Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup.

Here are some of the occasions in which teams have won by 10 wickets in the T20 International matches:

The T20 World Cup 2024 has thrown up some exciting moments. From major upsets to back-to-back hat-tricks, the tournament has been eventful in many ways.

In the latest series of events, England thrashed the USA team by 10 wickets in the Super 8 stage of Group 2 of the T20 World Cup 2024. Such a show of dominance captivates the spectators. 

Here are some of the occasions in which teams have won by 10 wickets in the T20 International matches:

Australia vs Sri Lanka, 2007 T20 World Cup

Australia won the toss and invited Sri Lanka to bat first. Stuart Clark took four wickets for Australia conceding just 20 runs in four overs. Sri Lanka was bundled out for just101.

Aussie openers Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist chased down the target in just 10.2 overs with no wicket lost. Gilchrist scored a 58 off 38 balls and Hayden made 31 off 25.

Also Read: Lowest Total Defended By Full Member Nation in T20 World Cup

South Africa vs Zimbabwe, 2012 T20 World Cup

South Africa opted to bowl first after winning the toss. Zimbabwe batters could hardly stand the clinical bowling attack of the Proteas as they could only manage to post a total of just 93 losing eight wickets in 20 overs. 

In reply to the Zimbabwe total, South African openers Richard Levi and Hashim Amla batted easy-peasy and chased down the target in 12.4 overs with Levi scoring a half-century off 44 balls.

Oman vs Papua New Guinea, 2021 T20 World Cup

Papua New Guinea posted a total of 129 for 9 in 20 overs. Captain Assad Vala scored a half-century for the team.

Oman openers Jatinder Singh made a dashing 73 off 42 balls while Aqib Ilyas Sulehri made a brilliant 50 runs in 43 balls and helped their team win by chasing down the target in just 13.4 overs.

India vs Pakistan, 2021 T20 World Cup

Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and put India to bat first. The Indian top order was left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi and the Men in Blue could manage to post a total of just 151/7in 20 balls. Virat Kohli scored 57 off 49 balls.

Pakistan openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam exhibited patience and reached the target in 17.5 overs. Rizwan remained unbeaten on 79 off 55 balls and Babar was not out on 68 off 52 balls. It was Pakistan’s first-ever win in a match against India in World Cups. 

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: Top 3 Knocks Of ‘Hitman’ Rohit Sharma In West Indies

India vs England, 2022 T20 World Cup

England skipper Jos Buttler won the toss and decided to put India in to bat in the semi-final clash. Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli scored half-century each and helped India post a total of 168 on the board.

In reply, England’s opening duo of Jos Buttler and Alex Hales went all guns blazing right from the start to chase down the target in just 16 overs. It remains the highest partnership in the history of the T20 World Cup for any wicket.