5 memorable cricketing moments of 2024
2024 was an immense year for cricket in general. The entire year was filled with a cluster of memorable moments for the cricket fraternity to treasure. The new year brings about a new dawn to cherish. Regardless, it would only be apt to look back on what 2024 had to give. Below is a brief reflection on five of the most memorable moments the previous year had to offer.
1) Shamar Joseph inspires West Indies to iconic Test win in Brisbane
After a thrashing in the first Test of the series, prospects of a comeback were looking too grim for the West Indies. However, a match-defining bowling performance from Joseph, who was playing his second Test, led his side to a memorable 10-run win. Notably, Joseph had to leave the field “retired hurt” after hurting his toe while batting. However, he endured the pain and ran through the hosts during the run-chase with a seven-wicket haul to hand the West Indies their first victory against Australia in Australia in Tests since 1997.
2) USA script memorable victory vs Pakistan at T20 World Cup 2024
Playing their first T20 World Cup in 2024, and that too as co-hosts, the United States of America couldn’t have gotten their campaign off to a more spectacular start. After electing to field first, they restricted Pakistan to a fairly modest score of 159. However, the job was just half done. Skipper Monank Patel led from the front with a calculated half-century. A couple of brisk 30s helped the USA’s cause as well. The scores ended up getting level and the contest had to be decided via Super Over. They were able to register 18
runs off an uncharacteristically erratic Mohammad Amir over and eventually ends up clinching the nail-biter by five runs courtesy of a heroic display by software engineer-cum-cricketer Saurabh Netravalkar.
3) India ends ICC trophy drought with pristine T20 WC 2024 campaign
Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, the Indian cricket team were carrying an immense load of expectations as far as the tournament was concerned. They had previously won an ICC trophy in 2013 and had failed to attain another ever since. Going into the tournament with one of the most power-packed squads, they were expected to not disappoint. And they surely did not. Apart from their final group-stage game which was washed out, India won their league fixtures, including a six-run victory against Pakistan. All of their three wins in the Super Eights were comprehensive. Their most dominating victory came against England in the semi-final, winning by a whopping 68-run margin. The dream was complete with a chaotic seven-run victory against the Proteas to make India the deserved winners of the tournament.
4) New Zealand registers maiden Test clean sweep in India
New Zealand were coming off a treacherous two-Test series against Sri Lanka. The odds were heavily skewed against them. India, on the other hand, had all the momentum stacked up in their favor after a 2-0 sweep of Bangladesh at home. However, the three matches that followed were nothing short of a cricketing spectacle. All three of the Tests had specific moments where the Kiwis bossed the hosts. India were bowled out for their lowest score at home in the very first innings of the first Test in
Bengaluru as New Zealand won by eight wickets. Mitchell Santner’s splendid 13-wicket haul in Pune led his side to clinch the series. Ajaz Patel’s dream run at the Wankhede Stadium continued as his 6/57 was the reason India couldn’t chase down 147 in the fourth innings.
5) Pakistan win three consecutive away ODI series
After an underwhelming run at the World Cup in 2023, Pakistan’s ODI schedule in 2024 seemed like too big a challenge they could deal with. Their first assignment was against Australia. It was all looking quite grim after a shabby batting display in the first ODI. However, they came back magnificently in the next two games with masterful run-chases after bowling the hosts out for cheap scores. The next tour to Zimbabwe followed pretty much the same template. After going down in the first game, they dominated the next two to win this series by a 1-2 scoreline too. The most impressive series was against South Africa. It was an all-round display from the unit which ensured a historic whitewash.
